Khaya’s picks

Sevilla will hope that being grouped with Standard Liege again in the Europa League group stages is a lucky omen as they try to win the competition for the sixth time in 14 years.

The Spanish outfit have won the Uefa Cup/Uefa Europa League on five occasions (2006, 2007, 2014, 2015 and 2016) – twice more than any other team.

In the middle season of their recent Europa League hat-trick, between 2014 and 2016, Sevilla were also drawn against the Belgians and collected four points from their two meetings.

Sevilla are third-favourites to lift the trophy in Baku next May behind English duo Chelsea and Arsenal.

Standard Liege, meanwhile, arrive in this game straight from losing 5-2 on aggregate to Ajax in the Champions League qualifiers.

They have a bad away record against Spanish teams – their only victory in five attempts away to a Spanish team was against Real Madrid in 1969.

And I think that winless streak should continue tonight. Pool Name – S6 V2 P1 M1: Dynamo Kiev v FC Astana. Victory for Kiev. TIP: Kiev win = 1 M2: Marseille v Eintracht Frankfurt. Home win for Marseille. TIP: Marseille win = 1 M3: PAOK FC v Chelsea. Blues too strong for PAOK. TIP: Chelsea win = 3 M4: Rennes v FK Jablonec. Home victory for Rennes. TIP: Rennes win = 1 M5: Sevilla v Standard Liege. Previewed above. TIP: Sevilla win = 1 M6: Villarreal v Rangers. Share of the spoils.

TIP: Draw = 2