Europa League Betting: Dynamo to charge into last eight

“Lazio have been on poor form, and they realistically need to win away to a Dynamo Kiev team that hasn’t lost a Europa League home game for four years.”

Back Dynamo Kiev to qualify at [1.92]

Dynamo Kiev v Lazio
Thursday March 15, 18:00
Live on BT Sport Extra

Dynamo are in the driving seat after a superb performance in Rome last week. Coach Alyaksandr Khatskevich made some surprising changes ahead of the first leg, giving youth a chance, and it paid off as the Ukrainian giants drew 2-2 in the Italian capital.

Lazio have now gone four games without a win in all competitions, they have slipped out of the Coppa Italia, and they are in danger of missing out on a place in the Champions League for next season.

Dynamo are unbeaten at home all season, and they haven’t suffered a Europa League defeat at home for more than four years, an unbeaten run of 11 matches. They went toe-to-toe with Lazio last week, and I think they’ll finish the job this week.

Recommended Bet
Back Dynamo Kiev to qualify at [1.92]

Zenit v RB Leipzig
Thursday March 15, 18:00
Live on BT Sport Extra

RB Leipzig’s 2-1 first-leg win over Zenit in Germany last week was one of their best displays of the season, but such is the delicately-balanced nature of two-legged ties in Europe, one moment of brilliance rendered much of that effort void. Domenico Criscito’s sensational late free-kick halved Zenit’s deficit, and gave them a precious away goal.

It’s a similar scenario to the last 32, where Zenit lost 1-0 at Celtic, but bashed them 3-0 in the reverse fixture. Although Leipzig are a far better team than Celtic, there is reason to think Zenit can turn this tie around too.

Firstly, Zenit have won all five of their UEL home games this season. Secondly, the Russian side have star player Leandro Paredes back from suspension, and he makes the side tick. Finally, Leipzig lack European experience as a unit, and they aren’t on great form. They have won just one of their last six matches, and in the Champions League it’s worth noting they lost at Porto and Besiktas. The scale of both of those defeats would have been enough to knock them out of this tie, and I think Zenit’s odds of [3.0] to qualify are too good to ignore.

Recommended Bet
Back Zenit to qualify at [3.0]

Plzen v Sporting
Thursday March 15, 18:00
Live on BT Sport Extra

Sporting have one foot in the quarter-finals after a 2-0 win over Czech side Plzen last week. Having dropped out of the Champions League, Sporting have shone in this competition, dumping out a handy Astana side in the last 32, and scoring six goals in three games.

Plzen have done well to get this far, but they are having a bad run of results at the moment. They have only won one of their six games since the winter break, and if Sporting get the first goal here, it could shatter their morale.

I’m backing the Portuguese title-chasers to pick up a positive result.

Recommended Bet
Back Sporting Draw No Bet at [1.91]

Lokomotiv Moscow v Atletico Madrid
Thursday March 15, 16:00
Live on BT Sport Extra

Tournament favourites Atletico – I advised backing them to win the competition at [4.0], and they are now [2.8] – have one foot in the quarter-finals after a 3-0 win over Lokomotiv in Madrid. The Russian side didn’t play particularly poorly last week, but they were undone by a stunning strike from Saul, and then they switched off for both of the hosts’ second-half goals.

Atletico are very good at shutting games down (they haven’t reached two Champions League finals by accident), and I’d expect them to negotiate this second leg with a minimum of fuss. Backup keeper Axel Werner barely had a shot to save in the first leg, and unless Lokomotiv make a great start to the second leg, this could be a pretty dull affair. Atleti have kept clean sheets in eight of their last 11 matches, while Loko have managed three shut-outs in their last four outings.

Recommended Bet
Back No in the Both Teams To Score market at [1.87]