Ajax v Celtic
There won’t be many smiles at the Amsterdam Arena on Thursday as Ajax host Celtic. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be for these sides with both harbouring strong ambitions to play in the Champions League group stages. Ajax imploded against Rapid Vienna in the Third Qualifying Round after being in a strong position while Celtic went one round further before succumbing to Malmo. It’s the Dutch side who are taken here to win at 1.80, they’ve taken 13 points out of 15 in the Eredivisie this season and look more settled than Celtic. The Scottish side are five points behind Aberdeen in the SPFL and a cloud is hanging over them at the moment after the Malmo loss.
Fenerbahce v Molde
Molde have already had a very creditable European campaign and they can frustrate Fenerbahce in their Group A opener. The Norwegian side were unlucky to go out of the Champions League on away goals to Dinamo Zagreb in the Third Qualifying Round but bounced back from that to knock out Standard Liege in their Europa League play-off tie. There’s just a suspicion that Turkish football isn’t quite as strong as it was and Fener were clinically dispatched by Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. Molde are playing with real verve just now and are worth supporting at +1/+1.5 on the Asian Handicap market. Backing this means only a two or more goal defeat will see you lose money with half your stake on +1 and the other on +1.5.
Qabala v PAOK Salonika
The rise of unfashionable nations in international and club football continues apace and sides from Azerbaijan are now worthy of respect in this stage of competition. The side representing Azerbaijan on Thursday are Qabala and after finishing third place in their domestic league have negotiated past four opponents to reach the group stages. Panathinaikos and Apollon Limassol have been knocked out by them and at 3.10 they’re worth supporting at home to PAOK Saonika. Salonika finished fifth in the Greek standings last season and Qabala have already knocked out a team who finished above them in that division. In Azerbaijan, this might prove too tough a test for PAOK.
Rapid Vienna v Villarreal
Rapid Vienna were one of the most exciting sides of the Champions League qualifying rounds and it was a travesty that they failed to reach the group stages of the elite competition. Rapid produced a swashbuckling win over Ajax despite looking dead and buried and followed that up with a gallant effort against the might of Shakhtar Donetsk in the play-off round. Despite losing 1-0 in Austria, Rapid fought back in the second leg in Ukraine to force an impressive but ultimately fruitless 2-2 draw. On Thursday they host Villarreal in their Group E opener and this looks to have goals on the menu with Villarreal big scorers in this competition last season. The Yellow Submarine scored 29 times in their 12 Europa League games and look primed for another strong assault on the competition here, go Over 2.5.
Skenderbeu v Besiktas
Another side who had an excellent run in the Champions League qualifiers were the Albanian side Skenderbeu. They navigated their way past Crusaders and Milsami Orhei before going down 6-2 on aggregate to Dinamo Zagreb in the play-off round. There’s no doubt it’s going to be a struggle for the Albanians as they face up to a group involving Sporting Lisbon, Besiktas and Lokomotiv Moscow but goals may come more liberally than points. Skenderbeu scored in all six of their Champions League qualifiers and showed enough endeavour to make odds of 1.96 on them scoring Over 0.5 Goals in their match on Thursday against Besiktas look backable.
Europa League Best Bets
Ajax to beat Celtic (1.80)
Molde +1/1.5 v Fenerbahce (1.99)
Gabala to beat PAOK (3.10)
Rapid Vienna v Villarreal Over 2.5 Goals (2.01)
Skenderbeu 0.5 Goals v Besiktas (1.96)
Bet on the Europa League with the below:
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