Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the first leg of the Europa League third qualifying round tie between Southampton and Vitesse.

Given that West Ham United have already progressed through two rounds to reach this stage of the competition, you could argue that Southampton are entering at a relatively late stage, but the South Coast outfit will still have to negotiate a pair of two-legged ties if they are to reach the group stages. They are favourites to come through against Dutch side Vitesse but they might not have it all their own way against the talent crop of players who play for the Eredivisie team.

Before we preview this game further, let's take a look at the two teams.

SOUTHAMPTON XI: Stekelenburg, Cedric, Fonte, Yoshida, Targett, Wanyama, Clasie, Davis, Tadic, Mane, Pelle

SOUTHAMPTON SUBSTITUTES: Gazzaniga, Long, Martina, Ward-Prowse, Reed, Juanmi, McCarthy

VITESSE XI: Room, Diks, Kashia, Leerdam, Achenteh, Baker, Nakamba, Vako, Brown, Djurdjevic, Oliinyk

VITESSE SUBSTITUTES: Velthuizen, Van Der Werff, Lelieveld, Osman, Pantic, Rashica, Dauda

As you can see, Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has named a strong starting lineup, which also includes three of the club's summer signings. Maarten Stekelenburg, Cedric Soares and Jordy Clasie all feature, but there is no place for Jay Rodriguez, who had been looking to make his first competitive start since picking up a serious knee injury in April 2014.

Due to Vitesse's status as Chelsea's feeder club, you may recognise a couple of players in their squad. Midfielder Lewis Baker, who had spells at Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons last season, is given a start alongside Isaiah Brown, who made his debut for the Blues in the final weeks of the previous campaign. Teenage Serbian midfielder Danilo Pantic is on the bench after penning a deal with Chelsea earlier this month.

During the buildup to this game, Koeman has spoken about the importance of securing qualification for the group stages in order to continue the development the club and you can't blame him too. Southampton's seventh-place finish last season shocked a lot of people, but it was fully deserved and it gave them the opportunity to attract some quality players to St Mary's. Cuco Martina and Juanmi have only earned a place on the bench and Steven Caulker wasn't signed in time to feature in this game, but the Saints look well equipped to at least equal last season's finish for a second successive year.

Vitesse will probably count themselves unfortunate to draw Southampton but while they are outsiders, they shouldn't be written off. Their squad is made up of a number of different nationalities but they play an attractive style of football in Holland and will relish the chance to impose their game on a perfect surface at St Mary's. Whether they can come away with a result this evening is open to debate but Southampton can't afford to play this match in second gear.

While Vitesse have found themselves being eliminated by the likes of Anzhi Makhachkala and Petrolul Ploiesti at this stage in recent seasons, this is Southampton's first taste of European football for 11 years. They will be hoping that this year's participation isn't as brief as in 2003, when they were defeated over two legs by Steaua Bucuresti in the UEFA Cup first round.

St Mary's will be full to capacity this evening. How often can you say that about Europa League games? They would be a welcome addition to the main stages of this competition, but first of all, they have plenty of work to do.

The two teams are out. Are you ready for some Europa League football in July? We hope so.

Southampton get us underway.

CHANCE! It takes just over two minutes for the first chance of the game to be created, and Vitesse arguably should be ahead. The ball was slipped through to Valeri Kazaishvili inside the penalty area but despite having a clear shot on goal from 12 yards out, he dragged his effort millimetres wide of the far post. Big chance.

Aside from that scare, Southampton have began this match relatively brightly without creating anything clear-cut. Dusan Tadic had a claim for a penalty but it would have been generous.

Koeman will be content with his side's start to this game. They continue to probe in and around the penalty area but so far, the final back is lacking in quality. There's plenty of noise inside St Mary's.

UPDATE! Southampton aren't the only team in action this evening. West Ham are taking on FC Astra Giurgiu at Upton Park and they are a goal to the good thanks to Enner Valencia. That match started at 7.45pm, BST.

CHANCE! After winning a corner, Steven Davis whips in the set piece for Maya Yoshida, but the Japanese centre-back directs his header straight at Eloy Room. Either side of the goalkeeper and it was 1-0.

New signing Cedric Soares has looked a threat from right-back for Southampton, but on this occasion, his cut-back had too much pace on it for Graziano Pelle, who failed to control the ball from around 14 yards out.

Saints midfielder Victor Wanyama looks as though he has missed playing football during the summer. He's covering plenty of ground in his team's engine room but it's coming after a few stray passes were made from his teammates. The Premier League outfit have lost their rhythm over the past five minutes.

That's much better from the home side. Davis plays a terrific ball through to Saido Mane, who has Pelle to his right if he can thread the ball past the defender. Unfortunately, he cant and Vitesse survive.

CHANCE! The Dutch side survive again but I really don't know how. After a cross is diverted into his path by Yoshida, Wanyama has all the time in the world to find the corner from 12 yards but he only proceeds to side-foot his shot straight at Room. That was a huge opportunity.

Jose Fonte is the next man to have a chance for the home side but his header is never threatening the target. Much better from Southampton but they really need to capitalise on this pressure. Their lack of competitive match fitness may make things tricky in the final quarter.

We've not seen too much of Vitesse's on-loan Chelsea duo Baker and Brown. They've mainly been contributing to defensive areas though, so it's not surprising. Still, I'm sure Jose Mourinho is watching their performances back at home and being quietly impressed with their work-rate.

