Category: European Football
Fulham travel to Italy to face Roma in the Europa League following a 1-1 draw with the Italian giants in the last round of matches.
A last minute equaliser from Marco Andreolli earned the visitors a point after a battling performance from Roy Hodgson’s side saw them take a first-half lead through Brede Hangeland’s second ever goal for the club. The Cottagers are unbeaten in Europe with one win and two draws and can put themselves in a good position to progress to the next stage with three points in Italy.
Roma currently lie in 14th spot in Serie A having picked up only their fourth win of the season in a 2-1 win over Bologna at the weekend. Fulham have the same number of league wins but are currently unbeaten in six in all competitions and will be looking to take this good form to the Stadio Olimpico.
American international Clint Dempsey has two goals in as many games and can be backed at 11/1 to open the scoring on Thursday. You can also back Fulham to snatch a shock 1-0 win at 12/1.
Everton face Benfica and despite a 5-0 thrashing in Portugal the Toffees can take some confidence from there good record at Goodison Park this season.After an opening day 6-1 defeat to Arsenal they have bounced back and are currently unbeaten in seven at home and have every chance of restarting their European campaign.
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (or as he’s known by commentators up and down the land - The Russian with the big name) grabbed his second goal at Goodison in as many appearances and is a 4/1 shot to score at any time on Thursday. Marouane Fellaini grabbed Everton’s opener in the 2-1 win over BATE Borisov earlier in the season and is a 10/1 chance to open the scoring against Benfica. Everton are a 10/1 chance to secure a 2-0 win.
Elsewhere Celtic travel to Hamburg who picked up an impressive 1-0 win at Celtic Park last time out. That win is their only one in four games though and they were beaten 3-2 by Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga at the weekend. A suspect looking defence saw them throw away the lead twice before finally sinking to a second home defeat of the season.
Tony Mowbray’s side have been inconsistent at best this campaign with three wins in their last eight games in all competitions. We could see goals in the AOL Arena and a 3-2 Hamburg win is 25/1.
