* 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.
Do you remember when you were in school, and during your geography classes amidst your balding middle-aged teacher speaking about the breakup of Yugoslavia, you started thinking about the person you fancied while biting the sleeve of your jumper without a care in the world, only to have your mother rip into you for it when you got home?
Well, maybe if you’d paid attention, you’d have heard of some of the countries these Europa Conference teams come from. All jokes aside, the addition of the tournament has not only made punting more interesting on any given Thursday, it’s also provided us with some hilarious trips for bigger clubs that they’d never in their wildest dreams envisage taking.
NEW TO PADDY POWER?
I bring you back to Galatasaray going to Perth in Scotland last week as my personal favourite example. But now we’re at the business end of both this and the Europa League – and these games all of a sudden start meaning a great deal rather than being what felt like a trial run for the longest time.
This, my friends, is your weekly Europa League/Europa Conference accumulator advisory. Admittedly we need to work on the title, but you won’t be complaining when you’re quids in. To the drawing board!
The below picks in a Paddy Power Acca will give you odds of around 10/1. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
5pm: Flora Tallinn v Shamrock Rovers – Shamrock Rovers to Win
This Rovers team are not only the best-equipped Irish unit to progress in Europe since that Dundalk run in the Europa League group stages, they’re also getting a handy route to this tournament proper.
Flora Tallinn are no strangers to Irish sides and while the box score hasn’t always favoured them they’ve always been a touch weaker than we’d care to admit after we fail to progress.
Rovers won’t make that mistake now, and this experienced unit is one that reminds me of the side that went to Belgrade and beat Partizan to get into the group stages of European football a decade ago. I think Shamrock Rovers will have enough to Win this one.
6.30pm: Trabzonspor v Roma – Roma to Win
Ah, Jose. His first proper game back will involve being away from home in Europe – where he’s always been most comfortable. There’s something quite sweet about him Rome. A tactical dinosaur landing in an ancient civilization. I joke, I joke.
It’s an appointment that, if nothing else, will produce the expected in these situations. They’ll make hard work of it, but ultimately get the job done so he can say how ‘professional’ his unit were and that results are all that matter. They are, particularly if you’re punting. You have to be on the Roma Win.
7pm: Rennes v Rosenborg – Rennes to Win
When in doubt, back a French team at home in Europe. The funny thing about countries like Germany and France is that they take their European competition so seriously, that no matter how weak the tournament is, the league is strong enough that anyone in the top ten should absolutely annihilate whoever they’re drawn against.
And this is just another one of those fine examples. Rennes to Win is our pick here.
7.45pm: Fenerbahce v HJK Helsinki – Fenerbahce to Win
Here are some fun facts about HJK. Their actual full title is Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi. They’ve also got an ice skating team as well as a football club. I’ve yet to confirm if there’s any crossover in personnel – their press officer hasn’t gotten back to me.
And they’ve two players of note – Daniel O’Shaughnessy who more sounds like he plays Junior B gaelic football and is a first cousin of my missus than a Finnish full back, and a bloke called David Browne, who I’ve been reliably informed does not drink multipacks of Carling on his lunch break, but instead was born in Papua New Guinea.
Oh, and yeah – they’re going to get thumped. Fenerbahce to win keeps us rolling.
8pm: Olympiacos v Slovan Bratislava – Olympiacos to Win
The fun thing about this is I know a bit about both clubs and didn’t even have to Google. Olympiacos are fun because they, like every Greek champion since the beginning of time (which ironically took place in Athens), rely on veterans in their thirties still being able to move, but be just about grey enough in the hair that they no longer have to pay them a wedge.
Olympiacos can boast Mathieu Valbuena and Yann M’Vila. The latter isn’t even that far removed from playing at a far higher level, either. Game over for Slovan. We’re on Olympiacos to Win to round us off.
Thursday Euro acca
5pm: Flora Tallinn v Shamrock Rovers – Shamrock Rovers to Win
6.30pm: Trabzonspor v Roma – Roma to Win
7pm: Rennes v Rosenborg – Rennes to Win
7.45pm: Fenerbahce v HJK Helsinki – Fenerbahce to Win
8pm: Olympiacos v Slovan Bratislava – Olympiacos to Win
The above picks in an acca-insured five fold will give you odds of around 10/1. 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.
READ MORE
- ‘Arsenal can no longer visit Rwanda if Aubameyang is sold’, says president
- Jack Grealish spotted in Birmingham with massive “I’m sorry” balloon
- Spurs hire Dog The Bounty Hunter to track down Harry Kane
The Paddy Power Guide To Responsible Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
