* 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.
We’ve just passed the halfway mark of the Europa League and Europa Conference League group stages and the finishing line is in sight. For the British clubs in action at 8pm on Thursday there’s plenty of work still to do with Celtic, Leicester and Tottenham all 3rd in their respective competitions and groups.
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Celtic have Ferencvaros on their radar on Thursday while Leicester are hosting Spartak Moscow and Antonio Conte’s new side, Tottenham, tackle Vitesse Arnhem in his first game. We’ll throw those ingredients into the mix and also have a look at one of the more glamorous ties where Lazio travel to Marseille.
It all boils down to a rather tasty four-fold acca to hopefully keep us in fine fettle for Thursday’s 8pm Europa League and Europa Conference League ties. Let’s get stuck in.
* These four best bets in an acca pays approximately 25/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
8pm: Ferencvaros v Celtic – Celtic to Win
TV: BT Sport 2
Celtic finally seem to be getting their act together after a pretty woeful 18 months or so. Following a shaky August and September things have started to click for Ange Postecoglou and Co. They had racked up five straight wins before the disappointing 0-0 draw with Livingston at the weekend.
In the Europa League it’s been hard work, they’ve got three points from just one win after a thrilling 4-3 loss to Betis and a 4-0 battering against Bayer Leverkusen. They did beat Thursday’s opponents Ferencvaros 2-0 last time out and need a repeat if they’re to keep their slim hopes of qualification alive – and I think they’ll do it.
The Hungarian side are in pretty shoddy form, though they have won their last two domestically in the cup and against the second-bottom team in their league. However, with The Bhoys starting to piece things together, and with that last Europa League result still fresh in the mind, I’m happy to side with Celtic to Win at a decent price.
8pm: Leicester v Spartak Moscow – Both Teams To Score
TV: BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate
It’s been an up and down season for Leicester with their run of three wins on the bounce ended by a draw and a loss in their last two perfectly summing the campaign as a whole in microcosm. Their struggles haven’t been confined to domestic action and they find themselves 3rd in Group C, behind Napoli in 2nd on goal difference.
They face 4th-placed Spartak Moscow on Thursday knowing they need to shape up. They’ve won one, drawn one and lost one in the Europa League so far and it’s probably fair to say Brendan Rodgers has been using these games as extended training exercises with plenty of chopping and changing.
One thing that has been consistent is goals, and lots of them, including seven The Foxes’ dramatic 4-3 win over Spartak earlier in this campaign. With the Russian side showing they can mix it with the bigger boys, beating Napoli on matchday two, I expect them to breach this leaky Leicester defence and for Both Teams To Score.
8pm: Marseille v Lazio – The Draw
TV: BT Sport Extra 2
Hopping across the channel next for Lazio’s trip to Marseille in Group E. The Italians are 2nd, one point ahead of their French counterparts who lie in 3rd with three to play. Marseille are yet to win, drawing all of their games to date, and they need to get some victories quickly if they’re to avoid the dreaded Europa Conference League.
Lazio, for their part, have won one, drawn one and lost one so far with surprise table toppers Galatasaray taking all three points when they met on matchday one. Since then it’s been tight and cagey with these two drawing 0-0 last timeout.
Marseille also drew 0-0 with Gala and 1-1 with Lokomotiv Moscow so goals have been in short supply. Under 2.5 Goals feels a very safe bet if that’s how you want to go but, for a bit more bang for you buck, I’m siding with The Draw as the most likely outcome for these two cagey, goal-shy teams. Don’t be surprised if this ends 0-0.
8pm: Tottenham v Vitesse Arnhem – Tottenham to Win to Nil
TV: BT Sport ESPN
And finally to the aforementioned dreaded Europa Conference League as the fiery Antonio Conte takes charge of his first Spurs game against Vitesse Arnhem at the imaginatively-named Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. If anyone can turn this mob from perennial bottlers to hard-nosed winners it’s Conte.
But how will he approach this match? I have a feeling he’d rather sack this competition off altogether and 3rd will suit just fine. On the other hand this is a valuable chance to take a look at his squad and see if the penny’s dropped with any of them after just a few days of his coaching.
Knowing Conte I think he’ll demand a win and a good win at that. Vitesse won the first game between these two 1-0 but I think we’ll see a reverse here with a narrow home win and an improved defensive display as Tottenham Win to Nil.
Thursday’s 8pm Europa acca
Ferencvaros v Celtic – Celtic to Win
Leicester v Spartak Moscow – Both Teams To Score
Marseille v Lazio – The Draw
Tottenham v Vitesse Arnhem – Tottenham to Win to Nil
* These four best bets in an acca pays approximately 25/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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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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