* 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.
8pm: Bayer Leverkusen v Young Boys – Both Teams to Score
When these sides met last week, the clash in Switzerland was one of 10 Europa League games in which both teams scored. And, given their form over the weekend in their domestic leagues, it’s very likely that we’ll see plenty of goals between these sides tonight.
In last week’s head-to-head in the Stade De Suisse, there were a total of 17 shots on target in the home side’s 4-3 victory and what sets the scene for another goal-fest this evening is that Leverkusen so nearly got a draw after trailing 3-0 at the break. The Bundesliga outfit will fancy their chances to progress, knowing that they may need only one goal to advance, and they warmed up for this Thursday clash with a 1-1 draw away to Augsburg, when they again showed their fighting spirit to snatch a late equaliser.
Their home form this season has been very solid too, scoring in nine of their 11 games in the league when hosts, and they recently downed Borussia Dortmund, which proves how strong they have been at the BayArena. As for Young Boys, given Leverkusen’s comeback last week, they will know that if they are to remain in the Europa League, then in all likelihood, they’re going to have to score at least two goals.
The Swiss champions have been on an excellent run of late and they head into Thursday’s game having won seven matches on the bounce in all competitions and averaging 2.85 goals per game. Their unbeaten run stretches back to early December and in Christian Fassnacht, Theoson Siebatcheu, Meschak Elia and Jean-Pierre Nsame, who has scored in his last three Europa League games, they have plenty of firepower heading into battle this evening. So, if you’re counting on one game where both teams will score this Thursday, put this clash at the top of your list.
8pm: Dinamo Zagreb v FK Krasnodar – Both Teams To Score
Another game from last week where both teams found the back of the net and in that five-goal thriller, which the Croatian side won, there was plenty of goalmouth activity. Similar to the Leverkusen–Young Boys game, this is a match where both sides will fancy their chances but, judged on last week’s first leg, it’s hard to see Dinamo Zagreb not winning.
They were good value for their 3-2 victory, even though they were pegged back twice, and arguably, they could have won with a bit more to spare. Their overall form in 2021 has been has been good but it will give the visitors hope that the two games in which the Croatian side have lost this year have been on home soil and on each occasion, they conceded two goals.
On the plus side, they do have plenty of scoring ability at the other end and it will be expected that they score at least once, with Nigerian Iyayi Atiemwen having scored in five of his 11 starts since November. Krasnodar will be rueing the opportunity from last week’s first leg, given that they had home advantage, but they will know they’re far from being out of this tie.
Their 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in December’s Champions League clash will stand to them here and they head into this game having scored in their last seven matches, both home and away. And in Swedish international Marcus Berg, who has scored four goals in his last four starts, they won’t be found wanting when it comes to taking their chances. Back Both Teams To Score here.
8pm: PSV v Olympiakos – Both Teams To Score
PSV head into this game knowing that they must score at least two goals if they are to advance to the last 16 stage and Eran Zahavi’s first half brace last week will give them plenty of confidence of doing that in the Philips Stadion tonight. Despite losing 4-2, they were slightly the better side in Greece last week and they were ultra-impressive in their 3-1 win over fifth-placed Vitesse Arnhem at the weekend, a game in which they had 15 shots on target.
Sitting in second spot in the Dutch Eredivisie, they have won every game at home this season bar one and it will be a major boost to their chances of progressing that former Dortmund striker Mario Gotze got off the mark for 2021 with a brace last Sunday too. Between Gotze and Donyell Malen, who also scored at the weekend, they have a big chance of finding the net at least once here.
Saying that, they’ll need to be at their best to beat off the Greek champions who have only lost once in their last 17 games in all competitions and are currently running away with the Greek Super League. And in every single one of those 17 matches, they have found the net on at least one occasion.
With the Greek title all but wrapped up, they could afford to rest nine of their 11 players at the weekend, who started against PSV last week, and with the likes of Youssef El Arabi, who’s bagged 20 goals this season, likely to return, it’s hard to see them not finding the net at some stage and Both Teams Scoring.
8pm: AC Milan v Crvena Zvezda – Both Teams To Score
Despite having won the Champions League, or the European Cup as it was back then, in 1990 and 1991, it’s surprising that both AC Milan and Red Star Belgrade – officially called Crvena Zvezda – haven’t met more times in Europe. Last week’s very entertaining 2-2 draw was just the fifth ever clash between the clubs and the first match-up in 14 years.
But it proved to be worth the wait. It was a game full of drama with two penalties, one own goal and a sending off and having been reduced to ten men, Red Star still managed to salvage a share of the spoils courtesy of a last minute equaliser. So, let’s hope we get something similar in the San Siro tonight.
It is the visitors who head into this game in much better form, having lost just once this season in all competitions, which covers 33 games. That record is up there with the best in Europe and they’ve also won their last 10 matches in the Serbian League. And it’s not just their domestic record which has been impressive, either.
In their 11 games in Europe this season, they’ve only lost over 90 minutes on one occasion. So, even knowing that they have to score at least twice to progress, they’ll fancy their chances of winning tonight. AC Milan might be odds-on favourites to advance but there are plenty of other favourites more appealing on tonight’s Europa League schedule when you take into account the form of the Italian giants.
Last Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to rivals Inter will have hurt them badly, their second defeat to Antonio Conte’s side this year, and prior to last week’s draw in Belgrade, they were comprehensively beaten by Spezia in Serie A. On the upside, it is hard to see them not scoring and it wouldn’t be a surprise if new signing Mario Mandzukic opened his tally after his recent move from Al-Duhail. So, should AC Milan find the net in this game, then it’s highly likely the Both Teams To Score option will be a winner come full-time.
Rob’s BTTS Thursday acca
8pm: Bayer Leverkusen v Young Boys – Both Teams to Score
8pm: Dinamo Zagreb v FK Krasnodar – Both Teams To Score
8pm: PSV v Olympiakos – Both Teams To Score
8pm: AC Milan v Crvena Zvezda – Both Teams To Score
These selections in an acca-insured four fold will give you odds of around 5/1 with Paddy Power.
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 widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
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