Europa League Betting: Celtic to bounce back from Salzburg disaster

RB Leipzig v Celtic
Thursday 25 October, 17:55
Live on BT Sport 3

Both of these sides have been humbled by Salzburg in this season’s group stage, and yet both have beaten Rosenborg, which means the upcoming clashes in Germany and Scotland could define who reaches the last 32 and who doesn’t.

RB Leipzig made a shaky start to the campaign, with coach Ralf Rangnick reading the riot act to a young squad more than once, but they have stabilised in recent weeks. Since losing to Salzburg on Matchday One they have put together a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions, with four wins and two draws.

Celtic took the lead in Salzburg but crumbled in a 3-1 defeat, and they have been far from their usual flawless selves in the Scottish top flight. That said, they won 6-0 at the weekend at St Johnstone, and have won four of their last five matches in all competitions.

Leipzig seem way too short to me at [1.46], despite their recent run. Swedish playmaker Emil Forsberg is struggling with a groin problem, and Rangnick has tended to shuffle his pack for UEL games, so there’s no guarantee he’ll play his strongest side.

I think Celtic can at least push Leipzig hard, so I’ll back them +1.0 & +1.5 on the Asian Handicap at [2.02]. We’ll make a profit as long as Celtic don’t lose by more than one goal.

Eintracht Frankfurt v Apollon Limassol
Thursday 25 October, 20:00
Live on BT Sport Extra

Things can change quickly in football, and that has certainly been the case with Eintracht Frankfurt. They started the season appallingly under new coach Adi Hutter, losing 5-0 on home soil to Bayern Munich in the DFL Supercup, and crashing out of the DFB Cup at Regionalliga (fourth tier) side Ulm.

Frankfurt’s powerbrokers didn’t panic, and they gave Hutter room and time to work, something he deserved after winning the Swiss double with Young Boys last term. The Austrian has manged to get his ideas across, especially crucial elements of his attacking philosophy.

Eintracht have won both of their UEL games this season, and another victory on Thursday would put them within touching distance of the last 32. The Eagles have won four games in a row in all competitions for the first time since 2012, and in their last three home games they have won 4-1, 4-1 and 7-1. In that 7-1 victory over Fortuna Dusseldorf, 20-year-old striker Luka Jovic scored five times.

Apollon Limassol did superbly to fight back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Marseille on Matchday Two, but they have taken just a point from their two games, and from a technical standpoint they are the weakest side in the group. Their road record in this competition is pretty awful – they have lost six of their last seven away matches in the UEL, and have conceded 15 goals in that time.

With Frankfurt on fire and set to be backed by a sold-out Commerzbank Arena (the tickets all sold before the group-stage draw was made), I fancy a comfortable home win.

Marseille v Lazio
Thursday 25 October, 20:00
Live on BT Sport Extra

With Eintracht Frankfurt storming to the top of the table by beating both of these sides, this is a crucial game that Marseilla and Lazio daren’t lose. Lazio beat Apollon but were thrashed 4-1 in Germany, while Marseille lost at home to Frankfurt and blew a 2-0 lead at Apollon to draw 2-2.

Marseille were last season’s beaten finalists in this competition, but I don’t think they should be trading at evens here. They have only won three of their last seven games in all competitions, and they may be distracted by the forthcoming match against old foes PSG.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that Lazio’s hammering in Frankfurt was out of keeping with the rest of their season. They are averaging two points per game in Serie A this season, and they have won three of their last four games away from the Stadio Olimpico.

There shouldn’t be much to choose between these sides, and so I’m content to get the draw and the Lazio away win on my side by laying the hosts.

PAOK v Vidi
Thursday 25 October, 20:00
Live on BT Sport Extra

It’s been something of a rollercoaster ride for PAOK fans in this competition so far. A rather tepid 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea was followed by an outstanding 4-1 victory at BATE Borisov. With the Belarussians facing Chelsea in the next two UEL games, PAOK know they now have a big opportunity.

Vidi have lost both games without scoring, but they were pretty dogged at Stamford Bridge in a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, and it’s worth noting that they haven’t conceded more than two goals in a competitive game away from home in 2018. That’s a run of 18 games which stretches back to December.

On that basis, it may take PAOK a while to break the Hungarians down, so I’ll back Under 2.5 Goals at [2.1].