EUROPA LEAGUE PREVIEW: The Ultra previews UTRECHT v NOTTINGHAM FOREST and BASEL v ASTON VILLA both with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
🇳🇱 UTRECHT V NOTTINGHAM FOREST 🏴
5.45pm The Europa League returns on Betdaq Betting Exchange, and we have two very interesting markets on Thursday! The two Premier League sides are back in action – both of them are trading odds on but there are plenty of willing layers with the both of them trading in the 1.75 to 1.85 range. We kick off the evening with an early kick off as Utrecht host Nottingham Forest. This is a massive game for the home side who are under immense pressure in the competition – just one point from five games leaves them close to the bottom of the table and exit is looming. Nottingham Forest obviously had a tough start given all the issues with Ange Postecoglou, but they have improved under Sean Dyche – certainly spirit wise anyway! The ironic thing about Nottingham Forest being in the relegation zone at the start of the season is that they were creating more than they were last season when they got European football! Utrecht are on an unbeaten run in the Eredivisie at the moment, but this is still a game that Forest should be winning given the gulf in class between the sides.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Forest come into the game as the odds on favourites. Nottingham Forest are 1.76 with Utrecht 5.1 and the draw is 4.0 at the time of writing. Forest were well beaten at the weekend away to Everton 3-0, but they have good defensive figures in the Europa League. Their average xG conceded is only 0.82 and they’ve kept three clean sheets in a row in this competition since Ange Postecoglou was sacked. Utrecht have struggled at the back – they are conceding more than they are creating in the Europa League and they haven’t managed a clean sheet since qualifying. The positive here is that they are far more solid at the back with home advantage, but I still feel that the 1.76 on a Forest win here is too big to ignore. Dyche has them playing some nice football, and as I said above, they are creating more than last season! There’s a big gulf in class here and I’m happy with a confident bet on Forest to start the evening.
The Ultra Says:
Three points win Nottingham Forest to beat Utrecht at 1.76 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
🇨🇭 BASEL V ASTON VILLA 🏴
8pm We finish the action on Thursday with a very similar market as Aston Villa travel to take on Basel. It’s been an immense week for Aston Villa – a win over Arsenal meant they sit third in the Premier League, only three points off the top of the table. Considering they had such a slow start, and even couldn’t score a goal for the first four fixtures, to be sitting in third is quite the achievement. Their performance levels are increasing too – they were towards the bottom of the xG table at the start of the season and now they are sitting in mid-table. An average xG created of 1.37 isn’t that impressive on its own, but you have to give Unai Emery massive credit for getting so much out of this squad. A slight worry has to be how many chances they are conceding in the Premier League and currently getting away with – for example their average xG conceded is 1.43 but their actual goals conceded average is only 1.0. That’s something to keep an eye on as the season goes on, but there’s no getting away from the fact that Villa must be on a high at the moment. Morale in the camp must be fantastic.
This is a game that they should be winning on paper. Basel are under pressure – they come into this matchday sitting right on the bubble in 24th with six points from their five games so far. It’s no surprise that Villa come into the game as the odds on favourites – Villa are trading 1.77 with Basel at 4.4 and the draw is the same price at 4.4 at the time of writing. While Basel are in trouble, Villa are sitting pretty with 12 points towards the top of the table. Basel aren’t sitting top of their domestic table, but the positive here home advantage. They have won their two home games and lost their three away games. That is a concern when considering to take the 1.77 on Villa here, but I still feel it offers decent value – I’m just going to reduce my stakes a little. Emery has this Villa side flying at the moment, and it’s an ideal time to support them in the market.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Aston Villa to beat Basel at 1.77 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
