The Europa League group phase enters its second half on Thursday night and we’re looking to celebrate with this 4/1 BTTS treble at Ladbrokes.
With the race for a spot in the last 32 getting fiercer by the round, we’re anticipating plenty of entertainment from this week’s action.
Here are the six teams we’re backing to all find the target:
Astra Giurgiu V Celtic
Scottish giants Celtic are finally reaching top form under new boss Ronny Deila and the Parkhead club can underline that feeling by securing their place in the knockout stages with three points in Romania.
However, there are still some vulnerabilities within the Hoops side and Astra will be confident of scoring. The hosts have lost all three matches in Group D but did score on each occasion and we’d be confident in backing that trend of goals to keep going regardless of whether they suffer a fourth successive defeat.
Oleg Protasov’s men are heading out of the competition but a win over Celtic would be considered a big scalp for them, which will serve as another incentive. Unfortunately, though, the Glaswegians enter this game on the back of five straight wins in which they’ve scored 16 times.
We’d definitely edge towards a Celtic win but a draw would probably be good enough for them to progress, which makes goals the much safer option. Back both teams to score.
BTTS Yes @ 7/10 with Ladbrokes
Dinamo Zagreb V Red Bull Salzburg
This selection may not be the best price but the match between Dinamo Zagreb and Red Bull Salzburg really does stand out as a BTTS candidate.
A fortnight ago, the pair shared a 4-2 feast of goals in Austria and we’d expect more of the same in this return clash in Croatia. The visitors are prolific in front of goal and star man Jonathan Soriano will look to fire his side to success once again here.
However, the Austrians do tend to concede. All three of their previous Group D matches have ended with both teams on the scoreboard and the Croatians will be confident on home soil. A win would put Salzburg in the last 32, whilst three points for Dinamo would resurrect their hopes of progressing too – that alone should be a recipe for goals.
Between them, the sides have scored 15 and conceded 11 during this Europa League group stage. Expect those tallies to be increased in the Croatian capital.
BTTS Yes @ 4/9 with Ladbrokes
Panathinaikos V PSV Eindhoven
Greek side Panathinaikos picked up a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands last time out and they’ll need to better that result on home soil if they want to keep their slim hopes of progression alive.
Yannis Anastasiou’s men have scored five goals in two games over the past week and will be confident of adding to that tally against the Eredivisie side. Visiting Greece is never easy for European opposition and the hosts will definitely look to capitalise on home advantage against a relatively poor-travelling Eindhoven.
However, Philip Cocu’s side can be confident as they look to gain the three points that would seal their place in the last 32. With star man Memphis Depay back from injury, there is no reason that the Dutch club can’t get a positive result from this fixture.
This probably won’t be the highest scoring game of the evening, but there should be opportunities at either end. Let’s hope that the strikers take them.
BTTS Yes @ 19/20 with Ladbrokes
A £10 treble returns £47.88 with Ladbrokes
