The Europa League quarter final second legs get underway on Thursday night, and our team pick out their best bets for all four matches.
Football betting tips: Europa League
2pts Roma to win and Under 4.5 Goals v Feyenoord at 21/20 (General)
2pts Over 2.5 Goals in Union Saint-Gilloise v Bayer Leverkusen at 10/11 (General)
2pts Both Teams to Score in Sporting Lisbon v Juventus at evens (General)
1pt e.w. Christian Eriksen to score first in Sevilla v Man Utd at 20/1 (Sky Bet 1/3 1-99)
Roma v Feyenoord (agg: 0-1)
- Kick-off time: 20:00 GMT, Thursday
- TV channel: BT Sport 3
- Home 3/4 | Draw 5/2 | Away 10/3
George Gamble (@CGeorgeGamble)
Despite creating the better chances in the first leg, Italian outfit Roma find themselves needing to overcome a one goal deficit after losing 1-0 at De Kuip last week and it looks as though it could be an enthralling second leg in Rome.
Feyenoord followed up that victory with an impressive 3-0 win away to Cambuur in the Eredivisie and it serves as ideal preparation for this clash. It also marked the tenth consecutive road fixture across all competitions in which they have avoided defeat, but this will be a much tougher task.
In the 12 competitive matches that Roma have played on home soil this calendar year, they have not been involved in a single draw, winning ten and losing just twice. They’re a combative side and on home soil, they’re used to not seeing the lion's share of possession but ensure they take their chances.
This should be another fairly close encounter and it would not be a surprise to see this tie go the distance.
However, in order for that to happen, Roma need to win and in a game where goals could be scarce, backing ROMA TO WIN AND UNDER 4.5 MATCH GOALS makes plenty of appeal.
Score Prediction: Roma 2-0 Feyenoord (Sky Bet odds: 13/2)
Odds correct at 1330 BST (18/04/23)
Union Saint-Gilloise v Bayer Leverkusen (agg: 1-1)
- Kick-off time: 20:00 GMT, Thursday
- TV channel: BT Sport 5
- Home 11/4 | Draw 13/5 | Away 11/10
George Gamble (@CGeorgeGamble)
Union Saint-Gilloise are on the cusp of history as they seek to qualify for the semi-final of a European competition for the first time since 1960. They managed to secure a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Germany and on home soil, a place where they have hit the back of the net in 14 successive matches, they have every right to feel confident that they can advance into the next round.
But it will not be straightforward, especially when you consider that German outfit Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten since February and have scored in all but one of those fixtures. However, that blank did come in the weekend fixture away to Wolfsburg and boss Xabi Alonso will hope that lightning does not strike twice and that his side are able to hit the back of the net.
The hosts will need to tighten up defensively if they’re to emerge victorious here, but given they have failed to keep a clean sheet across any of their last five outings, that may be a tall order. Seven of Union Saint-Gilloise’s last nine matches have produced Over 2.5 Goals in total and with both sides looking to play on the front foot, goals look likely.
The best price on this market is 10/11 which looks quite generous and as such, the standout pick for this Europa League clash is backing OVER 2.5 GOALS.
Score Prediction: Union Saint-Gilloise 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen (Sky Bet odds: 7/1)
Odds correct at 1330 BST (18/04/23)
Sevilla v Manchester United (agg: 2-2)
- Kick-off time: 20:00 BST, Thursday
- TV Channel: BT Sport 1
- Home 12/5 | Draw 13/5 | Away 21/20
Read Tom Carnduff's (@TomC_22) full preview here
At a best price of 20/1, the appeal comes in an each-way play on CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN TO SCORE FIRST.
While the focus has been on the defence - particularly for that FA Cup semi-final against Brighton - United also face a slight problem in who will make up their attacking midfield for this one.
Marcel Sabitzer went off injured in the warm-up against Forest, while Bruno Fernandes is suspended for this one after picking up too many yellow cards.
That should see Eriksen pushed further forward into the more advanced role we were familiar with him playing in earlier in this career.
Score prediction: Sevilla 0-2 Manchester United (Sky Bet odds: 9/1)
Odds correct at 1620 BST (18/04/23)
Sporting Lisbon v Juventus (agg: 0-1)
- Kick-off time: 20:00 GMT, Thursday
- TV channel: BT Sport 4
- Home 13/10 | Draw 12/5 | Away 12/5
George Gamble (@CGeorgeGamble)
Sporting Lisbon boss Rúben Amorim gave his reassurances to fans that “the margin is so slim and we must have faith”.
He’s quite right, and the Portuguese side will consider themselves unlucky that they were unable to get on the scoresheet after creating a number of good opportunities. They have scored in their last eight home matches across all competitions, but the Lions have failed to win their previous four European home games and have suffered defeats in each of their last six two-legged ties against Italian opponents.
With the away goals rule no longer present, Juventus are aware that this tie still sits on a knife edge and will need to keep their concentration throughout. They fell to a 1-0 defeat against Sassuolo at the weekend which doesn’t serve as ideal preparation and The Old Lady have now lost three of their last four road trips.
Both teams have shown defensive vulnerabilities of late but a single goal could see this second leg clash open up and with that in mind, the even money available on BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE looks to have some value.
Score Prediction: Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Juventus (Sky Bet odds: 11/1)
Odds correct at 1330 BST (18/04/23)
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