8th November 2018 Betting Tips
Lazio v Marseille – Lazio to Win and Both Teams to Score
It’s been a horrible European campaign so far for Marseille. The Ligue 1 side simply must beat Lazio in Rome to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition. That’s a daunting task for any team but especially so for Marseille given that they were beaten 3-1 at home by Lazio last time out. Rudi Garcia will be demanding his players give maximum effort at least and they should be able to score. We don’t think they’ll avoid defeat though so take the football odds of 11/5 available on Lazio to win and both teams to score.
Chelsea’s Europa League form has been every bit as impressive as their form in the Premier League ever since Maurizio Sarri took control at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are sitting pretty at the top of Group L and can confirm safe passage to the knockout stage with a fourth win. The BATE Borisov players will be up for the game but Chelsea showed they’re a class above during the 3-1 win a fortnight ago so look a good bet to win with a one goal handicap which odds comparisons show is available at 11/10.
Celtic aren’t quite drinking in the last chance saloon but failure to beat RB Leipzig at Parkhead on Thursday night will see the Bhoys staring elimination in the face. Leipzig were much the better side when beating Celtic 2-0 just two weeks ago but Brendan Rodgers’ men should be much better at home. Celtic have really hit their stride domestically lately and can take that confidence into Europe in front of a packed house. The available betting odds suggest an entertaining game. We agree so recommend betting on over 3.5 goals at 21/10.
Arsenal secured their first competitive win in Portugal when edging Sporting out 1-0 in Lisbon. That win solidified their position at the top of Group E and although Sporting would love to win at the Emirates, they’re happy enough with second place given they have winnable games against Vorskla and Qarabag to come. These are two teams capable of entertaining but we could be in store for another tense match so consider going against the grain in terms of the prices by taking the best betting odds of 5/4 available on under 2.5 goals.
Europa League Odds Comparison – Opening Round 2018/19 Tips
The Group phase of Europe’s second tier competition often throws up many mismatches and clashes between sides not necessarily on the radar of all football fans. This clash, however, sees two clubs with serious international pedigree do battle and is arguably the pick of Thursday’s football. The hosts start as warm favourites and having started their domestic campaign strongly they should get the win. That said, they do tend to concede and we fancy that the German outfit can score, albeit in a defeat.
The Blues are the clear favourites to win the Europa League, priced at best betting odds of 6/1 in our odds comparison. They will be expected to breeze through the group stage and we fancy they will beat their Greek hosts with ease here. However, whilst the fans will be loving Maurizio Sarri’s attacking football, Chelsea’s defence looks far from solid. Even lowly Cardiff managed to breach the Blues’ backline recently and so once again our tip here includes BTTS. Chelsea and both teams to score looks nice value at odds of 11/4.
Rangers have done well to make it this far and whilst they may just scrape it out of the group, they are starting here with the toughest game they will face in Group G. Steven Gerrard has made an excellent start to his managerial career but it’s hard to see them getting a result against a side with so much European experience. Gerrard will set them up to play on the break in Spain though and we think it’s worth chancing a bet on his side making it to the break with the scores level.
Our odds comparison shows the best price on the home win being just 2/13. We have little doubt that the Gunners will deliver and their new manager has plenty of experience of this competition. Unai Emery led Sevilla to Europa League glory thrice and his new side are second favourites to go all the way this term. However, a little like Chelsea and Marseille, they are not wholly convincing defensively. As such we think the home win and BTTS is worth chancing at big odds of 11/5.
These teams have met a number of times over the past few years and results have tended to go the way of the home side. Celtic are short-priced favourites but even at heavy odds-on we think they are worth backing. Brendan Rodgers’ men have not enjoyed the best of starts but the atmosphere at Celtic Park will be electric, as ever, and with Rosenborg not the side they once were the hosts should ease to the three points.
This is another Thursday night treat between sides who, in relative terms at least, boast a good European pedigree. The oddsmakers are finding it hard to separate them and we are inclined to think this will be a very close encounter. It is probably that these two are battling for second in the group, with AC Milan fancied to top the pile. That could make this a cagey affair, with both sides knowing that avoiding defeat would be a good result. Our odds comparison shows the draw priced at odds of 53/21 and that looks solid value under the circumstances.
The Europa League, as it has been called since the 2009-10 season, is Europe’s second most prestigious continental competition – playing second fiddle to the Champions League. However, it is just as attractive from a betting perspective with odds available on every conceivable market! Created in 1971 as the UEFA Cup, illustrious names such Juventus, Liverpool and Inter Milan (who have each lifted the trophy three times) along with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Ajax have all featured strongly in the history of the competition.
Teams who win one of their country’s qualifying domestic cup competitions or who finish just outside the Champions League qualification places in the league are entered into the following season’s Europa League. Three places are also reserved for teams topping the UEFA Fair Play table.
The competition begins with four qualifying rounds, although higher ranked sides come in at later stages depending on various factors. This is followed by the Group Stage, in which the defending champions and 10 Champions League play-off losers join the rest in 12 groups of four. After this comes the knockout phase, with the 12 group-winners and runners-up being joined in the final 32 by eight Champions League sides who finished third in their groups in that competition – often landing a team who was progressing well with a tough draw at this stage. Four rounds of two-legged ties follow before the final, played in a single match (as opposed to two legs) on the Wednesday which falls 10 days before the Champions League final.
Recent winners have included Athletico Madrid (2012 and 2010), Sevilla (2006 and 2007), Porto (2003 and 2011), Shakhtar Donetsk (2009), Zenit St Petersburg (2008) and CSKA Moscow (2005).
With the real powerhouses of European football virtually assured of Champions League qualification the competition has thrown up some unusual winners, often at very attractive odds. As shown above, it has been dominated of late by Iberian teams and those from Eastern Europe but in 2013 English clubs are looking like they might challenge for the crown.
You can check out the latest betting odds on Spurs, Newcastle, Chelsea and all the other teams in our UEFA Europa League odds comparison tool. Good luck and happy betting!