Shamrock Rovers, who became the first side from the League Of Ireland to qualify for the group stages of the Europa League after winning in Zagreb, have been rewarded with a plum draw in the competition. Michael O’Neill’s Hoops will line up against Russians Rubin Kazan, who beat Barcelona in the Champions League a couple of years ago, and PAOK Salonika of Greece as well as facing home and away fixtures with Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur. The Tallaght Stadium, or possibly the Aviva, is sure to be filled to capacity for all three home ties and we have Rovers at 40/1 to win their section. They are 500/1 to win the tournament outright but betting in this market is fraught with ifs-and-buts as the final line-up for the knockout stages won’t be decided until the Champions League groups have been completed, the 12 third-placed terms dropping into the Europa League in the New Year. Spurs, incidentally, are the current outright favourites at 15/2 even though Harry Redknapp has already said that he will blood some youngsters in the tournament as it isn’t one of the club’s priorities this season.

Like the Champions League, England’s four representatives in the Europa League have all made it through to the group stages. Fulham are 7/4 to top Group K behind favourites FC Twente (6/5) and will also face Odense and Wisla Krakow, while Stoke City can be backed at 9/4 to win Group E. They face long trips to the Ukraine, Turkey and Israel however, which won’t help them in the midst of a busy Premier League campaign. Tony Pulis’ side are 50/1 to win the tournament outright.

Group Betting

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Championship side Birmingham City arguably have the worst draw, however, as they are up against Slovenians Maribor, who put out Rangers, Club Brugge and last year’s losing finalists Sporting Braga. The Portuguese side have a terrific home record in Europe and put out Liverpool, Dynamo Kiev and Benfica en route to the final last season before losing out to Porto. They’ll probably be targeting the competition again and looks a rock-steady bet at 5/4 to win their section. They could also be a speculative bet at 33/1 to win the tournament outright, despite the uncertainties, while Schalke (25/1) and PSG (9/1) will also have their supporters. Atletico Madrid are 16/1 to win the Europa League and have the evergreen Diego Forlan back in harness following his Copa America heroics. They could yet face Celtic in the group stages if the Scottish side are re-instated but how will Los Colchoneros cope without Sergio Aguero and David De Gea?

The action gets under way on September 15th.

Europa League Betting

Last-16 First Leg

The last-16 stage of this season’s Europa League kicks off next Thursday with the current outright favourites Manchester City (8/5) facing a difficult first leg tie away to Dynamo Kiev (7/5). The Ukrainian side are no strangers to European football and are coming off the back of a fantastic performance against Besiktas in the last round. Kiev are a fantastic bet at 6/4 to qualify for the next round of the competition.

Dynamo Kiev v Man City

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Also in action away from home in their first leg is Liverpool (11/8). The Premier League side travel to the picturesque surroundings of the AXA Stadium to take on Sporting Braga (13/8). The Portuguese club side are a strong outfit in front of their home fans and proved their worth with a fantastic 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the Champions League group stage earlier in the season. Liverpool have been very inconsistent, and sometimes woeful this campaign and I quite like the 7/2 odds on Braga to win the Half-Time/Full Time market.

Sporting Braga v Liverpool

One of the most eye-catching games in the last-16 of the Europa League is the showdown between Bayer Leverkusen (11/10) and Villarreal (2/1). The Bundesliga side are unbeaten in the Europa League this season, winning four of their five home games. They look exceptional value at 11/10 to win at home in the first leg. Another side with an impressive home record in this season’s Europa League is Ajax (8/5). Unfortunately for them they come up against Spartak Moscow (16/5), one of the best away sides in the competition. The first leg showdown between the two looks set to be a closely contested affair and the draw at 12/5 offers the best value.

