Eagles to grab first-leg lead
Eintracht Frankfurt v Inter
Thursday 07 March, 17:55
Live on BT Sport ESPN
Forget the Bundesliga title race or Bayern Munich’s knife-edge tie with Liverpool in the Champions League, Eintracht Frankfurt’s incredible efforts at home and abroad have provided some of the most amazing stories and performances of the German football season. A team that seemed to be desperately missing departed coach Niko Kovac after losing 5-0 in the Supercup and crashing out of the DFB Cup at fourth-tier side Ulm has been transformed into a side that has captured the imagination, with thousands of fans travelling around the continent.
Not only did Frankfurt win all six of their group games in the Europa League, but they shredded a very good Shakhtar Donetsk side in the last 32. A sell-out crowd at the Commerzbank Arena will produce an intimidating atmosphere, and Eintracht will look to blow Inter away with their ferocious pressing and lightning-fast attacks. Strikers Sebastien Haller and Luka Jovic have been outstanding in the Europa League and the Bundesliga. Coach Adi Hutter has found the perfect blend of attack and defence.
Inter swept aside Rapid Vienna in the last 32, but they’ll find this a totally different proposition. Luciano Spalletti’s side has dropped behind city rivals Milan in the race for the Champions League, having lost at lowly Cagliari at the weekend. They have lost five of their last 11 games on their travels, and in the Champions League they lost two of their three away matches. Star striker Mauro Icardi is still absent with “pain in his knee” and whether you believe that or not, his failure to make the trip is a blow. The row between the Icardis (his wife Wanda is his agent) and Inter doesn’t reflect well on anyone.
Frankfurt have won all four of their home games in the UEL, scoring 14 goals in the process. I’ll back them to win here at [2.48].
Russians to continue excellent home form
Zenit v Villarreal
Thursday 07 March, 17:55
Live on BT Sport Extra
In the last round this column successfully backed Zenit to turn around a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Fenerbahce, and so it came to pass. Zenit have now won 11 of their last 12 Europa League home matches, including the last six.
Villarreal are still in big trouble in La Liga, and a 2-1 home defeat against Alavaes left them in the bottom three. This competition has given them some respite from the domestic horrors, but they have only won one of their last five on the road in Europe, and I think the road ends for them here. Coach Javi Calleja will rotate his side, as taking points in La Liga now has to be the priority, and there is a huge game at Levante this weekend.
Sevilla to pick up comfortable win
Sevilla v Slavia Prague
Thursday 07 March, 17:55
Live on BT Sport Extra
Sevilla are maintaining their strong tradition in the Europa League, a competition they won three seasons in a row under former boss Unai Emery. They had a tricky time in the group stage, but their dismissal of Lazio in the last 32 was impressive. Pablo Machin’s side won 1-0 in Rome and 2-0 at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
Although domestic form has slipped (they lost 2-1 at Huesca at the weekend), Sevilla have still won all seven of their UEL home games this term, and if you stretch back further, they haven’t lost at home in this competition since 2016, and even then they still went through on penalties against Athletic Club.
Slavia Prague are three points clear at the top of the Czech top flight, and they stunned Genk in the last 32 with a 4-1 win in Belgium. However, they lost both Bordeaux and Zenit without scoring in the group stage, and this feels like a step too far against opposition that is so consistent at home.
I’ll back Sevilla -1.5 on the Asian Handicap here at [2.05].
In-form Benfica to play out a Croatian cracker
Dinamo Zagreb v Benfica
Thursday 07 March, 17:55
Live on BT Sport Extra
Benfica are on the charge under new boss Bruno Lage, who has won nine of his nine league games at the helm, including the weekend’s incredible 2-1 victory at title rivals Porto. It seems that missing out on Jose Mourinho has worked out well for the Lisbon giants, and the emergence of young stars like Joao Felix, Florentino Luis, Gedson Fernandes and Ruben Dias has been an added boost.
Dinamo Zagreb have excelled in the Europa League this term. They were unbeaten in the group stage, and even though they lost the first leg of their last 32 tie 2-1 at Champions League dropouts Viktoria Plzen, they overwhelmed the Czech side 3-0 in the second leg.
Dinamo have scored ten goals in four UEL home games this term, while Benfica have seen an Over 2.5 Goals bet land in nine of their last ten games. I’ll go for overs here at [2.34].
Source: Betfair Europa League
