Europa League Last 16: First Leg Betting Tips
The Europa League begins to get more serious this week with 16 teams in action on Thursday looking to gain a first-leg advantage as they eye a place in the quarter-finals.
A place in next season’s Champions League will await the winner of the tournament, but there are plenty of hurdles to climb over before that and some of the biggest names in European football may not be able to take much for granted.
Tip 1 – Real Sociedad to beat Manchester United & both teams to score @ 3/1
Manchester United’s underwhelming season suffered another blow at the weekend when they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Fulham and they could be left with a deficit to overhaul following the first leg of their last-16 tie with Real Sociedad.
Their La Liga opponents have won their last five matches on their own patch and showed their ability in the final third when beating Midtjylland 5-2 in the second leg of their playoff tie.
However, there is hope that United, who have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven matches, can find the net in San Sebastian as their hosts, who have won their last four Europa League home games, have kept just one shutout in their last seven games.
Ruben Amorim’s side are unbeaten on the road in this competition after draws at Porto and Fenerbahce and victories at Viktoria Plzen and FCSB, but while they can score on Thursday, this looks their toughest road assignment yet.
Tip 2 – Over 2.5 Fenerbahce goals vs Rangers @ 7/4
Fenerbahce are unbeaten in their last 18 matches and it seems Jose Mourinho’s side could not be pitting their wits against Rangers at a better time.
The Turkish outfit have scored three goals in eight of their last 11 home matches, including their 3-0 success in the first-leg of their play-off triumph over Anderlecht.
They are in the thick of the Super Lig title battle with Galatasaray and while their morale will be sky high, the situation at Ibrox could not be more stark.
Barry Ferguson has taken the helm following Philippe Clent’s sacking, but they have still suffered three straight home losses against Queen’s Park, St Mirren and Motherwell.
The Gers were forced to come back from two goals down to post a 4-2 win at Kilmarnock in their last away match and they may not be as fortunate against a team at the top of their game, so the home side to score at least three goals looks good value.
Tip 3 – Over 3.5 goals in AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham @ 6/4
A Richarlison penalty was the only goal of the game when Tottenham got the better of AZ Alkmaar during the league stage, but the first leg of their last-16 clash in the Netherlands could prove more open.
Spurs were involved in a 3-2 win at Hoffenheim and a defeat by the odd goal in five at Galatasaray and this could prove a similar encounter, as the only away game in their last eight in which they failed to score was their 4-0 League Cup semi-final defeat at Liverpool.
While manager Ange Postecoglou will be delighted that his injury issues have been easing, they take on a team who have won 10 of their last 11 home matches, including two wins over Eredivisie tabletoppers Ajax, who they have beaten in the league and cup.
AZ, whose attack is set to be led by former Spurs youngster Troy Parrott, should look to get on the front foot, which may suit Tottenham, so the pair could muster more than three goals between them.
Tip 4 – Lazio to beat Viktoria Plzen @ 10/11
Lazio finished on top of the pile after the eight rounds of league-stage matches, and they should be able to build on that by earning a first-leg advantage from their trip to the Czech Republic to take on Viktoria Plzen.
The Serie A outfit’s only defeat in the competition this season came at Braga in their final game, when their place in the knockout stage was already assured, and a five-match unbeaten run in the Italian league should provide them with extra confidence.
Viktoria Plzen came through a play-off against Ferencvaros and Manchester United needed a late goal to claim a 2-1 win from their visit, but Lazio appear to represent a tougher test.
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation