Free football betting tips: Europa League action on Thursday October 29
The Europa League returns on Thursday and Tom Carnduff has three best bets for games involving Arsenal, Leicester and Tottenham.
Recommended bets
1pt James Maddison to score anytime in AEK Athens v Leicester at 17/5
1pt Harry Winks to be shown a card in Antwerp v Tottenham at 7/2
1pt Reiss Nelson to score anytime in Arsenal v Dundalk at 7/4
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
AEK Athens v Leicester
- 17:55 GMT on BT Sport 1
- Match odds: Home 10/3 | Draw 13/5 | Away 8/11
Leicester are experiencing an odd start to the season. They followed up a convincing 5-2 victory over Manchester City with home defeats to West Ham and Aston Villa. The good news for them here is that they opened their Europa League campaign with a 3-0 win over Zorya and beat Arsenal 1-0 last time out.
In AEK Athens, they face a side who are struggling for form. They have won just one of their last four across all competitions and were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Braga on Matchday One. For Leicester, at an odds-on price, they should have enough to secure victory as they aim for top spot in the group.
Brendan Rodgers should field a strong side and that could mean a start for James Maddison, who has featured in the starting XI for their last two contests. The attacking midfielder found the net against Zorya which takes his season tally to two.
Maddison scored nine across all competitions last season and he possesses a significant attacking threat when he is involved in the starting line-up. He posted four shots in the win over Arsenal and three against Zorya, where he came off in the 65th minute.
Sky Bet offer 11/8 on Maddison having three or more total shots in Athens but there is a best price of 17/5 available with a couple of bookmakers on the attacking midfielder finding the net. With a few shots expected, it's worth taking the better price on one of those going in.
It's probably worth waiting until those starting line-ups are out but he did find the net as a substitute against City so even a second-half appearance doesn't make it impossible for Maddison to score. Of course, it would stand more of a chance if he is starting.
Rodgers has used him in the last two games though and he should be given another start here. With Leicester odds-on, the best bet comes in backing Maddison to be among the goals at 17/5, although the 3/1 across the board still provides appeal if that higher price goes.
Score prediction: AEK Athens 0-2 Leicester (Sky Bet odds: 15/2)
Best bet: James Maddison to score anytime at 17/5
Antwerp v Tottenham
- 17:55 GMT on BT Sport 2
- Match odds: Home 9/2 | Draw 16/5 | Away 8/15
I was chatting to a mate the other day about the Premier League and just how wide open it is this season. "Who do you think will win it?" "Tottenham" was the reply. I don't think I've ever considered Spurs as serious title contenders until now.
Sure, they do have issues and they are far from the perfect side but none of the other big hitters look as if they will be anywhere near their previous heights. Regardless of what happens in the Premier League though, Tottenham do possess the quality to go far in this tournament.
Antwerp represent a tough test given their start to the Belgian league campaign but this game won't necessarily define Tottenham's future fortunes in the Europa League. With Spurs odds-on, the best value comes in the cards market and backing Harry Winks to catch the referee's attention.
The official for this game is Maurizio Mariani. Three of his four club games have seen five or more cards so far this season and we could expect that run to continue as he officiates a Tottenham side with the second-highest amount of average fouls per game in the Premier League this season (13.2).
Winks played the full 90 minutes of last week's victory over LASK and should be given another start here. He had three fouls but avoided a booking there; similar here should see him shown a card given the referee in charge.
It's 7/2 with Betfair and Paddy Power that Winks is shown a card here but the 3/1 on offer elsewhere is still good enough value if that price goes. The best outright option is taking Tottenham to win with both teams scoring at a price of 15/8, but the best bet is backing Winks to go into the book.
Score prediction: Antwerp 1-2 Tottenham (Sky Bet odds: 15/2)
Best bet: Harry Winks to be shown a card at 7/2
Arsenal v Dundalk
- 17:55 GMT on BT Sport 2
- Match odds: Home 1/14 | Draw 9/1 | Away 28/1
Arsenal secured victory in their opening encounter in Vienna and they should make it two from two as they take on a Dundalk side who failed to protect the lead in a 2-1 defeat to Molde on Matchday One.
The home side are heavy odds-on favourites for success. 1/14 provides no value in any context and it's not even worth including in the Thursday accumulators; the Gunners should win comfortably as the price suggests. Even taking Arsenal on the -3 handicap comes up with a price of 5/4 which highlights just how fancied the hosts are to secure the three points.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette both 1/2 and shorter for a goal anytime, two players who aren't even likely to be involved, the value comes in looking around the Arsenal squad and Reiss Nelson provides intriguing value at 7/4 for a goal anytime.
The winger has seen opportunities limited so far and came on late in the victory over Rapid Vienna. His involvement in that squad, and the calibre of opponent on Thursday night, could see him given a start at the Emirates. If he does start, that 7/4 will look even better than it does now.
Mikel Arteta revealed in his pre-match press conference that Nelson turned down an opportunity to leave the club on loan in the summer to fight for a place in the team at Arsenal. The fact his name came up suggests that he is in the picture.
"It was mixed reasons," Arteta said on Nelson's decision to turn down a loan move away. "Reiss was really convinced that he wanted to fight to stay here.
"When you see that willingness and that passion and that security in a player you feel tempted to keep him even though you know that opportunities are going to be restricted and he is not going to have a lot of continuity in his play.
"But things change very quickly and if he starts playing and playing well and he does what he can do, why not? He could start to play more games."
Arsenal should win and win comfortably, but with very little value across the board, Nelson's 7/4 price on a goal anytime is really worth backing if he starts.
Score prediction: Arsenal 4-0 Dundalk (Sky Bet odds: 11/2)
Best bet: Reiss Nelson to score anytime at 7/4
Odds correct at 1855 GMT (28/10/20)
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