There are four other games in action on Thursday night. CSKA Moscow (13/10) entertain Porto (7/4), Paris St Germain (7/2) travel to Benfica (4/6) while Zenit St Petersburg (8/5) clash with FC Twente (7/5). Surprisingly the best bet of the entire last-16 is PSV (4/7) to get the better of Rangers (4/1). I say surprisingly because PSV are yet to win in four matches against Rangers but believe me this will change next Thursday night. Rangers have been woeful of late, especially in the 20+ matches against Celtic (well it felt like that!) and if they turn up with a similar game plan in the Europa League next week, they will be hammered. Take PSV at -1 (9/5) in the handicap betting and sit back and count your winnings!

Europa League Match Betting

The draw for the Round of 32 in this season’s Europa League has been made and the betting market has undergone a bit of a shake-up. Surprisingly, English Premier League side Manchester City (4/1) has been installed the favourites for the competition following their progress from Group A. Even more startling is inclusion of Liverpool (11/2), who have been, at best, mediocre this season and should they beat their opponents Sparta Prague (200/1), they would then have to overcome a very tricky tie against either Lech Poznan (100/1) or Sporting Braga (80/1).

Perhaps the best value from the head of the betting market is Zenit St Petersburg (8/1). The Russian football club won the Europa League in the 2007/2008 season and during the group stage this year they’ve won six from six and scored an impressive 18 goals. If they overcome Young Boys (100/1) in the round of 32 they could set up a mouth-watering clash against their Premier Liga rivals Rubin Kazan (40/1)! Another potential eye-catching tie is a match between CSKA Moscow (12/1) and Sevilla (20/1) or Porto (10/1). CSKA would first need to get the better of Greek side PAOK Salonika (100/1) but given that the Russian club side have been highly impressive this campaign; you’d suspect they would breeze into the last 16 of the Europa League.

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It’s at this stage of the competition that we welcome those teams that failed to qualify from the group stage of the Champions League and you’d have thought one of those sides would automatically be favoured for Europa League success but that isn’t the case. Ajax (20/1) is the most fancied of those teams while Benfica (33/1), FC Twente (40/1) and Spartak Moscow (50/1) all represent excellent value for those punters looking for bigger odds. French Ligue 1 side Lille (40/1) and Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kiev (50/1) will have plenty of followers along with German club Bayer Leverkusen (16/1), PSG (20/1) and PSV Eindhoven (33/1).

There’s one team that standout for me though and that’s Villarreal (18/1). They face Napoli (33/1) in the Round of 32 and a potential last sixteen clash with Leverkusen but the Spanish side is full of star quality, prolific goal scorers and attack minded football and I’ll be surprised if they don’t line up for the Europa League Final at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin next May.

Best Bets: Villarreal (18/1) & Lille (40/1)

Europa League Outright Betting

European ties against the likes of Juventus were nothing more than a pipe-dream for Manchester City fans a few years ago. Is it complacency, therefore, that they are now viewed as a distraction rather than a bonus?

City fans have, of course, more to concern them than some relatively meaningless Europa League match at the moment. Roberto Mancini’s team have already qualified for the knockout stages and will top their section if they win in the Stadio Olimpico against a Juve side that has drawn all five of their games so far and now have no prospect of further progress. But City will have to achieve that result without captain Carlos Tevez, who stunned Eastlands by handing in a written transfer request last week. Whether it’s the Argentinian or his agent that’s decided his future lies away from the north west is a matter of conjecture, but Tevez is known to be unhappy that he’s separated from his family for long periods and actively seeking a move back to South America. What many have taken issue with, however, is the way he and his entourage are attempting to force City’s hand and it’s no surprise the relationship between player and club has broken down.

Tevez won’t be in Turin this week, and neither will manager Mancini who is having corrective back surgery. But they probably won’t be the only big-name absentees as the Sky Blues could also rest the likes of Yaya Toure, David Silva and Gareth Barry, while Juve fans won’t get the opportunity to racially abuse Mario Balotelli as they did when he played in Turin for Inter last season.

