Europa League: Knockout Phase Play-Offs 1st Leg Tips
The first legs of the eight Europa League knockout phase play-off ties take place on Thursday and there are plenty of interesting match-ups on the coupon.
FC Porto’s heavyweight clash at home to Roma looks like the pick of the fixtures, which also include Galatasaray’s trip to Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar. We've picked out our four best bets, which can be included in an accumulator that pays out at 30/1.
Tip 1 - Sociedad to beat Midtjylland @ 19/20
Thursday, 5.45pm
Sociedad came on strong in the second half of the Europa League’s league phase, winning three of their last four matches, and can gain an advantage in their play-off tie against Midtjylland by securing a first-leg triumph over their Danish hosts.
A lack of offensive spark has been the main issue for Sociedad, who are seventh in La Liga despite having scored just 20 goals in 23 matches.
But they have looked more threatening in recent games thanks to 20-year-old Icelandic striker Orri Oskarson, who seems to be finding his feet.
Oskarson netted both goals in Sociedad’s 2-0 victory at home to PAOK on Europa League matchday eight and he could be key to exploiting a Midtjylland side who seem to have gone off the boil in recent weeks.
Midtjylland took only four points from their last five matches in the league phase and their downturn could continue against Sociedad, who have better quality players across the pitch.
Tip 2 - Fenerbahce-Fenerbahce Half Time/Full Time against Anderlecht @ 59/50
Thursday, 5.45pm
Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce are one of the strongest teams in the play-off round and they will be looking to establish a healthy first-leg advantage over Anderlecht in Istanbul.
Missing out on a top-eight finish would have been a disappointment for Fener, who were big players in last summer’s transfer market.
But they have continued to strengthen in January, snapping up Diego Carlos from Aston Villa and Milan Skriniar on loan from Paris St-Germain, so they look well equipped to go deep in the competition.
They are unbeaten in 12 games and are playing with greater assurance than Anderlecht, who sit fourth in the Belgian top-flight, 15 points adrift of leaders Racing Genk.
Anderlecht finished the league phase just outside of the top eight, but they ended up bitterly disappointed after concluding with losses away to Viktoria Plzen (2-0) and away to Hoffenheim (4-3).
The Belgians have not won on their last three road trips and could struggle to cope with Fenerbahce, who could forge ahead by the break and win comfortably.
Tip 3 - Galatasaray to beat AZ @ 29/20
Thursday, 8pm
Turkish league leaders Galatasaray have impressed in domestic and European competition and they can edge closer to the Europa League round of 16 by defeating AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands.
Gala are three points clear of Fenerbahce in Turkey and they went unbeaten in seven Europa League games until a 2-1 loss away to Ajax on matchday eight.
Missing out on a top-eight finish was a blow for Okan Buruk’s expensively assembled side, but they can bounce back with a victory over AZ, who finished the league phase with a disappointing 4-3 loss away to Ferencvaros.
Tip 4 - Roma to beat FC Porto @ 41/20
Thursday, 8pm
Roma have been responding well to their veteran head coach Claudio Ranieri and they can enhance their chances of Europa League progress by defeating FC Porto at Estadio Dragao.
The Wolves are unbeaten in eight Serie A matches and finished the Europa League league phase in impressive fashion with a 2-0 victory at home to 2021-22 champions Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ranieri’s side seem to be growing in confidence and they have every chance of an away win over Porto, who have won just one of their last eight fixtures across all competitions.
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation