* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
There was a time when I was a cynic. I spoke openly about how letting every other team into European competition diluted the importance of it, and the only ones benefitting were the coach companies.
And then I stopped being a grump, realised it’s a boost for local economies, fans of teams who probably never dreamt of Europe get to travel the continent and above all else – we’re allowed to learn the names of football clubs that look like chemical compounds.
There’s still tonnes of British and Irish interest this late in the competition too, which is wild.
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More often than not, these European qualifiers are a snoozefest where we know the Premier League sides will get through and coast their way to the last four without blinking.
Now, we’re monitoring a scoreline between Galatasaray and St. Johnstone – which is one of my favourite sentences I’ve ever written.
Think about it – a small side get to travel to a city so full of historical gems, eat amazing local food, come to terms with a tricky to grasp language and sail down a majestic river too, taking in all the sights. Perth really does have a charm. Here’s a midweek acca cracker.
The below picks in a Paddy Power Acca will give you odds of around 15/1. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
18:00: PAOK v Bohemians – Both Teams to Score
Jesus, if there’s a story of these qualifiers, it’s Keith Long’s Bohemians. Written off after their opening series of games as weak compared to previous squads, Bohs have probably been the form team in the league ever since – doing so with a combination of exhilarating youth prospects and Keith Buckley, Bohs just keep producing moments.
Now, I don’t know if going to Greece is a step too far, but they clearly made the most of PAOK’s inability to track midfield runners in their 2-1 first-leg win last week. Back them to score.
18:30: Fola Esch v Linfield – Linfield and the Draw
I stayed in the same hotel as Fola Esch in Belfast last week. Two different members of their squad pushed on pull doors and then tried the same thing again. I’d have wagered any money in the world that they’d be thumped at Windsor Park.
But no, that will have to wait for Luxembourg. Lindfield were somewhat blindsided by Fola Esch, who really weren’t great technically and still look a touch blessed to be in the tie, let alone 2-1 ahead on aggregate. Linfield won’t be beaten over there.
19:00: St Johnstone v Galatasaray – Galatasaray to Win
Apart from all the logic that sends you this way – the fact this shouldn’t be close despite the 1-1 draw in Istanbul and the associated hilarity that comes with that – how often will you get the chance to back Patrick van Aanholt, DeAndre Yedlin, Ryan Babel, Radamel Falcao, Fernando Muslera, Arda Turan and Sofiane Feghouli to win in Perth? Should be enough for anyone.
19:00: Teuta Durres v Shamrock Rovers – Teuta (+1)
Don’t get me wrong – this shower are absolutely brutal but their ability to defend in such tight spaces is unrivalled. It took an academy product with the freshest legs in a 25km radius of Tallaght to nab a very late winner against the Albanians and they won’t have that luxury this time. For all that Rovers dominated the ball in that 1-0 win, this tie is far from over.
20:00: Dundalk v Vitesse – Vitesse to Win
The first 25 minutes of this were about as dominant a performance as I’ve seen put up against a League of Ireland team in some time. And while I can comfortably admit that Dundalk deserved their goals due to the brilliance associated with each, the fact remains only a lack of killer instinct stopped Vitesse from turning Dundalk over.
Knowing what they know now, I’m not so sure it won’t be a continuation of the opening 25 minutes in the Netherlands – only extended.
Thursday’s European acca:
18:00: PAOK v Bohemians – Both Teams to Score
18:30: Fola Esch v Linfield – Linfield and the Draw
19:00: St Johnstone v Galatasaray – Galatasaray to Win
19:00: Teuta Durres v Shamrock Rovers – Teuta (+1)
20:00: Dundalk v Vitesse – Vitesse to Win
The below picks in a Paddy Power Acca will give you odds of around 15/1. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
ACCA INSURANCE
If one leg of your 4+ fold Acca lets you down, you get up to £/€10 back as a free bet. Customers can qualify for 1 Acca Insurance per day up to £/€10. The free bets will be credited by 12pm the following day.
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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