The UEFA Europa League has a few more stops on the way to Sevilla, where this 2021/22 final will take place. Every first-leg ended in a 1-1 draw albeit Sporting Braga managing to hold onto their clean sheet against Scottish club, Rangers. For every side it’s now do or die, as they look to book their spot in the semi-finals. The margin for error almost non-existent as the final push commences keeping in mind the away goal rule is no longer in play for UEFA competition.
For the punter, there is value in every fixture, so check out the picks below.
Thursday 14 April
Atalanta 16/10
Draw 51/20
Leipzig 31/20
(18:45)
To Qualify:
Atalanta 17/20
RB Leipzig 17/20
RB Leipzig needed an own goal to secure a draw in their backyard in the first-leg of this enthralling clash against Atalanta. Luis Muriel has been a continued threat whenever he features this season, making his individual effort count in the 17th-minute to put the Italians ahead. RB Leipzig came out better in the second-half and were awarded a penalty just before the hour mark, but Andre Silva was denied by the goalkeeper. The resulting corner saw Atalanta’s Davide Zappacosta put one in the back of his own net. Both sides still pushed on in the second-half hitting the woodwork, unfortunate to not steal the victory.
The German’s now travel to Bergamo for the second-leg on Thursday night. In Serie A, La Dea were beaten 2-1 by Sassuolo on Sunday, as they drop to eight on the log. In stark contrast to their opponents, RB Leipzig are in fine domestic form, defeating Hoffenheim 3-1 over the weekend, fourth on the Bundesliga table.
I am backing the Germans to qualify for their second successive European semi-final.
Barcelona 7/20
Draw 4/1
Eintracht Frankfurt 6/1
(21:00)
To Qualify:
Barcelona 2/11
Eintracht Frankfurt 34/10
Head coach Xavi Hernandez will be gutted that Barcelona were not able to finish off Eintracht Frankfurt away from home. Now, the Camp Nou faithful will have a nerve struck second-leg, but I’m sure if you ask them, they will give off nothing but confidence. The two outfits ended the encounter in a stalemate that was a rather entertaining evening at the Deutsche Bank Park.
Barcelona squandered chance after chance before and after the goals, and Eintracht going down to 10-men in the 78th-minute should have given the Catalans more desire to close the curtains on the tie. As Xavi’s team have done so often since his reign began, a great team goal that involved substitutes Frenkie De Jong and Ousmane Dembele, finally finished off by Ferran Torres. Barca are now unbeaten in 15 matches across all coemptions, and it’s difficult to see how they will be stopped on Thursday night.
Ansgar Knauff stunned the Blaugrana and had The Eagles’ faithful in awe as he perfectly timed a half-volley from outside the area to start the second-half. From bliss, to concern, to pain, you could see the range of emotion on Oliver Glasner’s face. A goal in the 48th-minute, to 1-1 in the 66th-minute, and Brazilian center-back Tuta seeing red in the 78th-minute, set up a nervy end to the fixture. Eintracht might feel the previous round-of-16 tie jitters, as they drew the fixture in Germany and travelled to face Real Betis in a precarious night in Spain.
Keeping the ball will be key in killing the game, but Barca are on a mission to reestablish the fear they put into other teams, and you can get behind the home team on the match bet and over 2.5 at 9/10.
Rangers 19/20
Draw 5/2
Braga 11/4
(21:00)
To Qualify:
Rangers 14/10
Braga 5/10
Braga made the home ground advantage count as they make the journey to Scottish Premiership side Rangers. At the initial drawing of the fixtures, bookies and those associated with Rangers felt they got the best possible outcome, but Braga felt otherwise edging a 1-0 victory on home soil.
The Glasgow giants have lost three of their last five fixtures, but Ranger’s manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst can draw confidence from the fact that they are undefeated in four of their last European meetings in Ibrox. Their last two at home were a 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund and a 3-0 thrashing of Red Star Belgrade.
The Portuguese outfit look quite the opposite going winless in their three European away fixtures. However, the trip to France where they faced Monaco in a 1-1 result was nothing to be ashamed of.
There is a boost for the Rangers dressing room, as Aaron Ramsey played 45 minutes over the weekend, and will hope to make an impact for the Scott’s, while Braga remain fully fit heading into the Thursday night tie.
For me, the 90-minute draw seems the play with Braga heading through thanks to their first-leg goal.
Lyon 11/10
Draw 49/20
West Ham 47/20
(21:00)
To Qualify:
Lyon 6/10
West Ham 5/4
West Ham United were unable to take advantage of the all-important home leg last week. Lyon secured the draw away from home and now welcome West Ham to make the journey across the French La Manche.
Lyon took the game to the Hammers in the first-leg, getting through 23 recorded shots, but the composure in front of goal was lacking with just four on target and one converted. The Frenchman dominated possession as well, especially in the second-half with a man advantage. Lyon however found themselves a goal down and had to grasp an equalizer in rather scrappy fashion via Tanguay Ndombele.
Despite losing Aaron Creswell in a rather controversial red card ruling just before the half-time whistle blew when it seemed as though Lyon would dominate the ball and make the man advantage count, West Ham’s Jarred Bowen put the home side in front. For David Moyes it’s a double-edged sword, his inform attacking player Bowen returned, but he will be without Creswell for the second-leg.
While I feel Lyon could progress, there are too many key players not fit and ready to feature. First-choice goalkeeper Anthony Lopez was taken off on the stroke of 30 minutes over the weekend, and midfielders Ndombele and Houssem Aouar also picked up heavy knocks. Defensively, Maxence Caqueret and Thiago Mendes are doubtful, including Rayan Chekri, Lenny Pintor, and Sinaly Diomande. For David Moyes, just Creswell and Kurt Zouma are out.
The first-leg was ‘ruined’ by a red card, and West Ham were still able to hold off wave after wave of Lyon attack. If West Ham can stay sound in the backline, the attack of Bowen, Pablo Fornals, and Said Benrahma will filter perfectly to Michail Antonio. The Hammers to get the job done within 90 minutes.
QUAD @ 40/1
RB Leipzig To Qualify 17/20
Barcelona and Over 2.5 9/10
Rangers/Braga Draw 5/2
West Ham Win 47/20
Written by Joshua Gaillard