Thursday’s both teams to score treble is a Europa League special as the play-off round gets underway with an important night of first leg encounters.
With just 180 minutes standing in the way of a place in the group phase, all 44 teams will be desperate goals. We’re backing these six to all find the target in hopes of landing a fantastic midweek boom.
At odds of just over 6/1 with Coral, it has to be worth a shout.
Molde V Standard Liege. 6PM
Erling Moe’s Molde have failed to find the target in each of their past two domestic matches and will be eager to find a return to goals in this Europa League play-off at the Aker Stadion. However, the Norwegians could be in for a difficult test as they take on Belgian side Standard Liege.
The hosts might have struggled for goals recently, but their strikers have been in good form this season with the foursome of Tommy Hoiland, Ola Kamara, Sander Svendsen and Mohamed Elyoundoussi netting 31 goals between them.
However, the Belgian visitors will be equally confident of goals and will be expected to progress even if this is a difficult first leg encounter. Slavoljub Muslin’s side have found the target in all six competitive fixtures this turn and we fancy them to make it lucky number seven here.
Liege should progress over two legs and we expect them to score. Nonetheless, Molde are a threat on home soil and we expect them to find the target too.
BTTS Yes @ 20/23 with Coral
Steaua Bucharest V Rosenborg. 7PM
Our second selection also involves a Norwegian club as Rosenborg make the trip to the Stadium Nationale in Bucharest, where they will take on Romanian outfit Steaua.
The visitors are in great form, sitting top of their domestic league and entering this contest on the back of 10 straight competitive victories. Kare Ingebrigsten’s side additionally boasts a lot of firepower in the form of Alexandee Soderlund and Pal Andre Helland. The duo have netted over 30 goals between them this term and can help them get on the scoresheet against a vulnerable Steaua backline.
Nevertheless, Steaua will be fancied to take a first leg advantage on home turf. The hosts have already dropped out of this season’s Champions League and will be desperate to put things right in Europe’s lesser competition. Expect them to chase a healthy lead.
Steaua have to be favourites, but Rosenborg know that an away goal could keep them in the tie. We expect the visitors to get it.
BTTS Yes @ 5/6 with Coral
Altach V Belenenses. 7:30PM
Rheindorf Altach brushed one Portuguese club aside in the previous round of Europa League qualifying and will be hoping to follow that 6-2 victory with a similar result against another here. However, the Austrians should expect a tougher test from Belenenses.
Damir Canadi’s men were brilliant in beating Guimares and will be confident of more goals at the Cashpoint Arena. The hosts will need to adopt an attacking approach as they need to take a lead into next week’s return leg, but they must be careful at the back too.
The Austrians did concede in both legs of the last round while the visitors scored three in their weekend draw with Rio Ave. Sa Pinto’s men will be confident of getting a positive result next week, so a score draw would suit them just fine.
In truth, that outcome wouldn’t surprise us one bit. With this in mind, we’re backing both teams to score.
BTTS Yes @ 11/10 with Coral
A £10 treble returns £71.90 with Coral
