It’s MD2 in the UEL while the Conference League league phase kicks off.
Thursday’s UEFA Treble
- Over 3.5 goals (Lyon v Crystal Palace)
- Benfica -1 (v Celtic)
- Brighton to win to nil (v Kauno Zalgiris)
- Odds: 103/20
– View our latest Football markets.
Lyon v Crystal Palace, 17:45, UEL
Two teams that made winning starts on MD1 go head-to-head in one of Thursday’s early kick-offs. Lyon were 1-2 winners in Belgium against Anderlecht, while Crystal Palace put Lech Poznan to the sword in a 4-0 win.
There were contrasting domestic results at the weekend, with Lyon beaten by Lens, while Palace recovered from a slow start to slay Nottingham Forest. Despite that setback for Lyon, they’ll be hopeful of a return to winning ways in front of their own fans, given they’ve won six of their last nine home fixtures.
Palace, on the other hand, could do with improving their away form, with just one win from their last eight games on the road. Despite winning the Conference League last term, Palace were beaten by French opposition when going down to Strasbourg. Lyon’s record against English clubs does not make for good reading either, as the French side have failed to win any of their last four such assignments.
Recent European ties at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais have generally been entertaining encounters with both teams scoring in four of the last five such games here.
Palace have kept just one clean sheet in their last five games in all competitions, and the Eagles’ rearguard will have to be switched on here, given that Lyon have scored at least twice in six of their last seven UEL home games.
The Palace attack were at their best against Forest on Sunday, scoring three times, and equally, Lyon’s defence could be in for a busy night at the office, with six of Palace’s last seven fixtures featuring over 2.5 goals.
Palace’s last four away games in Europe saw both teams score. Everything points towards a wide-open early kick-off.
BEST BET: Over 3.5 goals (8/5)
Benfica v Celtic, 20:00, UEL
After a period of reflection during the international break, Martin O’Neill remains in situ and guided Celtic back to winning ways in the league at the weekend. However, improving the Glasgow clubs’ European fortunes remains a big challenge for the veteran boss.
Benfica enjoyed a massive 0-2 win at the famous San Siro on MD1 and will not fear a Celtic side that were picked apart at home to Hungarian opposition in their competition opener.
Best Bet: Benfica -1 (4/6)
Brighton v Kauno Zalgiris, 20:00, UECL
Europe’s third-tier competition kicks off this week, and given their impressive start to the season in England, Brighton must be considered one of the favourites to go all the way in the Conference League. The Seagulls look to have been handed a soft opening fixture too, as they go up against group/league phase debutants Kauno Zalgiris from Lithuania.
Brighton head into this fixture in fine form after stringing together four consecutive victories, the latest a 2-0 win against Sunderland despite playing with ten men. Fabian Hürzeler’s side are firmly established in the Premier League’s top three and will be confident of extending their winning run after sweeping aside Tromsø 4-0 on aggregate to reach the league phase. The Seagulls have also kept clean sheets in each of their last four European home games, while their Amex Stadium record this season makes for impressive reading, with three wins and a draw from four outings and just one goal conceded.
Best Bet: Brighton win to nil (21/50)
Thursday’s European Football Tips
- Over 3.5 goals (Lyon v Crystal Palace)
- Benfica -1 (v Celtic)
- Brighton to win to nil (v Kauno Zalgiris)
- Odds: 103/20
