AZ Alkmaar v Augsburg
Thursday October 22, 18:00
Live on BT Sport Extra
We've already profited twice in this column from opposing Augsburg, and I suspect their struggles will continue on Thursday evening. The Bavarians exceeded all expectations last season as they finished fifth in the Bundesliga, but a collective loss of confidence and a thin squad have contributed to a dismal campaign so far.
Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to newly-promoted Darmstadt saw Augsburg sink to the foot of the Bundesliga, and they have won just one of their first nine matches. To make matters worse, the club's first ever European campaign is shaping up to be a disaster. Despite taking the lead in Bilbao they were eventually swept aside 3-1 by Athletic, and their maiden home game in continental competition ended in a 3-1 reverse against Partizan Belgrade.
Given how badly the team is struggling, I'm amazed that Augsburg are favourites to win against AZ in the Netherlands. Keeper Marwin Hitz has admitted his team aren't getting the basics right, and coach Markus Weinzierl has gone from being one of the hottest properties in Germany to a man that may lose his job if the malaise continues.
AZ have made a modest start to the campaign, but they impressively beat Athletic Club 2-1 in their most recent Europa League outing. The Cheese Farmers have won their last four games in all competitions at their AFAS Stadion, scoring at least twice in all four victories. Against an Augsburg side that is playing abysmally, and that has an eye on the weekend's trip to Borussia Dortmund, AZ should pick up a positive result.
Recommended Bet
Back AZ Alkmaar Draw No Bet at 2.06
Partizan Belgrade v Athletic Bilbao
Thursday October 22, 18:00
Live on BT Sport Extra
Partizan Belgrade have raised a few eyebrows so far, as wins over AZ Alkmaar and Augsburg have taken them a long way down the road towards the last 32. Despite this European success, some patchy domestic results have cost coach Zoran Milinkovic his job, and former Partizan player Ljubinko Drulovic will be in charge for the first time on Thursday.
Partizan have already racked up six goals in the group stage, and it's worth bearing in mind that they pushed Champions League regulars BATE Borisov all the way in the UCL qualifiers earlier this season. In the Champions League, Partizan have won four of their last five home games, while in the Europa League they have only lost one of their last seven matches on home soil.
Athletic Bilbao are formidable opponents, and veteran striker Aritz Aduriz is on superb form (eight goals in his last eight games), but the Basques are struggling to pick up results on the road. Away from San Mames, Athletic Club haven't won in eight matches this term, and their last road win was in May. Ernesto Valverde's men blew a great chance to end that run in Galicia at the weekend, as they drew 2-2 at Deportivo La Coruna despite leading 2-0 with ten minutes to go.
Given Athletic Club's problems on the road, and the fact that Partizan are excelling so far in this competition, I'm happy to take advantage of the hosts' inflated odds.
Recommended Bet
Back Partizan Belgrade Draw No Bet at 2.64
Molde v Celtic
Thursday October 22, 20:05
Live on BT Sport ESPN
Celtic's group-stage campaign has been highly entertaining so far for the neutral, but for their fans and their coach Ronny Deila, it has been laced with frustration. The Scottish Premiership leaders twice surrendered a lead against Ajax in Amsterdam, ultimately having to settle for a 2-2 draw. The scoreline was the same when the Bhoys faced Fenerbahce at Parkhead, but this time Delia's men squandered a 2-0 advantage.
If we look at Celtic's recent efforts in the Europa League, there are usually plenty of goals involved. Examining this season and last season, we see that seven out of ten UEL games have featured at least three goals, and six of those seven contained at least four goals.
Molde are a massive 19 points off top spot in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, and they look almost certain to miss out on European qualification for next season. They have responded by bringing back club hero Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who won back-to-back league titles in his first spell as boss.
Molde are at least making the most of their involvement in this term's Europa League, having beaten Fenerbahce 3-1 in Turkey, and held Ajax to a 1-1 draw.
Domestically, Molde average almost two goals per game, and there tend to be goals in their European adventures. In MFK's last ten home games in the Europa League, there have been at least two goals in every single one, and an Over 2.5 Goals bet has paid out five times. It's also worth considering that Molde's two home games in the Champions League qualifiers ended 5-0 and 3-3.
Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 Goals at 1.89
Dnipro v Saint Etienne
Thursday October 22, 18:00
Live on BT Sport Extra
After reaching last season's Europa League final, Ukrainian side Dnipro have made a strong start to this season's competition. After battling back to draw 1-1 with Lazio thanks to a last-gasp equaliser, Myron Markevych's well-organised outfit then won 1-0 at Rosenborg.
Dnipro have won their last five games in all competitions, and they have won five of their last six Europa League "home games" (some have been played in Kiev because of security concerns), including a 1-0 success against St Etienne last season.
Saint Etienne have lost three of their last four matches in all competitions, and the win they did register was at home to Ligue 1's bottom side Gazelec Ajaccio. In this season's Europa League, Les Verts needed a late equaliser to scramble a 2-2 draw at home to Rosenborg, and they lost 3-2 at Lazio. Striker Robert Beric and defender Moustapha Bayal Sall are both suspended after they were sent off at the Stadio Olimpico.
With a huge domestic game against PSG coming up, Christophe Galtier may not select his strongest available side, and I suspect a rock-solid Dnipro side will be able to repeat last season's victory against ASSE.