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Juventus are flying high in Serie A and beat fellow title challengers Lazio at the weekend. But they, too, could make changes for City’s visit with an important game against Chievo only four days away. That could mean a start for veteran Alessandro Del Piero, his team’s top scorer this season along with Fabio Quagliarella, with Mohamed Sissoko, Armand Traore and striker Simone Pepe also expected to win a recall after being benched against Lazio.

Despite Saturday’s win at West Ham, one can’t imagine that the Manchester City dressing room is a particularly happy place at the moment and they could be excused to taking their eye off the ball in this one. Juve were their equal at Eastlands and got a deserved draw – with home advantage, they could easily better that result.

A Juventus win is 7/5, while it’s Evens for exactly 2 or 3 goals in the Total Goals Market.

Juventus v Man City

Matchday 6 (Thursday)

European football continues tonight with all eyes focused on the current Europa League holders Atletico Madrid (13/10). The Spanish side travel to the BayArena in Germany to take on Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen (15/8) knowing that need to better the result of the second-placed team in Group B, Aris Salonica (2/5), if they are to stand any chance of qualifying for the knockout phase of the competition. Atletico’s hopes are pretty slim though as Salonica face a seemingly straight-forward task at home to Norwegian club-side Rosenborg (13/2), who occupy bottom spot in the group.

Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid

Another side facing the prospects of failing to qualify for the last 32 is French Ligue 1 side Lille (1/3). Les Dogues lie third if Group C, two points off Gent (15/2), who they host to at the Lille Metropole tonight. A win for the home side would see them progress from the group stage and given their attacking style of football, don’t be surprised to see them rack up a convincing victory. One other team to keep on the right side is Anderlecht (1/3), who faces a must-win encounter with Hajduk Split (15/2). A win for the Belgian side combined with a Zenit St Petersburg (15/8) victory over AEK Athens (11/8), would see Anderlecht leap-frog AEK and secure a place in the last 32 of the Europa League.

AEK Athens v Zenit St Petersburg

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Also in action on Thursday night is European giants Juventus (6/4) who can no longer qualify for the last 32 of the Europa League after recording five straight draws in the group stage to date. Juve play host to English Premier League side Manchester City (9/5), who currently sit top of Group A and are already guaranteed a passage into the knockout stage of the Europa League. The other game taking in Group A sees second-placed Lech Poznan (2/1) take on Austrian club-side Red Bull Salzburg (5/4).

Juventus v Manchester City

Europa League Betting Tips

1pt treble @ 11/1
Match Betting

Debrecen (7/5)
AEK Athens (11/8)
Red Bull Salzburg (11/10)

1pt acca @ 130/1
Team Goals in Match

PSV to score 3 or more goals (9/5)
Lille to score 3 or more goals (7/5)
Getafe to score 3 or more goals (2/1)
Stuttgart to score 3 or more goals (13/10)
Aris Salonica to score 3 or more goals (9/5)

Europa League Matches

Watching Liverpool at the moment is a bit like tuning in for an episode of ‘Lost’. Just when you think you’ve worked out the story line, one of the regular cast disappears and along come a couple of characters you’ve never seen before who turn the whole thing on its head. Of course, in Liverpool’s case, the big names aren’t being killed off, but merely confined to the treatment table.

This was always going to be a season of transition for the Reds and a learning curve for manager Roy Hodgson. The boss may have coached around the world but will never have been in the public spotlight as much as he is now and it’s no secret that a few things haven’t exactly gone to plan. The boardroom turmoil hasn’t helped, neither have injuries to key players like Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, but Hodgson has managed to guide his team into the knockout stages of the Europa League with a game to spare while giving some of his fringe players game time and that should stand the club in good stead in seasons to come.

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So Liverpool come into their final Group K match sitting pretty and undefeated so far. Whatever happens against FC Utrecht, they are guaranteed a place among the seeds in the last 32 – will that influence how they approach the tie? Despite the Reds’ formidable European record at Anfield, had the Dutch side still had something to play for then the 6/1 for an away win could have been an attractive wager. But Ton Du Chatenier’s side’s inability to find the winning touch means they now have no hope of further progress in the Europa League and they’ve hardly been in sparkling form on the home front either lately, surrendering meekly against NAC Breda at the weekend despite taking an early lead.

