this week’s round of europa league matches could prove to be key in the race for qualification. both everton and arsenal are facing crucial showdowns, while there’s plenty on the line across europe. ahead of the midweek matches, we have betting tips and odds comparison to help you pick out a few bets on thursday’s action.
david unsworth has had a tough start as everton caretaker, as his side lost 2-0 at leicester on sunday. they failed to improve on their recent dismal displays, and their trip to lyon this week looks really difficult. the french side won at goodison park to inflict more misery on ronald koeman, and to leave the toffees sitting bottom of the group with a single point. without a win on thursday, the premier league side will be on the verge of an early exit in europe.
lyon should improve their chances of qualifying with another victory, and they come in to this game in great form. they’ve won their last four matches, including their trip to goodison and at home to french champions monaco. they’ve scored at least twice in six of their last seven matches at home, and we can see them edging a high scoring game here.
the visitors didn’t look prepared for claude puel’s leicester, so we expect them to have a tough time away in europe. our odds comparison shows that the visitors are massive underdogs, and we’re backing lyon to add to their tag of favourites. we’re going with lyon to win and over 2.5 match goals, which is priced at nice betting odds of 5/4 with ladbrokes.
some late drama in belgrade continued arsenal’s perfect start in this group, which has put them on course to qualify. our odds comparison suggests that the gunners will wrap up a spot in the next round this week, as they’re heavy favourites to beat red star. they’re already five points clear of third place in this group, and we expect this reserve arsenal side to seal the deal on thursday. with the gunners struggling in their champions league push, this competition may prove to be crucial for them in the long run.
arsenal still managed to take all three points in serbia, despite a really poor display. they eventually did enough to get over the line, but they clearly struggled early on after some heavy rotation in their side. with man city coming up this weekend, we expect big changes from arsene wenger, but his side should have enough quality to take the points in this game.
we’re backing the gunners to concede a goal here, which they did in their home clash with cologne and in their trip to bate. the gunners have kept one clean sheet in their last five matches in all competitions, and the visitors have found the net in seven of their last eight europa league away days. however, we’re still expecting arsenal’s second string to have enough quality to continue their winning streak in this competition. we’re backing a home win and both teams to score, which can be backed at best betting odds of 13/8 with bet365.
lazio v nice: can lazio continue their brilliant run?
the biggest game of the week sees lazio hosting nice. last season’s surprise package in ligue 1 managed to make the champions league this term, before being put out in the qualifiers against high flying napoli. facing more italian opposition proved difficult, as they lost 3-1 at home to the aquila two weeks ago. that win lifted lazio top of the group with a 100% record so far, and they’re on the verge of making the next round. having charged up the serie a standings with a brilliant run of form, a rotated lazio outfit will want to continue their momentum this week.
the hosts are a really attacking outfit, which does leave them a little open at the back. with changes in defence, they should concede in europe once again. we think both teams to score is a good bet here, which is best priced at 4/6 with coral in our odds comparison.
the hosts are aiming to continue an eight game winning streak, and the bookies make them heavy favourites for this trip. given their form, we are expecting lazio to rack up a few goals against a nice side who have struggled in europe over the last 12 months or so. we’re predicting lazio to score over 2.5 goals, which can be backed at betting odds of 9/5 with betfair.