EUROPA LEAGUE THURSDAY: Our European football tipster The Ultra previews the pick of Thursday’s Europa League action with recommended BETDAQ bets. The action is underway at 5.55pm.
The Ultra is a professional football trader with over ten years experience betting on European football. He has gladly agreed to do a weekly column on BETDAQ Tips where you can get all his latest bets.
The Ultra has a staking system between one and five points, with five points for only his most confident bets in Europe. He loves looking at the stats before each game and especially enjoys using xG (Expected Goals) to make a profit.
BENFICA V RANGERS
5.55pm Last week in the Europa League was very dramatic, and hopefully we see more of the same this week! We start the evening with Benfica taking on Rangers with both sides on six points after two games in Group D. Both sides have been very impressive – clearly this week and the return fixture will decide who finishes top – but we should see two high quality games. Benfica are a very good side and rightly favourites, but Rangers have been in excellent form at the start of the season and are full of confidence.
Benfica play their domestic football at a higher level than Rangers, but you just have to look at the xG numbers to see Rangers have performed very well in their opening two Europa League games. They won the Old Firm Derby comfortably too and I feel Benfica are a little short here at 1.95. I expect Rangers to outperform their odds and while Benfica may well get the job done, I think a small lay of 1.95 offers some good value.
The Ultra Says:
One point lay (liability) Benfica to beat Rangers at 1.95 on BETDAQ Betting Exchange.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQBenRan
LUDOGORETS V TOTTENHAM
5.55pm “It’s never boring with Jose Mourinho!“ We said that last week, then Spurs went on to lose against Royal Antwerp to produce one of the night’s biggest shocks on BETDAQ Betting Exchange., and then after that he completely threw his toys out of the pram in the press conference afterwards! One wonders what XI he will pick for this game, and how the players will react after his comments. Even allowing for all that drama, this should be one way traffic for Spurs.
Ludogorets are a very poor side. They have lost their opening two fixtures, and lost 4-3 to LASK last week. We know how poor LASK are from seeing them recently against Spurs and Manchester United last season. LASK actually played the last 20 to 15 minutes with a man down and Ludogorets couldn’t make an impact. They were 4-1 down, and then scored a penalty after the red card to go 4-3 down. We might see some drama as there always is with Spurs, but they are playing good football and should breeze past this Ludogorets side.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Tottenham to beat Ludogorets at 1.4 on BETDAQ Betting Exchange.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQLudTot
ARSENAL V MOLDE
8pm It’s been a good week for Arsenal! They come into this fixture off the back of a 1-0 win against Manchester United, and have maximum points in their Europa League Group too. They’ll be confident of getting another three points off Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s old club here, but they do look a little short at 1.31. Obviously there’s a big gulf in class here and Arsenal should indeed get the job done, but Molde are two from two in this Group too and while they don’t create a lot going forward they can be stubborn at the back.
There’s a lot of noise that Arsenal are improving, and while they have made progress under Arteta I still feel that they are overrated. They have been lucky to beat West Ham and Sheffield United this season, and United have yet to win at home at Old Trafford this season. Don’t get me wrong, they should win here – but I don’t see a lot of goals and Molde can make life a little difficult for them. Under 3.5 goals is 1.69 and that is worth a small investment.
The Ultra Says:
One point win Under 3.5 goals at 1.69 on BETDAQ Betting Exchange.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQArsMol
CELTIC V SPARTA PRAGUE
8pm Before last week Celtic probably would have taken a draw away to Lille, however at 2-0 up at HT they would have finished disappointed with a draw. They have yet to win a game in the Europa League this season, but together is their chance. This Sparta side is a very poor side, and anything bar a Celtic win would be a big shock. Indeed, Celtic look ten ticks too big at 1.49. I take on board that they aren’t having the best season in Scotland but they should comfortably out score this Sparta Prague side.
AC Milan and Lille beat Sparta very comfortably with Sparta not creating much at all. Celtic are a step down, but more than a step down compared to AC Milan, but while Celtic haven’t been at their best recently they are still scoring goals and that will be the difference tonight. Celtic are always better at home and while with no fans that has slightly taken away their edge, they can get the better of this poor Sparta side.
The Ultra Says:
Three points win Celtic to beat Sparta Prague at 1.49 on BETDAQ Betting Exchange.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQCelSpa
LEICESTER V BRAGA
8pm We finish the night with Leicester taking on Braga. English football fans would have seen a lot of Braga last season with them taking on Wolves in this competition. They are a solid side, and actually beat Wolves 1-0 away from home while drawing 3-3 in their home game. Leicester will have to play well to get three points here, but they are in very good form coming into the game off the back of four straight wins. We’ll probably see a few changes to the Leicester starting XI tonight, but we were able to land a very confident bet on them last week and while stakes won’t be as high tonight, we can land another bet on them here.
Leicester were very impressive against Leeds on Monday, and they have been creating some very good chances in the last two weeks. Their two Europa League performances have been very good, albeit against lower quality opposition, they have created xG’s of 3.29 and 2.02. It is that which will win the game tonight, as Braga struggle going forward at times and don’t create the same volume of chances. Leicester to outscore Braga is my view and they are worth backing at 1.84.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Leicester to beat Braga at 1.84 on BETDAQ Betting Exchange.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQLeiBra
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