*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
There’s a proper kaleidoscope of footie action left to play this season, which continue on Thursday night.
First up, WSG Wattens face Rapid Vienna in the first leg of the Austrian Bundesliga’s Europa Conference League play-off final. Then at 6pm, it’s over to France, where the Ligue 1 Relegation Play-Off begins, with Ligue 2’s Auxerre at home in the first leg, against Saint-Etienne.
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Finally, there’s more Europa Conference League play-off action, this time in the Netherlands, where Vitesse and AZ Alkmaar are contesting the first leg of the tie. Ahead of these three matches, here’s a cheeky treble to keep the footie season rolling on…
*A Treble with these three bets pays at approximately 12/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com right now
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16:00, WSG Wattens v Rapid Vienna – Rapid Vienna & Both Teams To Score
With the tantalising prize of a place in the 2nd qualifying round of the Europa Conference League on the line – both teams must surely be gunning for this one!
Seriously though, WSG Wattens have had a solid end to the season, finishing top of the ‘relegation round’ of the Austrian Bundesliga with five wins and two draws. They edged past LASK 2-1 to make it to the final stage of the play-offs. There’s always goals when the team from Innsbruck are playing, with WSG having racked up 46 goals in their 32 games this season, but still finished with a -12 goal difference. WSG Wattens have scored in each of their last seven games, and have conceded in all but two of those.
Rapid Vienna also have the frustration of a devastating attack, but leaky defence, with the division’s third best attack, but conceding only one less goal than relegated Admira. Only once in Rapid’s last ten games have both teams not scored; and Rapid & WSG shared nine goals in the two games they played against each other this season – 5-2 & 2-0 wins for Rapid. So we’re predicting goals for both sides on Thursday night, with both teams to score, but Rapid Vienna to come out on top again.
18:00, Auxerre v Saint-Etienne – Auxerre to win
It’s a straight dog-fight for the remaining place in Ligue 1 for next season. Over two legs, Ligue 2’s third placed side Auxerre will play Ligue 1’s third from bottom Saint-Etienne in the relegation play off.
Given Saint-Etienne’s woeful away form, Auxerre may fancy their chances in the first leg. The Greens have picked up only three wins on the road this season, whilst Auxerre have only beaten beaten four times at home, conceding just 19 times. If they are to win, Saint-Etienne will need to turn the tide on a poor run of form that has seen them pick up just six points in their last ten games, including a run of four straight defeats that was ended by their final day draw with Nantes.
Auxerre squeezed past Sochaux on penalties to make it to this game, but in their last 14 league games of the season, dropped points only three times, with 11 wins, two draws, and a defeat at the hands of league winners Toulouse. Momentum counts for a great deal in play off matches, and it’s all in Auxerre’s favour for the first leg.
19:00, Vitesse v AZ Alkmaar – Both Teams To Score
The final game of the night is another first leg for a place in the Europa Conference League, this time coming out of the Dutch Eredivisie.
Both sides needed comeback victories in the first stage of the play-offs after both losing away, which may hand home side Vitesse the advantage in this one – although we think it’s too close to call. A good bet, though, is for both teams to score. In Vitesse’s last 6 games, 5 have had goals for both sides. AZ are also an entertaining side, with a penchant for goals, but few clean sheets to back it up. Since the turn of the year, in the league, both teams have scored in 15 out of Alkmaar’s 18 games. That includes the time these two sides last met in April, when AZ ran out at 3-1 winners. If the past is a good indicator of the future, then both teams to score is a sensible shout.
Thursday’s Football Tips
- 16:00, WSG Wattens v Rapid Vienna – Rapid Vienna & Both Teams To Score
- 18:00, Auxerre v Saint-Etienne – Auxerre to win
- 19:00, Vitesse v AZ Alkmaar – Both Teams To Score
*A Treble with these three bets pays at approximately 12/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*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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