EUROPA League Preview | Tips and Match Predictions

The Swiss Champions could barely a punch against their rivals in the Champions League group stages. Young Boys were resoundingly beaten by reigning champions Manchester City and RB Leipzig in two-legged ties. Their only positives were taking four points off Red Star Belgrade and thus qualified for the Europa League play-off.

Sporting CP finished three points behind Atalanta in an easy Group featuring SK Sturm Graz and Polish side Rakow Czestochowa. Both teams are enjoying a good run of form in their respective league, topping the table. Young Boys have a +28 goal difference while Sporting are on +39, with striker Victor Gyokeres scoring for fun.

Both teams play an enterprising brand of football that will great to watch for a neutral fan. The away side will get a goal or goal here, although Young Boys will prove to be an stern opposition.

A resurgent AS Roma side will visit the De Kuip with hopes of extending their good run since the appointment of Danielle De Rossi as their caretaker manager. Roma have dominated this fixture in the past, winning three of the last five encounters. The side from the Italian Capital were 4-1 victors in the Europa League meeting last season.

Roma’s recent upturn in form has seen them win four games in five, losing to runaway leaders Inter Milan on 10 February. De Rossi has altered Roma’s conservative approach and have his men playing entertaining football that was last seen during Luciano Spalletti’s tenure.

Feyenoord have improved a lot since their crushing defeat to Roma, and won the league in that season. Roma will be pushed to their limits at De Kuip. Feyenoord defeated Lazio and Celtic in the group stages at this fortress.

Galatasaray’s spending spree ahead of the 2023/24 season promised heaven on earth for their staunch fanbase. Instead, they were eliminated from the group stages of the Champions League and have been playing catch-up to fierce rivals Fenerbahce since the season started.

Sparta have dominated the Czech Liga and currently lead the log with four points ahead of neighbours Slavia Prague. The Czech giants scrapped to the last 16 on a tight margin, one point ahead of Real Betis in Group C.

Galatasaray have scored at least two goals in their previous 10 games, while Sparta have netted in 12 consecutive matches. We expect goals in this match.

Hamburg plays host to Shakhtar and Marseille in what promises to a riveting contest. The Ukrainian powerhouse failed to qualify for the Champions League last-16 for the successive year. Shakhtar were beaten 3-5 by FC Porto in an entertaining that ended their Champions League quest in the last game.

Marseille, on the other hand, have been revived in the past three years. The French giants made it to the last 16 despite stern competition from the likes of Ajax Amsterdam and Brighton in Group B.

Shakthar won the two previous encounters in the 2008-09 season, with an aggregate of 4-1. Even in the asence of their loyal fanbase, Shakhtar have dominated and beaten tough opposition in Hamburg, evidenced in their 1-0 win victory over Barcelona in the group stages. Marseille will not get anything in Hamburg, back Shakhtar to win.

The Italian giants welcome tricky French opposition Stade de Rennes in the first leg of the Europa League at San Siro. The competition remains Milan’s only hope of salvaging their season, having been eliminated in the Coppa Italia and running behind in the title race. Rennes have turned a leaf in the league, winning five consecutive matches.

This will be the first official meeting between the two teams. It is not surprising that Milan are tipped to win this match given their European pedigree. Milan will narrowly edge it in San Siro.

On paper, Benfica have themselves an easy here against the unpredictable French team. Benfica have recovered from their mid-season slump and currently trail Sporting CP by three points in the title race. Toulouse have lost three of their previous fixtures coming into Estadio da Luz. This will be the first official meeting between these two.

The Portuguese are unbeaten in their last 16 matches against French teams in European competitions. The visitors have registered a solitary win in an away game in the Europa League this season.

Benfica are a banker to score, and have scored two or more in 10 of their last 11 games. I am taking Benfica on the home advantage. Toulouse will be nervous o their first ever knockout game in Europe.

Both teams are currently occupying sixth position in their respective leagues. Lens, eliminated from the Champions League group stage, have continued to punch heavily in the French Ligue and recorded an impressive over Arsenal last year.

Freiburg are no pushovers in this competition and lost once in the group stages to West Ham United. Freiburg have been poor off late, losing three league fixtures in a row. The teams haven’t played each other before, so a prediction will be a huge task. Both teams could find the net here, as neither team boast a stronger defence.

Braga are heavily tipped to edge Qarabag in this fixture, aided by their impressive run when playing at home. The Portuguese have won three and drawn two at home since the turn of the year. Meanwhile, Qarabag are unbeaten in in 14 of their last 15 matches. They have drawn twice in that period.

With the odds sitting at (1.43) for the home side, this is an obvious banker for your betslip.