It was one of my better night's in the Europa League last week as I landed a "tasty treble" at 4/1 odds and tipped up goals in a variety of different matches. I was especially pleased as this tournament is usually a bit of a minefield and is not usually an event I place much importance or stake money on but last week saw me emerge from the day in profit. i certainly prefer betting on 2nd legs when you at least have a recent meeting to assess the form and hopefully with a bit of luck, we can pick out a few well priced winners to finish the midweek European action in style. So here are the early kick off previews, first leg scores in brackets with kick offs at 7pm CET unless stated otherwise.
Zenit St Petersburg v PSV (1.0) - Kickoff - 6pm CET - Prediction 1.1 - Best Bet - AVOID Zenit stole a first leg lead in Holland last week (much to my chagrin) and will be looking to seal a last 16 place when PSV come to a frozen St Petersburg tomorow. The hosts should have enough to make it through here and are a best priced 5/6 to win on the night, which they should just about manage. PSV will need to score at least once which could make them vulnerable to the counter attack in the later stages of this one. I expect this one to remain close and if PSV get it to half time at 0.0 they might not be too displeased but I am not confident in any of the markets to include this one in my best bets which is convenient with it being the early kick off. Best avoided for me although a draw is my favoured selection. Dinamo Moscow v RSC Anderlecht (0.0) - Kickoff - 6pm CET - Prediction 1.0 - Best Bet - AVOID This was a tie that I spoke little about last week and still managed to predict correctly with a draw tipped up although I would be lying if I had claimed it as a well thought out bet and once again this one is not one I fancy having a bet on but if you must, I expect the home side to progress. Fiorentina v Tottenham Hotspur (1.1) Prediction 2.1 - Best Bet BTTS @ 8/11 and Fiorentina to win at 21/20 Fiorentina will be confident of overcoming a Tottenham team who will have half an eye on Sunday's Capital One Cup final against Chelseal and have not travelled particularly well in Europe this season overall. Spurs should have scored more in the first leg but failed to make their first half dominance count and now find themselves needing an away goal to stay in the tie against a team that are pretty strong on their own patch. I think this could be an open game with the home side edging it but would urge backers off this one to check the team news. Spurs may well end up focusing on Sunday and for that reason a home win, could be better than the BTTS on offer at 8/11 Legia Warsaw v Ajax (0.1 ) - Prediction 1.1 - Best Bet - DRAW - 5/2 I called this first leg as a narrow 1.0 win for Ajax and that is exactly what they got last week against a decent Legia outfit. I am not going to include this in my best bets but it might be one for the draw coupons. I expect Ajax to qualify but the hosts might make them sweat a touch. Good shout for a draw this one. FC Red Bull Salzburg v Villarreal (1.2) Prediction 2.2 - Best Bet - BTTS - 1/2 or draw at 5/2 I succesfully picked BTTS here last week and fancy the same again with free scoring RedBull needing a win to progress. A side that score so many domestically should be able to make a game of it but I expect the overall quality of the Spaniards to see them through. Internazionale v Celtic (3.3) Prediction - 2.1 - Best Bet - BTTS @ 5/6 Celtic snatched a late equaliser last week to give them hope of progressing tonight but with a win needed, it is going to be a big ask. Of course with the way the hosts celebrated last week, you get the impression they were just happy not to lose to more illustrious opponents. I expect the Scots to make a good game of it but ultimately the greater quality in the Inter ranks should see them through but it might not be too straightforward and I fancy BTTS at the best price of 5/6. Besiktas v Liverpool (0.1) - Prediction 0.1 - Best Bet - Avoid Liverpool have really got their form together in the last 2 months and while their lead is a narrow one, they should have enough quality here to get the result they need to progress. Besiktas though are no mugs and given that both Arsenal and Spurs failed to win there this season, it would be silly to assume this will be easy for Liverpool. I expect a closely fought and low scoring encounter with 1 goal enough to seal it but I think this is a match I will prefer to avoid perhaps. Dynamo Kyiv v Guingamp (1.2) Prediction 1.1 - Best Bet - Dinamo to score 2 or more goals 5/6 I tipped up the French side to win at 17/10 odds last week and although it took the help of 2 red cards for Dynamo to complete the Guingamp comeback having trailed at half time but going into the 2nd half with a 2 man advantage. I had predicted that the French would make it through but having researched this one a little more, and given the strong home form of Kiev in Europe and a very heavy schedule of late for Guingamp, I am revising my bet and tipping Kiev to score 2 or more. If the French can find an away goal, they may yet qualify but I am going with the home side to get a couple of goals and see where it takes us. Borussia Mönchengladbach v Sevilla (0.1) Prediction 2.1 - Moenchengladbach to win - 13/10 Sevilla take a slender advantage to Germany in this one and are favourites to progress but their away form is certainly something of a concern. With 4 defeats away from home on the spin domestically, (7 from 12 in total) and without a win on the road in Europe either, I expect the Germans to win the night but remain doubtful it will be enough to qualify overall. Seville will know that a goal gives them a great chance to progress and I think they will get it but I think given the respective home and away form, 13/10 is a good price on a team that sit 3rd in the Bundesliga with only 1 defeat all season at home. BTTS is 4/5 but the bigger price of 13/10 on the home win looks the better value here. BEST BETS Fiorentina to win at 21/20 Fiorentina v Spurs - BTTS - 8/11 Inter v Celtic - BTTS - 5/6 Dinamo Kiev to score 2 or more goals - 5/6 B Moenchengladbach to win - 13/10 Red Bull v Villareal - BTTS - 1/2 Part 2 to follow Comments are closed.
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