THURSDAY IN EUROPE: The Ultra previews AZ ALKMAAR v TOTTENHAM and REAL SOCIEDAD v MANCHESTER UNITED both with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
AZ ALKMAAR V TOTTENHAM
5.45pm The Europa League Last 16 takes centre stage on BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE on Thursday! We have some excellent clashes, it really has been a cracking week around Europe, but no doubt Spurs and Manchester United will be the focus on many here. We kick off the evening with Tottenham away to AZ Alkmaar – on paper this is a game that you’d have to expect Spurs to win, but as we all know disaster is always seemingly around the corner for Spurs. For the first time this season, Spurs had put three wins in a row together in the Premier, then they bumped into Manchester City – we can forgive them losing their winning run with that opposition. Spurs have obviously had a huge amount of injury issues this season, and their recent performances have been a lot more positive – despite losing 1-0 at home to City, they actually finished the game with a higher xG figure. Spurs come into this game as the favourites at 2.12 with AZ Alkmaar 3.55 and the draw is 3.85 at the time of writing. These sides actually met at the Group stage with Spurs winning 1-0 with home advantage; Spurs started that game as the 1.47 favourites.
They dominated procession, and deserved to win 1-0. AZ fans will say they weren’t blown away considering the gulf in class between the sides, and now with home advantage they will fancy their chances of turning things around. From a Spurs point of view, despite going into the game as 2.12 favourites a draw wouldn’t be the worst result here in the grand scheme of things. AZ were very poor on the road in the Group stage; they didn’t win an away game but they were very solid at home. They beat Roma 1-0 and Galatasaray 4-1. I wouldn’t be very confident backing Spurs as short as 2.12 here to be honest – AZ have obviously been playing at a much higher standard with home advantage. Most of their games had plenty of action, and we always tend to see drama with Spurs. Over 2.5 goals is trading 1.64 with Both Teams To Score a couple of ticks lower at 1.56. I do feel we’ll see overs covered here, but at 1.64 I marginally prefer the Spurs lay at the odds. This one will be closer than the odds suggest in my opinion.
The Ultra Says:
Two points lay (liability) Tottenham to beat AZ Alkmaar at 2.12 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/ELAzTo
REAL SOCIEDAD V MANCHESTER UNITED
5.45pm Next we have Real Sociedad hosting Manchester United. This is, in my opinion, the most fascinating tie of the round. Sociedad have been finishing between fourth and sixth in La Liga for many seasons, but this time around they are off the pace in mid-table. For most top Premier League sides, you’d have to expect them to get the job done here – unfortunately for Manchester United fans, they aren’t a top Premier League side at the moment. They had another setback at the weekend when crashing out of the FA Cup on penalties, and now competition this remains their only hope of having something good happen this season. I have to say the situation at Old Trafford is bizarre – they moved so many things around to bring in one of the most sought after managers in Europe and then they didn’t support him at all in the January transfer windows when it’s clear he hasn’t got the squad to carry out a system he wants. It will be interesting to see what the pressure is like from the fanbase if United crash out here; the season is over. The reality is though; United have been doing the same thing for years now and expecting different results – they need to stick with a manager they believe in.
United have been really struggling lately, but ironically they’ve actually played better away from home. For most sides away from home in a first leg, you’d say a draw wouldn’t be a bad result – United could easily take a lead to Old Trafford and fluff their lines given the results there this season. Real Sociedad come into the game as the favourites at 2.18 with Manchester United 3.9 and the draw is 3.45 at the time of writing. Sociedad have tried to keep their games exceptionally tight this season, but they really haven’t been scoring – they have a mid-table attacking figure in La Liga and they’ve scored less than one goal per game on average. They have really been off the pace this season, and I actually feel that they are there for the taking. I fully accept United have been all over the place this season, but the 3.9 is too big in my opinion – especially considering they have been better away from home. For years and years now this squad has turned up when they’ve wanted to; a European night is a game where they usually put some effort in rather than going through the motions, and I’m happy with a small bet on United at the odds.
The Ultra Says:
One point win Manchester United to beat Real Sociedad at 3.9 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/ELReMu
