ABERDEEN look to build on their away goal and reach the next stage of the Europa League against Kairat. Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79) looks at the odds.
Aberdeen v Kairat | Thursday 19:45
Despite a torturous near 3,500 mile trip to Kazakhstan last week Aberdeen emerged from their match against Kairat very much still in the tie. A 2-1 away defeat counts for a lot these days with that away goal banked and it's a little surprising to see Kairat as short as 4/7 to qualify with one firm.
The Dons look a solid side this season and the fact they beat Dundee United at Tannadice just three days later proves there's a lot to like about them. Also, who can forget their amazing 3-0 win in Croatia against Rijeka in the previous round?
Take a look back at that first leg match and you'll notice Aberdeen secured 51% of possession and had four of the nine corners in the match. A draw wouldn't have been an unfair result at all.
Now that Kairat have to travel all this way I'm sweet on the Scottish side. The Kazakhstan outfit have won just one away game in Europe and have lost five of their seven road fixtures. They even succumbed to Armenian side Alashkert 2-1 in the previous round when on their travels.
If Aberdeen get through here they'll just be one round away from the lucrative group stages and that would be a massive achievement for Derek McInnes' team.
With a big Pittodrie crowd behind them I think they can win here but rather than backing them at 23/20 I'll grab the 11/4 on them winning by exactly one goal. It should be a tight game but hopefully the Dons will prevail.
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Aberdeen v Kairat – Aberdeen to win by exactly one goal (11/4 Paddy Power)
