Thursday night is Europa League night and there’s plenty of matches to sink our teeth into in this second round of qualifiers.
All teams will be aiming for goals in these important first legs and we’re backing these six to all find the target as they look to edge ever closer to the main competition.
At odds of 9/2 with SkyBet, let’s keep our fingers crossed for a perfect start to our Europa League betting.
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Mlada Boleslav V Stromsgodset. 6PM
Our first selection comes from one of the more evenly contested second round encounters as Mlada Boleslav take on Stromsgodset at the Mestsky Stadium.
The Czech hosts might not play in Europe’s strongest league, but they’ve got a real taste for goals and will be out to establish a lead ahead of next week’s away leg. We’d expect Karel Jarolim’s side to take a very offensive approach.
However, Stromsgodset do boast the advantage of being halfway through their domestic league and that match fitness could give Bjorn Ingerbretsen’s men the edge. Five of their last six competitive matches have ended in BTTS winners and we’d expect that trend to continue.
Both teams will be optimistic about progressing and this first leg could be the key to deciding which way this battle goes. Expect plenty of drama, and hopefully lots of goals.
TIP: BTTS Yes @ 8/11 with SkyBet
Inverness CT V Astra Giurgiu. 7:45PM
Following an incredible 2014/15 campaign, Caley Thistle enter European competition for the first time in their history and the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium will be rocking as the SPL side take on Astra Giurgiu.
The odds are against Inverness over two legs, but a positive first leg result could swing things in their favour and John Hughes will be instructing his men to attack. If they can get the ball up to Edward Ofere and Dani Lopez, then there’s no reason that Caley can’t cap their first Europa League appearance with a goal.
However, they will need to be careful at the back against a very decent Romanian side. Marius Sumudica’s side aren’t far off the quality of Steaua Bucharest, so Caley Thistle should expect a difficult night.
The visitors will want an away goal, which we think they’ll get. Nonetheless, Inverness can get on the scoresheet too.
TIP: BTTS Yes @ 10/11 with SkyBet
Shamrock Rovers V Odd Grenland. 8PM
Shamrock Rovers aren’t a team that would usually have a chance of reaching the group phase, but Pat Fenlon’s men must at least fancy their chances of progressing to the third qualifying round as they take on Norwegian side Odd.
The Irish hosts will be extremely confident after netting three against Progres Niedercom last week, and will be hoping to take that momentum into this crucial first leg encounter against an away side that has really struggled for form in recent weeks. Shamrock need to score at the Tallaght, and they’ve got every chance in doing that.
Nonetheless, Odd are rightly favourites and the Tippeligaen side should get the away goal they crave. Still, they’ve not won any of their past four domestic matches and those vulnerabilities might show for Dag Fagermeo’s team.
Odd should find a way through over two legs. On Irish soil, though, it could be a lot more competitive. Back both teams to score.
TIP: BTTS Yes @ 4/6 with SkyBet
A £10 treble returns £54.96 with SkyBet
