Fast Results

Scores

Racecards

Our best bets for the latest round of Europa League fixtures

Europa League betting preview: Best bets and stats for Thursday's Matchday Three action, including Manchester United, Arsenal and Wolves

By Sporting Life

Football

Thu October 24, 2019 · 5y ago

Matchday Three of the Europa League group stages is here - we look ahead to the action.

Recommended bets

1pt Fred to be shown a card at 9/4

1pt Arsenal -2 on the handicap at 21/10

0.5pt Francisco Soares to score two or more at 11/2

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record

FC Porto v Rangers (George Pitts)

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard

These two sides have both won their home game in the Europa League group stages and lost on the road and it could be a tough outing for Steven Gerrard's men in Portugal on Thursday.

Porto have won 10 of their last 11 in all competitions and are gathering pace, with forwards Francisco Soares, Marega Moussa and Ze Luis all proving sharp in front of goal.

Soares is the one with interest here, available to score anytime at around 5/4 but the more appealing price is on the Brazilian to bag a brace.

The 28-year-old, who scored in Porto's 5-0 Portuguese Cup win at the weekend, has two goals to his name in two appearances in Europe.

He came on as a substitute in the loss to Feyenoord earlier this month, taking an incredible seven shots in 28 minutes, while in the club's group opener against Young Boys in September, he played the first 81 minutes, netting a brace and taking five shots.

Rangers conceded two on the road at Young Boys last time out and Porto's dangerous attack can exploit their defence with Soares likely to be in the thick of the action.

Best bet: Francisco Soares to score two or more at 11/2

Partizan Belgrade v Manchester United (George Pitts)

Manchester United celebrate Marcus Rashford's goal against Liverpool

Manchester United's weekend performance against Liverpool was much improved, but the draw means they are now without a win (in 90 minutes) in all competitions in their last six attempts.

You would think initially that this game could be ideal to turn it around, but it's a trip to Serbia where Partizan's home crown will make it a tough and intimidating atmosphere to play in.

That makes the price of just over 2/1 on the hosts tempting, but the preference is to avoid the match result for this reason. The interest here lies in the bookings market, and with Brazilian midfielder Fred at a best price of 9/4.

He has shown an improvement in recent weeks, with hints of why United forked out around £52million for him in the summer of 2018. He has a booking to his name in both the Europa League and Premier League this term, but he averages around two fouls per game in the European competition and his job could be slightly different for this one.

Young left-back Brandon Williams could start with Luke Shaw injured and, in an intimidating environment and difficult circumstances, Fred may be forced to cover and help out on a number of occasions on the left-hand side, as they come up against former Red Devils winger Zoran Tosic.

It has all the makings to be a difficult tie for United and Fred may be forced to commit cynical fouls in order to stop or frustrate the hosts.

Best bet: Fred to be shown a card at 9/4

Slovan Bratislava v Wolves (Paul Higham)

Raul Jimenez celebrates scoring for Wolves

It'll be an odd experience for Wolves as their game at Slovan Bratislava is officially being played behind closed doors as a result of sanctions against the Slovakian side for racism, yet it'll be a sell-out crowd of 21,000.

UEFA have allowed the tickets to be sold to children, under the age of 14, so it will be a young but still packed out crowd that welcome Wolves, who have been about as up-and-down as you can get this season.

Wins at Manchester City and Galatasaray have been mixed in with a home loss to Braga in this competition, so at odds-on they're short enough to back to win what could be a tricky test in a tricky atmosphere.

Slovan are unbeaten in nine and averaged almost 3.5 goals in those games, but they don't have the best defence and, with Raul Jimenez in great form and bagging six goals in eight Europa League games, he's well worth being on the right side of.

Best bet: Raul Jimenez to score anytime at 13/10

Arsenal v Vitoria Guimaraes (Paul Higham)

Delight for Arsenal boss Unai Emery

It may have been a bad night at the office in Sheffield, but this is a great bounce back game for the Gunners who, for all the doom and gloom after Bramall Lane, have lost just twice this season and have a fine home record with just one loss in their last 17 at home.

Unai Emery’s side are a different animal at home, and also in this competition where they’ve kept clean sheets in their last seven group games – and they are well poised to make that eight with Guimaraes failing to score in their two group loses this season.

Arsenal are 10-0 up in goals in their last three home games, and just taking a simple form line they beat Standard Liege 4-0, who beat Guimaraes 2-0 at home in this competition, so there's no reason to think there'll be anything other than a comfortable home win.

A win to nil and Arsenal to score three are all tempting alternatives and slightly safer options at evens or just over, but we're banking on the Gunners coming out to prove a point, and the one thing they can do at home is bang plenty of goals in.

Best bet: Arsenal -2 on the handicap at 21/10

Getafe v Basel (George Pitts)

LaLiga side Getafe surprised many when they actually qualified for this season's competition, so to make a perfect start is some going.

After failing to win their first four in LaLiga, they are now finding their stride, following up their away win at Krasnador in the Europa League with back-to-back wins in Spain.

They now have a home clash against Basel to make it four wins in a row and they are well fancied to edge the Swiss in what could be a high-scoring encounter.

Forward Angel Rodriguez has already netted three in total in this competition, averaging 4.5 shots per game. At 2/1 to score-and-win, he could be good value against a Basel side which conceded two on the road at Trabzonspor at the start of the month.

Best bet: Angel Rodriguez to score-and-win at 2/1