Since that chance for Wanyama midway through the half, Southampton have barely had the ball in the penalty area. Last season's top goalscorer Pelle hasn't contributed anything all match.

SHOT! Davis gets into a promising area on the edge of the penalty area but his driven strike is comfortably saved by Room in the Vitesse goal. Just over 10 minutes to go of the first half.

Well it's nice to see that I haven't lost my touch! Moments after criticising him, Pelle gives Southampton the lead at St Mary's and what a wonderfully-worked goal it was too. After receiving the ball around 25 yards out, Mane slid the ball through to Pelle, who drilled the ball emphatically into the roof of the net from 14 yards.

Now then, can Southampton build on that? Vitesse aren't exactly there for the taking but they have showed no ambition in getting forward since their early chance through Kazaishvili.

Both teams are enjoying spells of possession, which is rather apt for a half of football that hasn't been played at an explosive pace. It will suit Southampton though, who will be happy to get into the break with a one-goal lead.

They would have been happy to make the break at 1-0 up, but Southampton will be absolutely delighted to be two goals to the good at half time. Just before the break, Rochdi Achenteh barged Mane over on the by-line and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty, which Dusan Tadic put away with ease by sending Room the wrong way.

That goal has left Vitesse with a mountain to climb in the second half. It will surely result in manager Peter Bosz instructing his side to be more adventurous after the restart, but they will equally have to be wary about conceding a third. Southampton can put the tie to bed with a strong showing after the break.

UPDATE! Like Southampton, West Ham have doubled their lead with Mauro Zarate scoring for the Hammers against Astra. If they can avoid conceding an away goal, they will be in the box seat when they travel to Romania next week.

Maybe that will be easier said than done though? For the third time in five games, the Hammers have had a man sent off. James Collins is the guilty party and his side still have 32 minutes to see out.

The two teams are back out at St Mary's and away we go for the second half.

It's been a quiet start to the second half. Vitesse are enjoying the greater possession but it's all being maintained in the middle third of the pitch.

BOOKING! A Vitesse player shows a turn of pace down the right flank and soon finds himself hauled down by Davis, who was struggling to keep up.

Mane does superbly on the left-hand side before playing the ball inside to Tadic. However, the Serbian almost had too many options, which resulted in the midfielder picking the wrong option and the ball rolling out of play.

SHOT! After a cross into the penalty area is only half cleared, Pelle has the chance of a second goal but he can only volley the ball a couple of yards over the crossbar. He will be disappointed with that.

UPDATE! Astra have pulled a goal back at Upton Park thanks to a 25-yard strike from Fernando Boldrin. The Hammers can't afford to concede another.

BOOKING! Tadic is the second Southampton man to find himself in the referee's notebook after a late challenge in the middle of the park.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Koemna makes his move with a couple of substitutions. Shane Long and Juanmi have been introduced for Dusan Tadic and Jordy Clasie, who picked up a knock on a rather uneventful debut.

BOOKING! Long's first contribution is to draw a free kick out of Guram Kashia, who is promptly booked by the referee. It looks harsh though - Isaiah Brown committed the foul!

Pelle gets another shot away on goal but his 20-yard effort is easily saved by Room, who has had a solid game. There's still a feeling that there is another goal in this game.

SUBSTITUTION! A third Chelsea player has now been introduced to the action. 18-year-old Danilo Pantic has replaced Valeri Kazaishvili, who could have given this game a different look had he scored in the third minute.

UPDATE! Disaster for West Ham, who have conceded a second goal to Astra at Upton Park. The fact that it's an own goal from new signing Angelo Ogbonna only makes things worse and the Hammers look like they will be up against it in Romania next week.

CHANCE! What a chance for Vitesse! The ball is played through to Pantic around 14 yards out but he can only drilled his shot at Saints goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg. How important could that be?!

Earlier in the match, I alluded to Southampton potentially looking a bit of sharpness in the final stages and that's what is transpiring. They've lost all of their momentum and are very much second best to their opponents, who seem revitalised after that opportunity through Pantic.

I don't think Juanmi has touched the ball since he was brought on after an hour, which has coincided with Southampton offering no threat in the final third. There are 10 minutes remaining at St Mary's, a potentially pivotal stage in this tie.

CHANCE! Southampton are living dangerously here. A free kick from Baker is only half cleared to Milot Rashica, but his half-volley is sent just over the bar.

Has Baker just gifted the tie to Southampton? The on-loan Chelsea midfielder sees a pass intercepted by Long, who bursts clear of goal. The Irishman is tackled by goalkeeper Room, but the ball ricocheted into the path of Juanmi, who glided past the stopper before floating a delightful cross to the back post for Long to head home in front of the defender.

Vitesse need to find an away goal or they could find themselves out of the tie. They aren't pushing men forward though, which is a surprise.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

Vitesse earn a corner after a Rashica shot is deflected wide. This is likely to be their last chance to deliver the ball into the box but despite getting several chances, they can't create anything of note.

It's all over at St Mary's and Southampton has secured a emphatic 3-0 victory over Vitesse. They can perhaps count themselves fortunate to have avoided conceding an away goal but it's a tremendous result for the club in their first match of this year's competition.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you again next Thursday for the second leg. Goodbye for now.