Liverpool are likely to give rookies like Jonjo Shelvey and Dani Pacheco another chance to shine against FC Utrecht but there will also be plenty of experience in the side and likely strike pair Milan Jovanovic and Ryan Babel have both shown a liking for the European stage this autumn.

The draw on the Alternative Handicap with Liverpool conceding a two-goal start is 16/5 and Babel is 9/2 to be the game’s last goalscorer.

Liverpool v Utrecht Betting

Matchday 6 of the Europa League group stage gets underway tonight and its last chance saloon for a number of teams who are struggling to progress into the knockout phase of the competition. Sevilla (6/4) currently lie second in Group J and if they avoid defeat at home to Borrusia Dortmund (6/4) than the Spanish side will be guaranteed a spot in the last 32. Another team looking to avoid defeat is Steaua Bucharest (13/2). Their opponents, Napoli (2/5), must win in order to secure second place in Group K and given that the Romanian side have lost their last six games in Europe, it’s likely that the Serie A club will be in the draw for the knockout stage of the Europa League.

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There’s a few clubs in action on Wednesday night that have already qualified from the group stage and it could prove profitable to punt their opposition. Liverpool (2/5) top Group K and play host to FC Utrecht (7/1). In Group L, leaders Porto (1/4) entertain CSKA Sofia (8/1). Villarreal (evens) have also secured their passage into the last 32 but I expect them to find life difficult against Belgian side Club Brugge (23/10). Despite topping their group, PSG (evens) are another team to keep on the right side of. They travel to the Ukraine to take on Karpaty Lviv (23/10), a side that has zero points from five group games!

Europa League Betting Tips

1pt accum @ 1300/1!!

Both teams to score in all 12 matches

1pt treble @ 25/1

Teams Goals in Match

PSG to score 2 or more goals (11/10)
FC Utrecht to score 2 or more goals (7/2)
Club Brugge to score 2 or more goals (7/4)

Juventus v Man City Betting Preview

Thursday’s Predictions and Tips

Europa League Betting

The Europa League group stage continues on Thursday night and it’s crunch time for a number of clubs that are struggling to progress into the knockout phase of the competition. English side Liverpool (13/10) have saved their best form for the Europa League this season and a point away to Steaua Bucharest (2/1) will guarantee them a spot in the last 32.

With the likelihood of Borussia Dortmund (1/7) easily seeing off their Ukrainian opponents Karpaty Lviv (12/1), a win for either PSG (13/10) or Sevilla (21/10) at the Parc des Princes would see them top Group J and automatically qualify for the next stage of the Europa League. If the German side fail to win, then a point for PSG and Sevilla would be enough to see them both in the draw for the next round.

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Villarreal (1/3) lie third in Group D and will be hoping Club Brugge (7/2) can get something away to PAOK Salonika (7/10). If the Greek side win at home, then Villarreal must beat Dinamo Zagreb (8/1) at the El Madrigal Stadium if they are to stand any chance of progressing from the group stage in matchday 6.

Serie A side Palermo (4/6) are also in danger of missing out on qualification. Anything other than three points at home to Sparta Praha (4/1) will send the Italians packing. It’s a similar scenario for Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia (11/5) in Group L. Victory over Besiktas (11/10) would keep their qualifying prospects alive but considering the Turkish club haven’t lost any of their last seven away games in Europe, elimination from the Europa League looks on the cards for CSKA Sofia.

