* 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.
Here we go again. The Europa League and Europa Conference League don’t mess about. It seemed like only last week we were watching the first leg of these first knockout round clashes. Oh, hang on, it was only last week.
Maybe it’s because there’s too many clubs in these competitions and there’s an unnessiary amount of games on the way to the final, but we’re straight into the second legs. The Champions League might want to take note as we’ve got a three-week wait between first and 2nd legs. Maybe the fixture computer is broken? All of this is definitely above my paygrade.
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The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com right nowAnyway, we had some cracking clashes in the 2nd and 3rd string European competitions last week, no less so than Rangers’ amazing 4-2 win at Borussia Dortmund. It’s finely poised between Napoli and Barcelona as well as Real Betis v Zenit.
I’ll also get stuck into the Europa Conference League and try to find a winning punt in the Slavia Prague v Fenerbahce clash. It should be another round of games as pulsating and invigorating as the Europa League theme tune which is no mean feat. Here’s your acca for Thursday’s 8pms across the competitions.
*An acca with these best bets pays at approximately 37/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Napoli v Barcelona – BTTS & Over 2.5 Goals
TV: BT Sport ESPN and BT Sport Extra 2
Let’s kick off in Naples where Napoli and Barcelona will battle it out to progress from the undoubted tie of the round. I know the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results but I’m having another go on Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals.
We backed this last week and watched in disbelief as chance after chance was squandered as the game went on. Barcelona’s finishing was shocking at the death and they managed to rack up 12 shots off target in total. However, the numbers are telling me this is the bet once again.
This has clicked in five of Barcelona’s last seven now and they were back to their lethal best at the weekend, winning 4-1 at Valencia. Napoli have seen both teams netting in four of their last five but they’ve not been hitting the Overs, drawing their last three 1-1.
With Barcelona’s bevvy of fresh attacking talent having another week to gel and get up to speed I think there’s a good chance they improve on their wastefulness last time. Napoli felt aggrieved not to win the first leg and I suspect we’re in for another entertaining game and, hopefully, better finishing than we saw seven days ago.
Rangers v Borussia Dortmund – Over 3.5 Goals
TV: BT Sport 2 and BT Sport Ultimate
At the risk of repeating myself, I’m going to go over old ground again for the second leg of this pulsating Rangers v Borussia Dortmund clash. We backed Over 3.5 Goals last week and the numbers are telling us it should easily land again here.
Obviously this clicked in style in the first match which had six goals and ended in a 4-2 win for Rangers. Dortmund duly followed that up with another six in their 6-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday. Their defence was a shambles last Thursday and Rangers took advantage with ruthless gusto.
Obviously they sharpened up at he weekend but that was just their second clean sheet in their last nine, a run that’s seen a bonkers 46 goals – 5.1 per match! Rangers only mustered a 1-1 draw on Sunday but they had tonnes of possession and 13 shots against Dundee United and it was the first time they scored fewer than two goals in their last five.
I think we can expect this game to play out in similar fashion to the first leg with The Gers looking to sit back and hit BVB on the counter at will. I see no reason why we shouldn’t expect another barnburner with Over 3.5 Goals again here.
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Real Betis v Zenit – Both Teams To Score & Over 2.5 Goals
It’s Real Betis v Zenit next and another good match lies in wait. The first leg finished 3-2 to the Spanish side with all five goals coming in the first half.
Betis are a bit like Dortmund in that they laugh in the face of bland, defensive football and prefer to go about things the right way. They’re not as madcap as the Germans but their last 10 games have seen 36 goals.
Zenit are a little tougher to pin down as they’ve not played a league match since December 12th and are about to resume domestic action at the weekend following a lengthy winter break. They put on a good show in the first leg but obviously showed some signs of rust.
I think Betis will triumph here but I’ll have a go on Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals. This has now landed in four successive Betis matches and, obviously, in the first leg as well.
Slavia Prague v Fenerbahce – Slavia Prague Win & BTTS
Let’s round things off in the Europa League where Slavia Prague shocked Fenerbahce 3-2 in Turkey in the first leg. The Czech side are generally pretty reserved and the first match between these two was their only with Over 2.5 Goals in their last five.
It’s a similar story for Fener who have had Overs on two occasions in their last six. However, when these two met we got fireworks and five goals in the second half last week to leave us wanting more.
I think, given the first leg result and the benefit of home advantage, we can side with Slavia Prague to Win. I also think we can bolt on some value with Both Teams To Score again.
Fenerbahce obviously have to make the running here as they take a one-goal deficit into this match. Slavia Prague have shown they’re capable of breaking down the Turkish giants but that they’re fallible at the back against a team of this quality. Slavia Prague to Win and Both Teams To Score is a very attractive price.
* 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.
Thursday football acca tips
Napoli v Barcelona – Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals
Rangers v Borussia Dortmund – Over 3.5 Goals
Real Betis v Zenit – Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals
Slavia Prague v Fenerbahce – Slavia Prague to win and Both Teams To Score
*An acca with these best bets pays at approximately 37/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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