There are dozens of exciting Europa League games in the offing this week, offering plenty of intriguing betting options. We have whittled it down to some of the most interesting matches and offered tips and predictions on them:
Salzburg vs. Nice
Salzburg and Nice have both lost their first two Europa League games and sit bottom of the group on zero points. That flies in the face of superb league form for Nice, who are top of the French league – ahead of oil rich PSG – and unbeaten with seven wins and two draws from nine games. They don’t seem to be taking the Europa League that seriously, but they really should be winning this game and the odds of 3.40 with Unibet look great. If you are feeling more cautious a Nice-draw double chance is 1.80 with 32Red.
Feyenoord vs. Zorya
Feyenoord have started the season in blistering form and are top of the Dutch league with a perfect record of nine wins out of nine. They pulled off a superb win over group favourites Man Utd in their first Europa League game but then slumped to a 1-0 defeat away at Fenerbache. They can get their Europa League campaign back on track with a win over Ukrainian side Zorya, who are without a win in four games, and the odds are good, 1.55 with William Hill.
Roma vs. Austria Vienna
Roma are in excellent form and made it three wins on the bounce with a superb victory over Napoli at the weekend, a result that catapulted them up to second in Serie A. They should win this one comfortably, so the 1.66 Ladbrokes and green listed bookmakers Paddy Power and various others are offering on Roma -1 looks good. All of Roma’s last five games have seen over 2.5 goals, so another option is backing Roma and over 2.5 goals at 1.66 with Bet Stars.
Inter vs. Southampton
Inter are on a three match losing streak and face an in-form Southampton side that are unbeaten in six and up to eighth in the Premiership. Southampton are joint top of this Europa League group, with four points from a possible six, while Inter have lost both of their Europa League matches and are bottom. Inter are favourites but you would fancy Saints to get a result at the San Siro and the odds of 1.70 that Bet365 is offering on Southampton-draw double chance look interesting.
Osmanlispor vs. Villareal
Villareal ar unbeaten this season, having won four and drawn four of their league matches to leave them fifth in La Liga and just two points off the top spot. They are also unbeaten in the Europa League and top their group with four points from a possible six. They travel to Osmanlispor, who are winless in three games and lost their last Europa League game 2-1 against a Zurich side that Villareal beat. Villareal should win this and the outright win price of 2.20 at Bet Victor and various others looks amazing. If you are feeling cautious you could back Villareal-draw double chance at 1.33 with Ladbrokes, and that should pay off as Villareal have won or drawn all their games so far this season, but it obviously offers less value.
Dundalk vs. Zenit
This should prove a bit of a mismatch as Russian powerhouse Zenit St Petersburg travel to Ireland to face the unheralded Dundalk. The Irish side have acquitted themselves well so far, drawing with AZ Alkmaar and beating Maccabi Tel Aviv to sit second in the group behind Zenit, who beat both of those teams. But this will be Dundalk’s sternest test. Zenit are joint top of the Russian league and are a really excellent side. The odds on Zenit aren’t great, just 1.25, but you could go for a Zenit -1 handicap and get 1.73. Last time out Zenit beat AZ Alkmaar 5-0 and they could rack up a big scoreline here. Another option is Zenit and over 2.5 goals, which is 1.85 with Bet Stars. Zenit have scored nine and conceded three in their two games so far, so with an average of six goals per game the over 2.5 goals looks likely.
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