Europa League Matchday 6 Tips

Napoli vs Leicester City: Serie A side can win all-or-nothing match

If you only watch one game on Thursday, make it Napoli vs Leicester. Only one of these teams is likely to advance from Group C, so this is in effect a winner-takes-all encounter.

Leicester’s form has been patchy this season and although Napoli have injuries to key players such as Victor Osimhen and Kalidou Koulibaly, they’ll back themselves to get the job done in front a raucous home crowd.

A draw will be enough for Leicester to qualify but that could put them in two minds: do they play for a win or a draw? Napoli must win and that sense of clarity may well work in their favour.

Tip: Napoli to win at 2.1

--------------------------------------------------

Lyon vs Rangers: French side can maintain 100 per cent record

Lyon and Rangers are guaranteed to finish first and second respectively in Group A, so there’s relatively little on the line in this one.

Lyon have been rampant in the Europa League, winning each of their five matches to date. They’re averaging three goals per game and will fancy their chances of scoring a few against a Rangers team who could rotate ahead of Sunday’s trip to Hearts.

Lyon are a well-oiled machine whose attacking fluency will cause Rangers problems.

Tip: Lyon to score in both halves at 3.1

--------------------------------------------------

Marseille vs Lokomotiv Moscow: Ligue 1 side to salvage some pride

With just four points to their name Marseille can no longer reach the knockout phase of the Europa League. That’s disappointing for a club that were seen as possible outsiders to win the tournament at the start of the season.

Marseille should at least finish the group stage on a high at home to Lokomotiv Moscow, who have yet to win and have scored just two goals in Group E. 

Tip: Marseille to win to nil at 3.05

--------------------------------------------------

Real Sociedad vs PSV Eindhoven: Tight and cagey affair beckons

Real Sociedad must beat PSV Eindhoven to qualify for the next round; a draw will be enough to secure PSV’s passage.

The Spanish side have suffered a dip in form at just the wrong time. Real Sociedad have won only one of their last five games in all competitions, and that was a Copa del Rey tie against lower-league Panaderia Pulido.

PSV have kept two clean sheets on the bounce in this competition. They could frustrate a Real Sociedad side who have scored only one goal in their last four matches in La Liga and the Europa League. 

Tip: Under 2.5 goals at 2.34

--------------------------------------------------

West Ham United vs Dinamo Zagreb: Both teams could find net

West Ham have done a fine job of balancing domestic and continental commitments so far this season. Not only are David Moyes’s men fourth in the Premier League, they have already won their Europa League group too.

Dinamo Zagreb need a point to wrap up second, so we can expect them to play on the front foot at the London Stadium. This could be an entertaining match for the neutrals.

Tip: Both teams to score at 1.93

West Ham have already beaten Zagreb 2-0 in the Europa League

--------------------------------------------------

Lazio vs Galatasaray: Home advantage could be key

Lazio and Galatasaray will battle it out for top spot in Group E on Thursday night. A draw will be sufficient for the Turkish outfit, while Lazio need to win by two clear goals to climb to the summit of the standings.

Lazio have only lost one of their 11 home games in all competitions this season. That will give them confidence, as will the fact that Galatasaray have not won any of their last three away matches. 

Home advantage could be decisive here, and Galatasaray might have to settle for second place.

Tip: Lazio to win at 1.76

--------------------------------------------------

Celtic vs Real Betis: Expect goals at Parkhead

Real Betis beat Celtic 4-3 in the reverse fixture in September. It was one of the games of the group stage – and we could be in store for another high-scoring affair this week.

Real Betis are through and Celtic are out, so the pressure is off both teams. There have been 23 goals in the Hoops’s five European encounters this term, and Thursday’s game at Celtic Park could follow that pattern. 

Tip: Over 3.5 goals at 2.82