The Daily Acca: A Europa League Love-in

Bet 1: Back Celtic @ 11/5 – KO 20:00 GMT

We are now into the last 32 of the Europa League and Celtic couldn’t be entering it in better form. Brendan Rodgers‘ side have won their last seven matches in all competitions, and they didn’t concede a single goal.

Valencia are still a big name, but after a much improved season last year, they are only eighth in La Liga this time around. They have drawn their last three games, and have dropped down to the Europa following a third place finish in their Champions League group – Juventus and Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United finished above them.

Celtic Park is sure to be rocking this evening and there have been many famous nights in that stadium recently. I think that the hosts are value for another.

Bet 2: Back Chelsea @ 4/9 – KO 20:00 GMT

Chelsea need to bounce back from their 6-0 drubbing at Manchester City on Sunday, but they played better than the scoreline suggested, and they have already proven their ability to come back from poor defeats this season.

Maurizio Sarri arguably needs to win this competition if he wants to save his job, so I don’t expect him to risk fielding a bunch of kids in Sweden tonight. Even if he makes a few changes, it wouldn’t be the worst decision anyway, as some of the first team couid do with a wake-up call.

Malmo came through a pretty soft group to qualify for the knockout stage, and they really aren’t on Chelsea’s level. Unless the Blues have lasting psychological effects from Sunday, this should be a routine victory for them.

Bet 3: Back Napoli @ 2/5 – KO 20:00 GMT

Our third and final selection is Napoli and they should cruise to a first leg lead at FC Zurich. The Italians only narrowly missed out on making the last 16 of the Champions League, and they had an incredibly tough group with both PSG and Liverpool in it too.

Their Swiss opponents finished as runners-up to Bayer Leverkusen in their Europa League group, but they were fortunate to do so having taken just one point from their final three games.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men are a class apart here, and while there is a chance of rotation, their squad is more than strong enough to cope with Zurich.