* 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.
It’s okay to admit you like the Europa League, I won’t tell anyone. Sometimes it’s a tricky competition to keep track of, let alone love, but there’s some premium-grade stuff on offer Thursday night. This week sees the culmination of the group stages and the pick of the matches is undoubtedly Napoli v Leicester.
This would probably have been the most mouth-watering match up of the group stages even without all the narrative – and there is a lot of sweet, sweet narrative here. As it goes, Leicester top Group C with eight points heading into the final matchday with Napoli in 3rd, a point back and only trailing Spartak Moscow on the dreaded head to head.
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Just two points separate top and bottom in this group with 4th-placed Legia Warsaw still having very real hopes of making it through to the knockout stages. There’s also the unwelcome addition of the 3rd-placed team dropping into the Europa Conference League for the first time ever in this edition of the competition.
So, with literally everything to play for, it’s only right that we muster up some best bets for you to ponder in this early kick off. You don’t want to miss this one so here’s your Napoli v Leicester best bets and tips.
Thursday 5.45pm: Napoli v Leicester
BT Sport 1
Napoli to Win
Both Leicester and Napoli are in pretty poor form. Napoli started on fire but they’ve fizzled out a bit recently, winning just one of their last six in all competitions. It’s a similar story for The Foxes who have won just two of their last nine.
To be fair to the Neapolitans, they’ve had a tough run including Atalanta last time out, an away day in Russia, and trips to Inter and Sassuolo. Leicester have also had a punishing program of fixtures but, crucially, both of their wins in the last nine have come at home.
They will be coming up against a fearsome test in the shape of Napoli in their own back yard here. The Foxes’ defensive issues are well known and, with their opponents scoring at least two goals in four of their last five, I think they’ll outgun Leicester.
Throw in a 2-2 draw at the King Power on game week one and I think there’s a great chance that, given the backing of a passionate home crowd, we’ll see a Napoli Win here.
Over 3.5 Goals
Over 3.5 Goals clicked in the aforementioned first meeting between the two back in September and it’s now come off in five of Napoli’s last seven. It’s absolute carnage over at the Diego Armando Maradona and it’s not much better at the King Power if you’re of the Catenaccio persuasion.
It’s landed in three of the Foxes’ last four, missing out by a solitary goal in their defeat at Aston Villa at the weekend. If you’re Bet Building then Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 should be bankers, based on the stats, but for a best bet at a bit of value I’ll plump for Over 3.5 Goals.
James Maddison to Score Anytime
I’m still not convinced Brendan Rodgers actually wants to be in the Europa League. I’m certain he doesn’t want to finish 3rd and drop into the Europa Conference knockout stages, though. I think we might see the strongest continental Leicester line up of the season so far which, frankly, wouldn’t take much doing.
If I’m right that should see James Maddison maintain his busy schedule, only Caglar Soyuncu has made more appearances than him this season. The England midfielder hasn’t been at his best so far this term but he finally looks to have played himself into form.
He’s risen up to 3rd in The Foxes’ scoring charts thanks to a run of three goals in their last four games. That swagger is back, he’s shooting more and is generally getting far more involved in the action where it matters. Given that upturn in fortunes in front of goal I think James Maddison to Score Anytime is a good bet to round us off here, especially if you consider the prices of the other main protagonists in this market.
Napoli v Leicester tips
Napoli to Win
Over 3.5 Goals
James Maddison to Score Anytime
* 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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