We take a look at 4 of the Europa League matches taking place on Thursday night suggesting a bet in each game.
Liverpool are the ruling favourites to win the Europa League at 3/1 with fellow EPL side, Brighton priced at 11/1. You can get 13/1 Real Betis and AS Roma and 15/1 and better the balance.
Click here for all of the UEFA Europa League outright markets
Freiburg v West Ham – Click here to bet
Freiburg won their opening match 3-2 on the road against Olympiacos and they have warmed up for this fixture with a 2-0 home win over Augsburg in their domestic League.
West Ham also got off to a winning start when they won 3-1 at home against TSC Backa Topola, a game where they were priced as 1/10 favourites. The Hammers also had a good League win over the weekend beating Sheffield United 2-0 at home having been priced at 9/20 for the win.
This is an important game for both sides and Freiburg go into this favourites at 13/8. I think West Ham are well capable of pushing them though and I am going to be backing the draw in this one.
Suggested Bet: The draw at 27/10
AEK Athens v Ajax – Click here to bet
AEK Athens got their campaign off to a great start with an opening win in Group B away at EPL side, Brighton. They were 11/1 underdogs on the night, but after twice allowing Brighton back into the match they scored the winner in the 84th minute. AEK saw a 5 match unbeaten run ended in the League on the weekend when they lost to OFI Crete 2-0 on the road.
Ajax had to qualify for the group stages and their first game was at home to Marseilles where the fans were treated to a thrilling 3-3 draw although Ajax would have been disappointed with the result having taken a 2-0 lead and then letting in a 78th minute equaliser. Ajax have failed to win any of their last 5 matches in all competitions.
These sides last met in the Champions League in the 2018/19 season where Ajax won both matches, but this is a different AEK Athens side and I think they will get 3 points.
Suggested Bet: AEK Athens win at 12/10
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Marseille v Brighton – Click here to bet
Marseille are currently 2nd in Group B after a 3-3 draw away at Ajax on Matchday 1. They have since suffered back-to-back defeats in the League away at PSG and away at Monaco.
Brighton may be second favourites for the Tournament, but they will have to get back on the winning track soon after been rocked by AEK Athens at home in Matchday 1. They have been a mixed bag in the League and having beaten Manchester United on the road not long ago went out to Chelsea in the EFL Cup and were hammered 6-1 away by Aston Villa on the weekend, a game where the bookmakers only had Villa as light favourites.
I am undecided as to who I fancy to win this game so I am going to look at the goals markets where over 3.5 goals is trading at 14/10. There have been plenty of goals in Brighton matches of late with this bet arriving in 8 of their last 9 games and also in the last 3 Marseille matches across all competitions.
Suggested Bet: Over 3.5 goals at 14/10
Liverpool v Royale Union Saint-Gilloise – Click here to bet
Liverpool jumped to the top of Group E after a 3-1 away win over LASK in their first game. They were trailing 1-0 at half-time, but three second-half goals saw them comfortably home to justify the 3/10 favouritism. Liverpool saw a 7 match winning run in all competitions ended on the weekend when they lost 2-1 away at Tottenham.
Royale Union had to qualify for the group stages and their first game was at home to Toulouse where they were priced as 9/10 for the victory and ended up settling for a 1-1 draw when they equalised in the 69th minute. They have since come out and won 3 successive League matches.
Liverpool were on the wrong end of a controversial decision against Tottenham and I think they will come out firing here and put Union away comfortably.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Liverpool -2.5 goals at 29/20
Click here for betting on all of this week’s European action
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
