UEFA Europa League

Europa League Matchday 2 Predictions

1 hour 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 get their campaign off to the perfect start, as the journey to Istanbul begins here for two sides.

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This week, we focus on sides from England and Scotland in the UEFA Europa League, starting in Glasgow on Thursday as Celtic welcome Braga to Celtic Park.

Later on Thursday evening, Aston Villa will travel to the Netherlands to take on Feyenoord, The City Ground will be rocking as they witness European football here for the first time in 30 years with Forest facing Midtylland, whilst Rangers travel to Austria to face Sturm Graz at the Merkur-Arena.

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

Celtic v Braga – Thursday, 5.45pm

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Celtic left Serbia feeling a little disappointed in their curtain raiser against Red Star Belgrade, Brendan Rodgers’ side took an early lead in the second half but couldn’t see out the victory, leaving them with one point from one game.
The Hoops come into Thursday’s fixture off the back of a goalless draw against Hibernian on Saturday, a result which leaves Celtic unusually in second place in their domestic league, two points off the early leaders Hearts.
None of Celtic’s last seventeen home games in the Europa League have ended level, whilst they’ve lost just one of their last eight games here across all European competitions, proving a tough side to beat on home soil.
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Braga got themselves off to the perfect start in their Europa League campaign with a 1-0 victory over Feyenoord last week but head to Glasgow off the back of a shock defeat in their domestic campaign against Nacional on Sunday.
Carlos Vicens are yet to lose an away game this season (W3, D3) but their record in Europe on the road hasn’t been the greatest, they’ve failed to win eight of their last ten away games in the UEL group/league phase, whilst they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last seven UEL away games.
Therefore, i’m expecting a close encounter at Celtic Park on Thursday night with not much to separate the two sides, but i’m going to back Celtic to get the job done and pick up their first three points of the campaign.

Prediction: Under 2.5 Goals, Celtic 1-0 Braga

Feyenoord v Aston Villa – Thursday, 8pm

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Feyenoord will be looking to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Braga on Matchday one, Robin van Persie’s side welcome Aston Villa to De Kuip where they’ve won their last five games in all competitions, a tough place to visit.
They’re also unbeaten in their last six UEFA Europa League fixtures on home soil (W4, D2), whilst they’ve seen eleven of their last fifteen European games produce at least three goals on the night.
This is the first competitive meeting between the two sides, whilst Feyenoord have won just eight of their twenty-nine previous encounters with English opposition, not the greatest record ahead of this one.
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Maybe Aston Villa have turned the corner this season, their 1-0 victory against Bologna in the Europa League last week was followed up with a 3-1 victory in the Premier League against Fulham on Sunday, having to come from behind to secure all three points.
Unai Emery knows this competition better than anybody else given he’s the most successful manage in the Europa League history, he’s lost just thirteen of his 101 matches in the Europa League, one of those defeats did come against Feyenoord though back in 2014.
Five of Aston Villa’s last six games in European competitions have produced at least three goals, i think we’ll see both teams on the scoresheet in this one and a draw wouldn’t come as a big surprise in Rotterdam.

Prediction: Both Teams To Score & Draw, Feyenoord 1-1 Aston Villa

Nottingham Forest v Midtjylland – Thursday, 8pm

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Winner of this competition last season, Ange Postecoglou will be hoping he can get his hands on the trophy once again, this time delivering more European glory for the Tricky Trees but a miserable start so far for the Aussie won’t fill many people with confidence.
Big Ange is still awaiting his first win in charge of Nottingham Forest having drawn two and lost three of his first five games, they did manage a draw in Seville against Real Betis in their first Europa League but with Forest playing their first European game at the City Ground since 1996, a win is expected here on Thursday night.
Ange Postecoglou is unbeaten in his last nine UEL home games as manager but Forest have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seventeen games in all competitions, so expect goals in the East Midlands.
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Unusually, Midtjylland travel to Nottingham having only played on Monday evening, their 2-1 victory against Randers extended their winning streak to four games in all competitions, including a 2-0 victory against Sturm Graz on Matchday one of this competition.
The Danish side aren’t shy in front of goal either, they’ve scored at least two goals in twelve of their last thirteen games across all comps, meaning we should see plenty of chances in this one.
This is the first meeting between these two sides but Midtjylland have faced English opposition in the past, they’ve won just one of their four meetings against English sides but that did come against Manchester United back in 2016.

Prediction: Both Teams To Score & Nottingham Forest To Win, Nottingham Forest 3-1 Midtjylland

Sturm Graz v Rangers – Thursday, 8pm

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Both Sturm Graz and Rangers are looking for their first victory in this competition having both suffered defeats in their curtain raisers last week, the Austrian champions have bounced back though having beat Hartberg 1-0 at the weekend.
They now sit just two points behind the league leaders Rapid Wien with a game in hand but with focus shifting to the Europa League, improvement is needed as they’ve lost seven of their last nine European ‘proper’ fixtures.
Sturm Graz haven’t seen both teams score in any of their last six games across all competitions, so goals in this one might seem a little far fetched.
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Rangers travel to Austria off the back of a 2-1 victory away to Livingston on Sunday, their late winner sparked chaos in the three stands that were full of Rangers fans but celebrations quickly turned to chants against Russell Martin, letting their thoughts known.
Their discontent towards the manager doesn’t come as a surprise given they’ve won just four games so far and whilst they remain seven points behind Celtic at this early stage, a win here would secure consecutive victories for the first time since Russell Martin took charge.
Just two of Rangers’ last seven games in all competitions have produced at least three goals, i’m expecting a low-scoring affair in Austria on Thursday night with nothing to separate the two sides on Matchday two.

Prediction: Under 2.5 Goals, Draw

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