After last night's heroics, we come to Thursday and the dreaded and despised Europa league which is never short of surprises. While I enjoy the latter stages of the competition, at this point, picking winners is like a lucky dip so my primary focus is on the weekend coming up although I have taken a look at what's on offer tonight and I've picked out 4 games for goals but I won't be spending too much money on these dodgy Europa League ties. Europe - Europa League Qualification
19:30 - Thun v Spara Praha 1.2- Prediction - Suggested Bets - BTTS @4/6. BTTS and over 2.5 goals @21/20 Sparta should have enough to get through here but Thun will need to attack, trailing 3.1 from the first leg so I expect goals here with BTTS @ 4/6 and the stats are encouraging. Thun have seen 4 of their 5 Europa League ties this season result in BTTS and with Sparta only keeping 2 clean sheets in their last 10 away European games, goals are a real possiblity. Sparta lost 5.4 on aggregate to CSKA in the Champions League qualifying, resulting in their dropping down to the Europa League so they should have enough to qualify on the night but I fancy goals could be on the cards in delightful Switzerland. 20:00 AZ Alkmaar vs Astra Giurgiu - Prediction - 2.1 Suggested Bets - BTTS @5/6, BTTS and over 2.5 @5/4 Another tie that has the possibility of goals with AZ trailing 3.2 from the first leg. and while they’ll be hopeful of overturning that deficit with 2 away goals in the bank, the Romanians are a decent outfit, knocking out Inverness and then West Ham in the previous rounds. They scored two at West Ham as well and managed to beat Inverness 1-0 away and with 16 goals in their last five fixtures, they are a confident bunch. For, AZ four out of their last five fixtures have seen over 2.5 goals and while they are solid at home in Europe, they have only 2 clean sheets in their last 9 competitive home fixtures and I fancy Astra's away record enough to back them here to score here. The Romanians have scored in 10 of their last 11 away Europa League ties in the last 2 years against the likes of Lyon, Celtic, Salzburg and of course in knocking out West Ham. BTTS @5/6 looks good value for me and the BTTS and over 2.5 @5/4 is also a good possibility. 20:30 Borussia Dortmund vs Odd Ballklubb - Prediction -4.1 - Suggested Bets - Dortmund clean sheet - NO @6/4 Dortmund staged a remarkable fightback to win the first leg 4.3 having trailed to 3three early goals for the strangely named, Odd Blaliklubb. You can back the visitors just to score at a huge 6/4 which strangely is the same price as BTTS so obviously it makes no sense to choose BTTS here when you need only back the away team to score for the same return. Bad bookies. It is worth a small punt considering that first leg, and also the form of the Norwegians who will give it their all in this second leg to at least make it interesting. The visitors have scored 14 goals in their last 5 fixtures so they will be attacking and outgoing in what is admittedly a huge step up from their usual domestic fare. I expect a comfortable home win for Dortmund but the visitors could just pinch one to bring home the tasty 6/4 on my old favourite BTTS. 20:45 Athletic Club vs Zilina - Prediction 4.1 - Suggested Bets = Over 2.5 goals @4/7, BTTS and over 2.5 @8/5 Bilbao trail 3.1 from the first leg so I expect a recovery and goals here and I'm backing over 2.5 goals @4/7 odds. Zilina though cannot be under-estimated and the 8/5 on over 2.5 and BTTS is pretty tempting with the tie poised as it is. Athletic with home advantage should win if they put out a strong side but Zilina, who have netted 14 in their last three games might need a goal to make it through and they are a capable enough side. Zilina are pretty big at 3/1 to qualify, given their 2 goal advantage but I'm going for goals in this one. Suggested Bets Thun v Sparta - BTTS @4/6, BTTS and over 2.5 goals @21/20 AZ V Astra - BTTS @5/6, BTTS and over 2.5 @5/4 Dortmund clean sheet - NO @ 6/4 Bilbao v Zilina - Over 2.5 goals @4/7, BTTS and over 2.5 @ 8/5 Comments are closed.
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