Football commentator Kieran Burke has picked his four best bets for Thursday’s Europa League action.
Thursday’s Europa League ACCA
- Ferencvaros +1 (v Celtic)
- Crystal Palace to win (v Lech Poznan)
- Juventus to win (v Nijmegen)
- BTTS yes (Real Sociedad v Bournemouth)
- Odds: 19/4
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Celtic v Ferencvaros, Thur, 20:00, Premier Sports 1 Ireland/TNT Sports 3
You’d really have to question Martin O’Neill’s decision to stay on at Celtic this season. It’s very rare in professional sport that a legend gets to bow out off the back of a true fairytale, but that’s exactly the opportunity O’Neill was presented with after snatching the league title from Hearts on the final day of last season.
While the Hoops have started the defence of their title in fine fashion, they have been absolutely humiliated in Europe and took a pasting off arch-rivals Rangers in the League Cup on Sunday. I don’t, for one second, blame O’Neill for those humiliations; Celtic fans have long been clear on who they blame for the club’s apparent stagnation, but why he signed up for another season of this, given the ongoing tensions around the club, you can only put it down to loyalty.
While Celtic have bossed matters domestically for many years now, they’ve struggled to make any sort of a genuine mark in Europe for quite some time, and their latest European adventure could get off to a rocky start as they host Ferencvaros at Celtic Park on Thursday.
The Hungarians began their European campaign back in July, navigating four qualifying rounds to reach the competition proper for the fifth time in six seasons (W6, D2). Three wins and a draw from their four away qualifiers, coupled with just one defeat on the road during last season’s league phase (W2, D1), should give them plenty of confidence heading to Scotland.
That sole away defeat came on British soil against Nottingham Forest (4-0), but the Greens still reached the round of 16 and arrive in Glasgow in excellent form. They have lost just once since Balázs Borbély replaced Robbie Keane as manager in July, winning 10 and drawing four of their last 15 games.
Celtic haven’t lost at home since February, so I’m holding back from going all in on the visitors, but they’ll arrive in Glasgow smelling blood in the water, and with another Old Firm derby coming up on Sunday, Celtic’s latest headache could soon develop into a migraine.
BEST BET: Ferencvaros +1 (23/20)
Crystal Palace v Lech Poznan, Thur, 20:00, Premier Sports 2 Ireland, TNT Sports 1
Palace’s reward for winning last season’s Conference League is a berth in Europe’s second-tier competition, a tournament they, of course, should have participated in last season, only to be booted out due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.
Given English clubs’ recent record in the UEL, you might have fancied Palace to collect back-to-back European crowns had it not been for Oliver Glasner’s departure at the end of last season. It remains to be seen if Pierre Sage can prove to be an adequate replacement for the now-Forest boss, but he’s been handed what appears to be a kind opening European fixture in charge of the Eagles.
Lech Poznan, like Palace, suffered a domestic defeat at the weekend and also played in the Conference League last season. Despite reaching the knockout stages, their league phase results included a defeat to Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar and Rayo Vallecano, who Palace swept aside in the final.
Premier League clubs simply have too much strength and depth for teams from Europe’s less glamorous leagues, and Palace should be claiming all three points here.
BEST BET: Crystal Palace (4/11)
Juventus v Nijmegen, Thur, 20:00, TNT Sports 4
Juventus, one of the favourites for this season’s competition, begin their bid for European glory with a home tie against Nijmegen from the Netherlands.
Returning to major European competition for the first time since 2008/09, NEC Nijmegen face a daunting trip to Turin. They enter the competition following a disappointing Champions League qualifying exit to Bodø/Glimt and have won just one of their last six competitive matches.
The Dutch side have endured an inconsistent start to their domestic campaign, sitting mid-table in the Eredivisie with two wins, a draw and three defeats. A heavy 3-0 loss away to Cambuur last time out will hardly have boosted confidence, while their European away form is particularly concerning. Nijmegen failed to win either of their qualifying trips this season and failed to score in both.
While Juventus suffered a last-gasp defeat to Sassuolo at the weekend and are currently down a few bodies through injury, they should have enough to get off to a winning start.
BEST BET: Juventus (2/9)
Real Sociedad v Bournemouth, Thur, 20:00, TNT Sports 2
Bournemouth will make their European debut in San Sebastian on Thursday night as the Cherries travel to European regulars, Real Sociedad. Bournemouth’s lack of European experience is countered by the continental CV of their new manager, Marco Rose, who has taken charge of over 30 games in the competition previously.
Sociedad qualified as Copa del Rey winners and will be bidding to put together a good run in this competition, having reached the last 16 in 2025, where they were eliminated by an English side in Manchester United.
It certainly hasn’t been plainsailing for Rose since he arrived in England, with Bournemouth claiming the unwanted record of becoming the first team in Premier League history to lead in each of their first four games of a season and failing to win any of them (D3, L1).
However, Bournemouth have scored two or more goals in four of their five competitive matches this season and are yet to draw a blank in front of goal. Sociedad have won four of their last five European home games by a 2+ goal margin (D1), while four of their last five home games yielded over 2.5 goals in all competitions. In short, this could be fun.
BEST BET: BTTS Yes (4/7)
Thursday’s Europa League Tips
- Ferencvaros +1 (v Celtic)
- Crystal Palace to win (v Lech Poznan)
- Juventus to win (v Nijmegen)
- BTTS yes (Real Sociedad v Bournemouth)
- Odds: 19/4
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