Jimenez to shine again
Wolves v Braga
Thursday 19 September, 20:00
Live on ESPN
Given their strong Portuguese connections, it feels apt that Wolves’ first game in the Europa League group stage should be against a side from the Primeira Liga. Nuno Santo’s men have excelled in this competition so far, winning all six of their qualifiers, including home and away victories against Torino.
However, the Premier League has proved to be a tougher test. Wolves are yet to win, and were shredded 5-2 at home by Chelsea at the weekend. As has been the case so often for teams, Wolves will take time to strike a balance between domestic and continental duties.
I still expect Wolves to field a strong line-up, and they’ll have to against a competent and experienced Braga. The Archbishops have lost their last two games against Benfica and Vitoria Setubal, but their defeat of Spartak Moscow in the qualifiers was eye-catching.
Given Wolves’ form, I’m not sure I can get on board with backing them to win at [1.62], but I’ll happily back Raul Jimenez to score against a Braga defence that has only kept one clean sheet this season. The Mexican has found the net in four of his last five appearances for Wolves, and has racked up six UEL goals already.
Struggling Spaniards to slip again
Getafe v Trabzonspor
Thursday 19 September, 17:55
Live on BT Sport Extra
Getafe were one of La Liga’s surprise packages last season, and Jose Bordalas’ team came within a whisker of qualifying for the Champions League. However, as is often the case with teams who overachieve, the high is followed by a low.
Getafe haven’t won a game this season, and they have collected a meagre three points from their four matches. While last season’s star forwards Jorge Molina and Jaime Mata are still scoring, the team in general hasn’t managed to score more than one goal in any game this term.
Turkish outfit Trabzonspor caused a big upset in the playoff round as they knocked out AEK Athens, winning 3-1 in Greece. They have made an unbeaten start to the Super Lig season, and recently got an impressive draw at Fenerbahce.
Getafe seem too short for the win at [1.6], so I would lay them.
Buoyant Gladbach to notch big win
Borussia Monchengladbach v Wolfsberger
Thursday 19 September, 20:00
Live on BT Sport Extra
It can take a while for players to settle under a new coach with new ideas, but Marco Rose can be happy with the way he has begun life as the boss of Borussia Monchengladbach. The Foals’ only defeat so far has been against an in-form RB Leipzig, and on Saturday they came through a tricky Rhineland derby with a deserved win at traditional foes FC Koln.
There are signs that Marcus Thuram and Alassane Plea are starting to click in attack, and just like last season, Plea looks razor-sharp in the early weeks of the campaign. New right-back Stefan Lainer came with Rose from Salzburg, and has slotted in superbly.
Austrian side Wolfsberger were surprise qualifiers after finishing third in the Bundesliga last term. They have made a strong start to the domestic campaign, taking 15 points from their first seven games. However, this is a huge step up against high-calibre opponents, and one imagines the Gladbach fans will do their part on the return of the Fohlenelf to European competition.
Gladbach are starting to click under Rose, and I think they’ll kick off with a comfortable win here. Let’s back them -1.5 on the Asian Handicap at [2.15].
Dragons to roar
Porto v Young Boys
Thursday 19 September, 20:00
Live on BT Sport Extra
Such has been Porto’s consistency in reaching the Champions League, it seems odd to see them in the Europa League, but their slip-up against Krasnodar in the UCL qualifiers saw them dumped out of Europe’s premier competition.
The reaction of Sergio Conceicao’s team to that disastrous result has been impressive. The Dragons won 2-0 at title rivals Benfica in O Clasico, and deservedly so. Porto have now won four games in a row, and have scored 12 goals in the process.
In last season’s UCL group stage, Porto won all three of their home games against Schalke, Galatasaray and Lokomotiv Moscow, and I fancy them to get off to a winning start against Swiss champions Young Boys. As domestically dominant as Gerard Seoane’s team are, they struggle on the road in Europe. They lost all three of their away games in the Champions League last term, and they were knocked out of the UCL playoffs by Crvena Zvezda.
I’ll back Porto -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at [1.87].
Source: BetFair Tips
