Although LAFC might have eventually settled for a bronze medal finish in the Western Conference this month, the Falcons are regarded as a standout play-off contender and they will be confident of claiming a first-leg advantage here. While Austin might have dragged themselves over the finishing line this season, Thursday's guests have continued to show some glaring issues and Nico Estevez's men face a heavyweight challenge in California.
Looking to extend on their recent purple patch this weekend, Manchester United will travel to the City Ground when they meet Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon. While the Red Devils might have opened the new campaign in the midst of another public crisis, Ruben Amorim's camp have enjoyed a stellar turn in fortune and the mood around Old Trafford appears to be at the highest it has been in recent memory.
Starting with the hosts, while Eintracht Frankfurt might have signed off September with a remarkable 6-4 victory away at Borussia Monchengladbach, it appears that might have been just a minor boost for the Eagles. Suffering late heartbreak against Freiburg over the weekend as they marked their return from October's international break with a 2-2 stalemate on the road, Dino Toppmoller's camp have drastically failed to find any kind of stability since opening up the new campaign.
With all eyes falling on Anfield this weekend, Liverpool will welcome historic rivals Manchester United to the red half of Merseyside for what is a heavyweight Premier League showdown. While Sunday's hosts might have come flying out of the traps when opening up the new campaign, the reigning Premier League champions have come crashing back down to earth in a worrying fashion and are seeking a crucial boost here.
Chelsea, the Conference League winners, reached the final with a 2-0 win over Fluminense, featuring a brace from new signing Joao Pedro. They aim to become the first English club to win the tournament twice.
Strategically combining two favorites in a parlay reduces juice and creates favorable odds. Pairing a strong favorite with a slightly riskier one balances potential winnings.
While Palermo has suffered heartbreak in previous play-offs, they have shown resilience and are poised for promotion, thanks to their offensive prowess, scoring 13 goals in five matches.