In The Mixer: 8 experts pick their best UEL / UECL bets with 74/1 acca
Content Editor at Free Super Tips, Alex was born in the shadow of Old Trafford and is an avid Man Utd fan. After graduating from university he combined his love of football, writing and betting to join FST and now closely follows goings-on in all of the top European leagues.
In The Mixer is FST’s weekly column where we catch up with seven experts in football betting and get their opinion on the hot topic of the week.
With European football back on the menu, we are being treated to a feast of action this week, with Thursday’s main course being the 16 second-leg ties in the Europa League and Europa Conference League.
There’s plenty to choose from from a betting perspective, so we’ve teamed up with experts from across the Racing Post and ICS to bring you our best bets of Thursday’s action. All prices quoted are with bet365, so if you don’t already have an account sign up below to get up to £50 in free bets!
Monaco and Union Berlin draw backers
Alex Wrigley
Sports editor at Free Super Tips
Bayer Leverkusen were favourites to qualify against Monaco but a 3-2 defeat in the home leg has put a dampener on their hopes. They have now lost four of their last five and will have a tough time against an in-form Monaco.
Les Rouge et Blanc are unbeaten in 90 minutes since returning from the World Cup enforced break, winning eight of their 11 fixtures and beating PSG 3-1 in their last outing at the Stade Louis II.
Chris Rivers
Sports journalist at Racing Post
Monaco are France’s in-form team right now after stretching their winning run to five with victory over Brest at the weekend and appeal at odds-against to see off Bayer Leverkusen at home.
Philippe Clement’s men snatched a late winner in Germany to seize control of the knockout tie at 3-2 and Leverkusen are far too porous defensively to trust to get the balance right between chasing the tie and keeping the backdoor shut.
Monaco’s record of eight wins from the last 11 at home, which includes two Europa League group stage victories, is strong enough form to think they can see off Leverkusen.
Joe Champion
Sports journalist at Racing Post
Union Berlin looked rock solid in the first leg of their Europa League tie with Ajax, and after battling to a goalless draw in Amsterdam, the German club can advance to the last 16 by winning in 90 minutes on their own patch.
Union did not allow their opponents to have a shot on target on Thursday and that bodes well for the return leg, as does their superb form at the An der Alten Försterei, where they have won nine of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Ajax have stacks of European pedigree to call upon but they were outclassed by Liverpool and Napoli in the Champions League and their Eredivisie form suggests this isn’t a squad which compares favourably with previous generations.
Liam Flin
Sports journalist at Racing Post
Union Berlin have made a tremendous start to 2023, keeping pace with Bayern Munich at the Bundesliga summit, and they can also progress to the next stage of the Europa League at the expense of Ajax.
They managed to earn a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their knockout tie in Amsterdam, denying Ajax a single shot on target on their own patch, and Union Berlin are a great bet to win in 90 minutes at the An der Alten Försterei.
Ajax did not click under Alfred Schreuder this season, prompting the club to draft in John Heitinga as head coach, and they have work to do in the race for the Eredivisie title.
Four more teams combine for 74/1 acca!
Aaron Rogan
Sports journalist at Free Super Tips
After losing 1-0 in Austria last week, Jose Mourinho’s Roma are in need of a response in Rome this week. That defeat continued a rotten run for the Europa Conference League winners, as it was the fourth time in five games that they failed to keep a clean sheet.
The Giallorossi have conceded in six of their seven Europa League games this season, with five of those seeing both teams score. They meet a Salzburg side who have discord in six of their seven games in Europe this season, so both teams to score in the second leg looks like good value at 21/20.
Ian Wilkerson
Sports journalist at Racing Post
Rennes have a bit to do to overhaul a 2-1 deficit against Shakhtar Donetsk, but they should be far stronger back on their own patch and I’ll take them to qualify for the next round of the Europa League.
The French side were perhaps unfortunate not to earn something from their trip to Warsaw after creating plenty of late chances and we should not be put off by the fact they have lost five of their last six games.
They had won ten straight when hosting other Ligue 1 teams before a 3-1 loss to Lille and, during that run, Paris Saint-Germain were the only team against whom they failed to score more than once.
They got back on track with a win over Clermont on Sunday and look well equipped to turn their tie around.
Aidan Perkins
Sports journalist at ICS
Lech Poznan’s home Europa Conference clash with Bodo/Glimt is hardly a tie to get the pulses rating but the Polish side look very backable at odds of around 11-10 to win on Thursday after the first game between the sides finished goalless.
Lech are third in Poland’s top flight, defending the domestic title they won last term, and they have been very impressive at home in this competition so far, winning five of their six assignments in front of their own fans, including a 3-0 success against Spanish side Villarreal in November, which helped them to secure second place in Group B.
Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt were the better side in the first leg but failed to edge themselves in front and they could now be made to pay in the return game in Poland.
Bodo/Glimt’s league campaign is yet to begin so they have been playing friendlies of late before the Eliteserien, in which they finished second last year, gets under way in April and Lech Poznan can take advantage of any rustiness by advancing with a second-leg win.
Rob Eddy
Sports journalist at ICS
PSV Eindhoven look tempting at odds against to make a game of their tie with Sevilla, despite the obvious disappointment of a 3-0 defeat in the first leg in Spain.
Things have not quite been right for Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s men, not helped by Cody Gakpo’s departure, but their troubles have largely come on the road. The Philips Stadion has still been a happy home for the Rood-witten with no team having bettered their tally of nine home wins in the Eredivisie this season or home aggregate of 34 goals, while they beat high-flying Arsenal 2-0 there in the group stages.
Of course, a surprise Rangers win in Champions League qualifying provides an obvious blot but Sevilla go there having secured just two away victories in La Liga this season, and are unlikely to be desperate to chase the game if they go behind.
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