UEFA Europa League

Europa League Matchday 7 Predictions

2 hours ago

| BY Sam McLoughlin

The UEFA Europa League is back for the 55th season of Europe’s secondary club football tournament, with thirty-six teams from across Europe battling it out with a dream of reaching the final in Istanbul.

@Footy_Tipster gives his best predictions ahead of this round of fixtures in the UEFA Europa League..

The UEFA Europa League returns this week with clubs from across Europe looking to fulfil their European dreams with the journey to Istanbul continuing here for two sides.

This week, we turn our focus to sides from England and Scotland in the UEFA Europa League, starting in Italy with Bologna welcoming Celtic at 5.45pm, whilst kicking-off at the same time in the Tukey, Aston Villa take on Fenerbache in what will be a hostile atmosphere for the Premier League side.

Later on Thursday evening, Nottingham Forest travel to Portugal to take on Braga, whilst Rangers return to Ibrox to face Bulgarian side Ludogorets, both games kicking-off at 8pm.

Now, let’s take a closer look at some Europa League odds and betting angles for Matchday seven fixtures:

Bologna v Celtic – Thursday, 5.45pm

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Bologna return to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Thursday night looking to bounce back having suffered a derby day defeat here on Sunday to struggling Fiorentina, leaving I Rossoblu eighth in Serie A and seven points off the top six.
Vincenzo Italiano’s side have impressed in this UEFA Europa League campaign though, they enter round seven in thirteenth place and just two points off those top eight automatic qualification spots, they’ve not lost any of their last five UEL fixtures (W3, D2).
Despite that impressive form in this competition, elsewhere it’s not been as plain sailing for the Italian side, with just one win within 90-minutes in their last nine games across all competitions, whilst they’ve not won any of their last four games on home soil.
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It’s been all change at Celtic since their 3-0 defeat to AS Roma in their last UEFA Europa League outing, Martin O’Neil is back to take over Celtic for the second time this season and he’s picked up where he left off, winning each of his three games since taking the hot seat.
It’s very much touch-and-go in terms of Celtic’s Europa League campaign with the Hoops occupying the final play-off spot (24th) but only via goal-difference, anything other than a victory in Italy on Thursday night could cost them dearly.
This is the first meeting between these two sides but Celtic will know their record against Italian clubs hasn’t been great, having won just seven of their thirty-three previous encounters, the Hoops did manage a 3-1 victory away at Feyenoord under Martin O’Neil and now have the chance to pick up consecutive away wins in a European main-draw match for the first time since 2003.

Prediction: Both Teams To Score & Bologna To Win, Bologna 2-1 Celtic.

Fenerbache v Aston Villa – Thursday, 5.45pm

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This is a huge game for Fenerbache if they are looking to obtain an automatic qualification spot, they currently sit twelfth in league phase and just two points behind the top eight, a win here would move them to within two points of Aston Villa.
Domenico Tedesco’s side are having a strong season thus far, they remain just one point behind rivals Galatasaray in their domestic league despite still being unbeaten after the first eighteen games, their 2-1 cup defeat against Besiktas remains their only defeat from their last twenty-one games in all competitions.
This is the first meeting between these two sides since way back in 1977, with Fenerbache losing both of those fixtures, they’ve also won just one of their last eight games against English opposition (D2, L5).
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Aston Villa travel to Istanbul having suffered a shock defeat in the Premier League on Sunday against Everton on home soil, the Villans will shift their focus to the Europa League where they’ve already guaranteed themselves a play-off spot but would love a top eight finish.
A draw here for Unai Emery’s side could all but confirm a top eight finish depending on results elsewhere but the Villa boss will be hoping for all three points, a victory would see Emery become the first manager since the competitions rebrand to win 100 games.
For me, i think the atmosphere at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium will play a huge factor in this one, if Aston Villa can deal with that, then they should get themselves at least a point here, but it’ll be a tough game given both sides recent form.

Prediction: Draw, Fenerbache 1-1 Aston Villa.

Braga v Nottingham Forest – Thursday, 8pm

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Braga put an end to their two game winless run on Sunday with a 1-0 win away at Tondela in their domestic campaign, a three points which keep them fifth and now just one point behind Gil Vicente in fourth.
In the UEFA Europa League, Carlos Vicens’ side occupy seventh place and will be hoping to all but secure a top eight finish with a victory in this one, they did lose their last UEL game here on home soil against Belgian side Genk, but that remains their only defeat in their last thirteen European matches (W10, D2).
It’s also a fixture that could provide us with some goals on Thursday night, despite Braga never facing Notting Forest in a competitive fixture, their last three UEL games against English opposition have produced sixteen goals (3-3 v Wolves, 4-0 and 3-3 v Leicester)
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It’s been a tough period for Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest side in recent weeks having won just one of their last seven games in all competitions but they travel to Portugal fresh off the back of a goalless draw against the Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Despite recent struggles, it’s been a different story for the Tricky Trees in Europe who remain just two points off the top eight having lost just one of their six games thus far, whilst they remain unbeaten in their four UEL games under Dyche (W3, D1) including a 2-0 victory against a Portuguese side in Porto.
Nottingham Forest’s recent away games also point towards goals on Thursday night, with five of their last six outings producing at least three goals, i’m going to back goals as my main prediction but a scoredraw could be on the cards.

Prediction: Both Teams To Score & Over 2.5 Goals, Braga 2-2 Nottingham Forest.

Rangers v Ludogorets – Thursday, 8pm

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Rangers’ UEFA Europa League campaign this season has been nothing short of embarrassing for this historic club, they remain one of just five sides in the league phase that are yet to pick up a win from any of their six games thus far, sitting thirty-third with just one point and having scored just three goals.
However, the good news for the Scottish side is that things have started to improve drastically since the arrival of Danny Rohl, with six wins in a row and five coming in the league, including a 3-1 win away at Celtic, they’ve managed to get themselves back in title contention.
Without a win in their last nine UEFA Europa League games (D2, L7) it’s their longest ever run in Europe without a victory but returning to Ibrox where they’ve lost just one of their last eleven outings could put a stop to this awful European run.
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Bulgarian side Ludogorets haven’t exactly been ‘pulling up trees’ themselves with just two wins from their six games in this competition but that has been enough to put them in contention of securing a play-off spot, they remain within the top twenty-four but only via goal-difference.
Ludogorets haven’t played a competitive fixture since the 19th December which could hamper their performance on Thursday night in Glasgow, they have played two friendlies and remain unbeaten in their last eight competitive fixtures.
The Eagles have won just one of their last elven European away games inside ninety-minutes (D4, L6) but they’ve seen each of their three away games in this competition produce at least three goals, i’m going to back a home win in this one.

Prediction: HT Draw/FT Rangers, Rangers 2-1 Ludogorets.

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