It finished goalless in Poland when these two met last week but that will have suited Metalist just fine and Thursday’s hosts can advance to the Europa League proper with ease.
The return leg in Ukraine should see home advantage tell and I am surprised the selection are as big as 1/2 in a place, Ladbrokes among the firms offering those odds at the time of writing.
Metalist were denied a place in the Champions League last term when thrown out of the competition by UEFA for breaching match fixing regulations but they reached the last 32 here two seasons ago and were quarter-finalists in 2012 before being edged out by Sporting Lisbon.
In fact, Metalist have developed quite a European pedigree despite failing to land top honours domestically, beaten just three times on home soil in the Europa League in their previous 15 outings, and the Poles face an almighty task to progress.
In contrast, Ruch Chorzow have never competed in the group stage of this competition and required the benefit of away goals to see off lowly Esbjerg in the previous qualifying round.
It is just one victory in 11 matches overall, that at winless Piast Gliwice, in the top flight and the gulf in class between this pair is sizeable.
On home soil Metalist are a force to be reckoned with, picking up maximum points in 20 of their previous 25 Ukrainian Premier League games, and manger Igor Rakhayev will be confident ahead of the upcoming clash.
The Ekstraklasa strugglers are not good travellers and nobody has concede more goals in Poland this term than Ruch Chorzow’s 14 in their opening half dozen fixtures.
While Metalist are getting backed, some 1/2 does remain and that still rates value.
I have the home team much more like 1/4 chances and cannot put you off getting stuck in, despite the seemingly prohibitive price.
4pts Back Metaliast (vs. Ruch Chorzow) @ 1/2 (Ladbrokes)