Recommended Bet
Back Dnipro to win at 2.12
Thursday October 22, 18:00
Live on BT Sport Extra
We've already profited twice in this column from opposing Augsburg, and I suspect their struggles will continue on Thursday evening. The Bavarians exceeded all expectations last season as they finished fifth in the Bundesliga, but a collective loss of confidence and a thin squad have contributed to a dismal campaign so far.
Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to newly-promoted Darmstadt saw Augsburg sink to the foot of the Bundesliga, and they have won just one of their first nine matches. To make matters worse, the club's first ever European campaign is shaping up to be a disaster. Despite taking the lead in Bilbao they were eventually swept aside 3-1 by Athletic, and their maiden home game in continental competition ended in a 3-1 reverse against Partizan Belgrade.
Given how badly the team is struggling, I'm amazed that Augsburg are favourites to win against AZ in the Netherlands. Keeper Marwin Hitz has admitted his team aren't getting the basics right, and coach Markus Weinzierl has gone from being one of the hottest properties in Germany to a man that may lose his job if the malaise continues.
AZ have made a modest start to the campaign, but they impressively beat Athletic Club 2-1 in their most recent Europa League outing. The Cheese Farmers have won their last four games in all competitions at their AFAS Stadion, scoring at least twice in all four victories. Against an Augsburg side that is playing abysmally, and that has an eye on the weekend's trip to Borussia Dortmund, AZ should pick up a positive result.
Recommended Bet
Back AZ Alkmaar Draw No Bet at 2.06
Partizan Belgrade v Athletic Bilbao
Thursday October 22, 18:00
Live on BT Sport Extra
Partizan Belgrade have raised a few eyebrows so far, as wins over AZ Alkmaar and Augsburg have taken them a long way down the road towards the last 32. Despite this European success, some patchy domestic results have cost coach Zoran Milinkovic his job, and former Partizan player Ljubinko Drulovic will be in charge for the first time on Thursday.
Partizan have already racked up six goals in the group stage, and it's worth bearing in mind that they pushed Champions League regulars BATE Borisov all the way in the UCL qualifiers earlier this season. In the Champions League, Partizan have won four of their last five home games, while in the Europa League they have only lost one of their last seven matches on home soil.
Athletic Bilbao are formidable opponents, and veteran striker Aritz Aduriz is on superb form (eight goals in his last eight games), but the Basques are struggling to pick up results on the road. Away from San Mames, Athletic Club haven't won in eight matches this term, and their last road win was in May. Ernesto Valverde's men blew a great chance to end that run in Galicia at the weekend, as they drew 2-2 at Deportivo La Coruna despite leading 2-0 with ten minutes to go.
Given Athletic Club's problems on the road, and the fact that Partizan are excelling so far in this competition, I'm happy to take advantage of the hosts' inflated odds.
Recommended Bet
Back Partizan Belgrade Draw No Bet at 2.64
Molde v Celtic
Thursday October 22, 20:05
Live on BT Sport ESPN
Celtic's group-stage campaign has been highly entertaining so far for the neutral, but for their fans and their coach Ronny Deila, it has been laced with frustration. The Scottish Premiership leaders twice surrendered a lead against Ajax in Amsterdam, ultimately having to settle for a 2-2 draw. The scoreline was the same when the Bhoys faced Fenerbahce at Parkhead, but this time Delia's men squandered a 2-0 advantage.
If we look at Celtic's recent efforts in the Europa League, there are usually plenty of goals involved. Examining this season and last season, we see that seven out of ten UEL games have featured at least three goals, and six of those seven contained at least four goals.
Molde are a massive 19 points off top spot in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, and they look almost certain to miss out on European qualification for next season. They have responded by bringing back club hero Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who won back-to-back league titles in his first spell as boss.
Molde are at least making the most of their involvement in this term's Europa League, having beaten Fenerbahce 3-1 in Turkey, and held Ajax to a 1-1 draw.
Domestically, Molde average almost two goals per game, and there tend to be goals in their European adventures. In MFK's last ten home games in the Europa League, there have been at least two goals in every single one, and an Over 2.5 Goals bet has paid out five times. It's also worth considering that Molde's two home games in the Champions League qualifiers ended 5-0 and 3-3.
Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 Goals at 1.89
Dnipro v Saint Etienne
Thursday October 22, 18:00
Live on BT Sport Extra
After reaching last season's Europa League final, Ukrainian side Dnipro have made a strong start to this season's competition. After battling back to draw 1-1 with Lazio thanks to a last-gasp equaliser, Myron Markevych's well-organised outfit then won 1-0 at Rosenborg.
Dnipro have won their last five games in all competitions, and they have won five of their last six Europa League "home games" (some have been played in Kiev because of security concerns), including a 1-0 success against St Etienne last season.
Saint Etienne have lost three of their last four matches in all competitions, and the win they did register was at home to Ligue 1's bottom side Gazelec Ajaccio. In this season's Europa League, Les Verts needed a late equaliser to scramble a 2-2 draw at home to Rosenborg, and they lost 3-2 at Lazio. Striker Robert Beric and defender Moustapha Bayal Sall are both suspended after they were sent off at the Stadio Olimpico.
With a huge domestic game against PSG coming up, Christophe Galtier may not select his strongest available side, and I suspect a rock-solid Dnipro side will be able to repeat last season's victory against ASSE.
Recommended Bet
Back Dnipro to win at 2.12
