My old favourite, the Europa League returns tonight with all 4 Quarter Final 1st leg ties taking place at 2105 CET. It's been a pretty exciting tournament this year with plenty of goals and surprises, and there are no such issues over repetitive fixtures here with plenty of variety guaranteed in this tournament, although trying to find winners tonight could be a real challenge. Here are my previews, predictions and best bets for all 4 of the games, listed below. 21:05 Sevilla vs Zenit St. Petersburg - Prediction 1.0- Best Bet - Sevilla to win @3/5
Sevilla come into this one as favourites with Zenit traveling to Sevilla for the first leg of this Europa League quarter final without the likes of key players including Hulk, Danny, Domenic Criscito Igor Smolnikov (all suspended) and Viktor Faizulin (knee injurty) and I expect them to struggle as a result. Sevilla will fancy their chances here, having been in great form of late, winning 7 games in a row in La Liga, before coming back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Barcelona at the weekend and I expect the home side to take an advantage to Russia for the 2nd leg next week. Sevilla are a best priced @ 3/5 to claim the win which is a bit short but I do fancy them to take an advantage to Russia for the 2nd leg next week given how strong they are at home. 21:05 Club Bruges vs Dnipro - Prediction 2.1- Best Bet - Bruges to win @1/1, BTTS @01/11. Over 2.5 goals @5/4 Bruges are unbeaten at home all season both domestically and in Europe and will fancy their chances of beating Dnipro in tonight's first leg. The Belgians have won each of their last 5 Europa League ties, including their last 3 at home and remain unbeaten from 14 european ties this season. They have surprised many and I expect them to win again tonight against a Dnipro team that have won just once on the road in Europe from 6 previous matches. Goals are also possible with Bruges last 5 in the Europa League going over 2.5 goals and Dnipro's last 4 featuring BTTS. BTTS is priced @ 10/11 and over 2.5 goals @5/4 and I am quite tempted by both of these, as well as Bruges to win. 21:05 Dynamo Kyiv vs Fiorentina - Prediction 2.1- Best Bet - Kiev to win @11/8, BTTS @5/6 I backed Kiev in their last round victory over Everton and I fancy the Ukranians to make life difficult for Fiorentina tonight. Kiev have scored at least 2 goals in all 5 home games in this seasons competition, winning all 5 as well, and with each of their last 4 games in the tournament resulting in BTTS, goals could be on the cards here against a Fiorentina side who have seen BTTS in 5 out of their last 8 in this competition. Kiev are 11/8 to win and that looks pretty good value when you consider how strong the Ukranians are at home (unbeaten in their last 22 competitive fixtures) and I would expect them to extend that run by at least getting a draw although I quite fancy them to win outright. Fiorentina have gone off the boil in recent weeks, losing their last 2 games for the loss of 6 goals although they are unbeaten in 5 away games in Europe this season and should make life tricky for the hosts but it's always a tough place to go and perhaps given their recent downturn in form, Kiev are worth taking a chance on at 11/8. Andrei Yarmolenko could be the danger man for Kiev with 4 goals in the tournament so far and you can back the creative midfielder to score anytime @2/1. In the end, I do fancy a home win, BTTS and over 2.5 goals so we shall see which bets make into my final selections. 21:05 Wolfsburg vs Napoli- Prediction -2.0 Best Bet - Wolfsburg to win @5/6, Wolfsburg to score 2 or more @ 8/11 The Germans enter this fixture with only 1 defeat in 22 competitive matches and will be confident of taking a first leg victory over Italians Napoli tonight who are struggling for form at this crucial point in the season. Napoli have failed to score in 3 of their last 4 Europa League away fixtures while they have also lost each of their last 4 away games domestically, scoring just 1 goal and I don't think they will get a result tonight against a supremely confident Wolfsburg who have won their last 9 matches at home. Wolfsburg are 5/6 for the win and that's the bet I fancy here although they could score 2 or more as well @ 8/11. Comments are closed.
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