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The Europa League and Europa Conference League are back on the telly box this week. Seven matches involve teams from England, Scotland, Wales, and both the Republic and Northern Ireland so our football tipster Sam Farley had leapt head-first into the action.
Can you name all of the teams..?
Nope, well, we’ve got Manchester United, Chelsea, Spurs, Rangers, Hearts, and The New Saints representing Blighty and from across the Irish Sea, we’ve got Larne and Shamrock Rovers who’ve made it handy for us as they’re facing off in Belfast.
Thursday Football Betting Tips
5:45pm Hearts v Omonoia – Hearts to win
5:45pm Larne v Shamrock Rovers – Shamrock Rovers to win
5:45pm Panathinaikos v Chelsea – Chelsea -1
8pm Fenerbahçe v Man United – Dusan Tadic to score
8pm Rangers v FCSB – FCSB & draw
8pm Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar – Tottenham to win & over 2.5 goals
8pm The New Saints v FC Astana – Astana to win to nil
Hearts v Omonoia – Hearts to win
Europa Conference League match at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh
TV: TNT Sports, 5:45pm
After last weekend’s 4-0 win over St Mirren, their first in the SPL this season, there’s reason to believe that Hearts may have turned their fortunes around. That comes not long after they went to Azerbaijan to face Dinamo Minsk and returned with a win.
Omonia might struggle with the home atmosphere, having arrived after losing two games on the bounce.
Larne v Shamrock Rovers – Shamrock Rovers to win
Europa Conference League match at Windsor Park, Belfast
TV: TNT Sports, 5:45pm
This could be a very spicy game but it’s Shamrock Rovers who are rightly favourites. Larne sit seventh in the NIFL Premiership, albeit with games to play, whereas Rovers are third but just two points off top as they battle Shelbourne and Derry City for the title.
The away side drew their first Conference League games 1-1 with APOEL and need to win here, but they’ve won both of their domestic games since and come here in good form, conceding just once in their last five matches.
Panathinaikos v Chelsea – Chelsea -1
Europa Conference League at the Olympic Stadium, Athens
TV: TNT Sports, 5:45pm
Chelsea’s second-string beat Gent 4-2 last time out in Europe, and the club come here on the back of a loss to Liverpool. The reality is that they impressed at times in that game and have shown that they’re part of the title race, at least for now.
The club has plenty of quality in depth, and they should win this. Taking the -1 handicap feels worthwhile, given Panathinaikos’ recent struggles in front of goal. They’ve failed to score in three of their past six games and drew 1-1 with Borac in Matchday 1.
Fenerbahçe v Man United – Dusan Tadic to score
Europa League match at the Ülker Stadyumu Fenerbahçe, Istanbul
TV: TNT Sports, 8pm
The Fenerbache squad is full of former Premier League stars, including Allan Saint-Maximin, Edin Dzeko, and former Man United player, Fred. However, we’re focusing on another former Premier League man, Dusan Tadic here.
The former Southampton star has been in great form, scoring five times in eight league games, including one in each of his past three games. He’s 35 years old now, but he’s the creative heart of this team, and given Man Utd’s recent struggles, he’s a great price to score.
Rangers v FCSB – FCSB & Draw
Europa League at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
TV: TNT Sports, 8pm
Rangers have won one and lost one in Europe so far this season but welcome an FCSB side who have lost none of their four European games this season and are unbeaten over their last 10 in all competitions.
This has been far from a vintage season for Rangers, who are chasing both Celtic and Aberdeen in the league.
FCSB stunned PAOK on the road in Matchday 2, despite the Romanian club having just ten men. They are a tricky team to beat and could get something from this game against a Rangers team that has underwhelmed this season.
Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar – Tottenham to win & over 2.5 goals
Europa League match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
TV: TNT Sports, 8pm
Spurs have started this competition well with a perfect start. They’ll fancy their chances against an AZ team that has lost four games in a row in all competitions. Spurs have won six of their last seven matches and should win here.
We’re also likely to see goals, too with at least three goals being witnessed in Spurs’ last 10 home victories.
The New Saints v FC Astana – Astana to win to nil
Europa Conference League at The Croud Meadow, Shrewsbury
TV: TNT Sports, 8pm
The Kazakhs arrive in Wales ready to win their second game in the Conference League. They’re third in their domestic league, but with a game in hand, they can leapfrog the two teams in front of them.
TNS are also third, but with multiple games in hand. The travel could be an issue for Astana, but their defence could be the difference here. They’ve kept a clean sheet in their past three games and have averaged less than one goal conceded per game in the league.
Thursday’s European football betting tips
5:45pm Hearts v Omonoia – Hearts to win
5:45pm Larne v Shamrock Rovers – Shamrock Rovers to win
5:45pm Panathinaikos v Chelsea – Chelsea -1
8pm Fenerbahçe v Man United – Dusan Tadic to score
8pm Rangers v FCSB – FCSB & draw
8pm Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar – Tottenham to win & over 2.5 goals
8pm The New Saints v FC Astana – Astana to win to nil
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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