Europa League Betting Tips

1pt treble @ 42/1

Team Goals in Match

Villarreal to score 4 or more goals (4/1)
CSKA Moscow to score 4 or more goals (21/10)
Borussia Dortmund to score 4 or more goals (7/4)

1pt treble @ 138/1

Team Goals in Match (to score 2 or more)

PSG (5/4), Porto (evens), Besiktas (evens), Liverpool (7/5), FC Utrecht (9/5) & Dynamo Kiev (13/10)

Europa League Betting

After its extended break, the Europa League group stage returns to action this Wednesday with the current Europa League holders Atletico Madrid (3/10) looking to avenge a 1-0 defeat in match day 1 as they play host to Greek side Aris Thessaloniki (9/1) at Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid.

Three-time UEFA Cup winners Juventus (11/10) travel to Poland to take on group leaders Lech Poznan (11/5). The Italian side currently lie third in Group A and with their other group opponents Manchester City (2/9) facing a seemingly easy task against Red Bull Salzburg (10/1), Juve’s matchday 5 fixture can be considered a must-win encounter.

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Following their 3-2 victory over Hadjuk Split in match day 4, Zenit St Petersburg (10/11) remain on target for maximum points from Group G. They already hammered their matchday 5 opponents in this season’s Europa League so we can expect Anderlecht (11/4) to leave Russia empty-handed.

Elsewhere in the Europa League this Wednesday Sporting Lisbon (6/5) play host to Ligue 1 side Lille (2/1), PSV (9/5) travel to Italy to take on Sampdoria (13/10) and Getafe (8/5) and Bayer Leverkusen (6/5) travel to Denmark and Norway respectively to take on Odense (6/4) and Rosenborg (2/1).

Europa League Betting Tips

2pt treble @ 9/1

Match Betting

PSV (9/5)
Young Boys (10/11)
Zenit St Petersburg (10/11)

2pt treble @ 11/2

Team Goals in Match (To score 2 or More goals)

Gent (8/11)
Bayer Leverkusen (10/11)
Zenit St Petersburg (10/11)

2pt accumulator @ 26/1

Team Goals in Match

Young Boys to score 3 or more goals (12/5)
Atletico Madrid to score 3 or more goals (5/4)
Metalist Kharkiv to score 3 or more goals (5/6)
Manchester City to score 3 or more goals (10/11)

Europa League Betting

Matchday 4 of the Europa League group stages kicks off tonight with the current holders Atletico Madrid (evens) facing a seemingly tricky test away to Norwegian side Rosenborg (11/4). Other teams that could potentially slip up include Man City (4/6), who travel to Poland to take on Lech Poznan (9/2), Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kiev (8/15) who welcome ultra-attacking Dutch side AZ Alkmaar (5/1) and don’t rule out Palermo (9/2) upsetting the odds away to CSKA Moscow (8/13).

Elsewhere, two former European footballing giants come head-to-head as Liverpool (5/6) welcome Serie A side Napoli (11/4) to Anfield. Let’s take a look at some football betting tips ahead of tonight’s matches.

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Europa League Tips

To score 2 or more goals: 2pt treble @ 6/1

Lille (evens)

The French side have only lost 2 of their last 9 games and one of those losses was at the hands of Marseille, who hammered Zilina 7-0 in the Champions League last night. Their opponents, Levski Sofia, are on a three-game losing streak so I’m taking Lille to score 2 or more goals and secure all three points

Bate Borisov (5/6)

Bate are near unbeatable at home and face a Sheriff Tirasol side that are awful on the road. I predict a comfortable home win

Sampdoria (10/11)

The Italians always score and considering their opponents have yet to meet anyone with any real quality in this competition, I expect them to atone for their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Metalist just two weeks ago

Alternative Card Index: 1pt treble @ 22/1

Lech Poznan v Man City (Ref - Vladislav Bezborodov) (Over 55pts - 2/1)

24 yellow cards and 2 red in last 5 games

PSG v Borrusia Dortmund (Ref - Pavel Kralovec) (Over 50pts - 15/8)

24 yellow cards and 1 red in last 5 games

Liverpool v Napoli (Ref - Fredy Fautrel) (Over 55pts - 17/10)

24 yellow cards and 1 red in last 5 games

EUROPA LEAGUE BETTING