Europa League stats and tips
Besiktas v A.Bilbao - Win / Draw / Win - away win
It's all eyes on Athletic Bilbao of late. They've won 5 consecutive Europa League games, and E. Valverde Tejedor will be giving his utmost to continue that form as they go into battle with Besiktas at Vodafone Park (İstanbul) on Wednesday afternoon.
AZ Alkmaar v Roma - Over / Under 4.5 Goals - under
We all love a game in which more than 4 goals fly in, but Roma's long-suffering fans have now had to wait 41 matches to see their side deliver one. That’s too long by anyone’s count. Will the long-overdue deluge of goals finally arrive on Thursday evening, as they face M. Martens's AZ at AFAS Stadion? With odds of 1.15 on there being under 4.5 goals, the bookmakers clearly have their doubts.
Bodø v M. Tel-Aviv - Win / Draw / Win - home win
KickOff's tipsters have a strong feeling about this match, and the evidence to back it up. On Thursday, 11 have backed Bodø/Glimt to beat Maccabi Tel Aviv at Aspmyra Stadion. Taking advantage of best odds of 1.65 from some of the UK's leading bookmakers, available on KickOff, they'll be praying Kjetil Knutsen gets his tactics right and claims that all-important home win.
Porto v Olympiakos - Win / Draw / Win - home win
Just as fans always have done, FC Porto's loyal supporters expect high standards from their side and, in the opinion of our tipsters, they may just be going home happy on Thursday evening. 10 of those bettors are predicting that José Fernando Santa Robledo's side will get the win as Jose Luis Mendilibar's Olympiakos visit Estádio do Dragão. Will that prove to be a smart call? We'll find out at FT.
Fenerbahce v Lyon - Over / Under 4.5 Goals - under
Fenerbahce's recent matches in Champions League and Europa League have delivered goals and thrills along the way, but it has been too long since Jose Mourinho's players treated their fans to the kind of goal-fest we all really want to see. There have been no more than 4 goals in all of their last 9 games.
Qarabag v FCSB - Half Time / Full Time - draw+draw
It might not be a record they're all that proud of, but FCSB currently lead all opponents in the Europa League when it comes to games where they've been drawing at both HT and FT this season, with their tally now at 3 in 8 games. They will put that somewhat unwelcome consistency on the line versus FK Qarabag at Azersun Arena on Thursday, in a fixture that could see yet another stalemate.
Malmö v Twente - Double Chance - home win or draw
Following your favourite footy team year after year can be draining, and FC Twente’s long-suffering follows know that only too well right now. Their side, led by Joseph Oosting, has now failed to win any of their last 10 Champions League and Europa League matches, and the clouds hardly look like parting against Malmo FF at Malmö Stadion on Thursday evening. Backing opposition manager Henrik Rydstrom to add another to that list by inspiring his side to anything other than a defeat is available at best odds of 1.50.
Hoffenheim v Spurs - Over / Under 2.5 Goals - over
Entertainment is the name of the game, and there's reason to expect plenty of it when TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Tottenham Hotspur meet on Thursday evening in the Europa League. Christian Streich and Ange Postecoglou's XIs know how to score at this level, and KickOff's community of members fancy them to demonstrate that at DnB NOR Arena. 9 of them have saved a bet the match to contain 3 goals or more before full time. 1.44 is the highest price among the UK's top bookmakers for that suggestion, and we can think of much worse places to put your money!
Plzen v Anderlecht - Double Chance - away win or draw
David Moyes and his RSC Anderlecht team have developed a handy knack of claiming something from pretty much every Europa League fixture they play. They're unbeaten in 8 in the Europa League now, so Miroslav Koubek and his Viktoria Plzen charges will have to be at their best if they're going to get anything at Stadion Lucní ulice on Thursday.
E.Frankfurt v Ferencvaros - Win / Draw / Win - home win
It seems we're looking firmly at a home win, or at least that's what our stat-fuelled bettors believe is heading our way, as Eintracht Frankfurt and Ferencvaros TC clash in the Europa League on Thursday. No less than 13 have bet on it, with largest odds of 1.62 enough to make them believe they can turn a profit.
Rigas Futbola Skola v Ajax - Win / Draw / Win - away win
Claiming victory in the lions' den that is Stadions Arkadija is tough for absolutely any team, but evidently F. Farioli has shown enough as Ajax boss to convince KickOff’s bettors that he’s got what it takes to deliver just that - 14 have have backed the away win in Thursday’s Europa League match between FK Rigas Futbola Skola and F. Farioli. Fancy taking the same bet? Best odds of 1.40 are being given by some of the UK's top bookmakers.
Elfsborg v Nice - Double Chance - home win or draw
What a dismal succession of results for Nice and their supporters, with their last Europa League success now coming 6 matches ago. Boss Franck Haise has to find a way out, and sooner rather than later. Will IF Elfsborg at Borås Arena on Thursday come too soon, or be a turning point?
Lazio v R.Sociedad - Win / Draw / Win - home win
Unsurpisingly, Lazio's loyal followers expect high standards from their side and, according to our tipsters, they may just be going home happy on Thursday night. 9 of our bettors are tipping that Marco Baroni's team will emerge victorious as Imanol Alguacil's Real Sociedad visit Olimpico. Will they be proved right? Only time will tell.
Ludogorets v Midtjylland - Win / Draw / Win - home win
It's never easy to end a losing run, but that's the task facing Midtjylland boss Thomas Thomasberg on Thursday. His team faces Ludogorets Razgrad having lost each of their last 3 Europa League matches.
Man Utd v Rangers - Double Chance - home win or draw
Weeks have passed since Manchester United’s happy supporters watched their team get beaten in the Europa League. Ruben Amorim’s boys are now unbeaten in 6 outings, and he'll be full of belief that they can keep going against Rangers at Old Trafford on Thursday night. Best value odds of 1.09 can be grabbed to back Manchester United the double chance market.
PAOK v Slavia - Win / Draw / Win - home win
Bad form can be tough to shift, but that's exactly what must be done by Slavia Prague boss Jindrich Trpisovsky on Thursday. His players face PAOK Salonika having been beaten in each of their last 4 Europa League outings.
Union SG v Braga - Over / Under 4.5 Goals - under
We all love a game in which more than 4 goals fly in, but Union Saint Gilloise's loyal followers have now been waiting 20 matches to see their side deliver one. That’s too long by anyone’s count. Will the long-overdue deluge of goals finally arrive on Thursday night, as they face C. Soares da Costa Faria Carvalhal's Sporting Braga at Stade Joseph Mariën? With odds of 1.20 on there being 4 goals or fewer being scored, the bookies are making their thoughts on the matter perfectly clear.
Twente v Besiktas - Both Teams To Score & Result -
If you like backing goals and picking a victor, then the upcoming fixture between Besiktas and FC Twente could be the one for you. O. Solskjær's side have lost 3 games this campaign in which both sides have scored. That's the highest number in the Europa League.
