Europa League Matchday 5 Odds: Preview, Breakdown, Best Bets
Potential Group Deciders on Thursday
PSV vs. Arsenal Rematch the Center of Attention
The Arsenal vs. PSV makeup match was the only Europa League game on the schedule last week. The reserve fixture, in the Netherlands, should garner nearly as much attention. Two top teams will go at it once again as PSV try to avenge their 1-0 loss from last week. While Group A could be decided in that match, plenty of groups can be wrapped up on Thursday. Let’s preview the Europa League Matchday 5 odds and take a look at the knockout stage picture.
Games of the Week:
PSV vs. Arsenal
Date, time (TV):
Streaming: Live Streaming Sports
Arsenal narrowly defeated PSV last week at the Emirates Stadium, 1-0, but were undoubtedly the better team on the day. PSV have a bunch of spry young talents, though, and could give the Gunners problems on Thursday. Arsenal looked vulnerable on Sunday in a 1-1 draw at Southampton and showed some signs of fatigue. The same was true of PSV, who lost 4-2 to FC Gronigen.
Mikel Arteta will want to wrap up the group on Thursday and his Gunners are priced at +135 odds to win. At five points ahead of PSV in the Group A Europa League standings, a draw will be enough for Arsenal. As a pick’em, Arsenal sit at -140 odds. PSV, who haven’t lost at home since August, are +180 underdogs.
Don’t expect a full strength side for Arsenal. Players like Matt Turner, Eddie Nketiah, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Fabio Vieira should continue to get opportunities. Expect PSV to throw the kitchen sink at Arsenal as they look to widen the gap above third-place Bodo/Glimt. Both teams play attractive styles that are quite easy on the eye. The oddsmakers aren’t foreseeing too many goals, though, as under three currently shows -125 odds.
Union Berlin vs. SC Braga:
The Bundesliga leaders take on the Portuguese League’s second place team as Union Berlin host SC Braga. In addition to their good form in their respective leagues, this is a crucial match for both teams. Union Saint-Gilloise currently lead Group D with 10 points. Meanwhile, Braga sit on seven points and Union Berlin have six. A win for Braga means a place in the knockout stage is secure. For Union Berlin, they’d have one foot in.
Union are coming off a very disappointing loss to VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga but are favored to bounce back. The Europa League Matchday 5 odds price them as -125 favorites to win in Berlin on Thursday. Braga, who won the reverse fixture 1-0, are +335 underdogs. Braga are a high scoring bunch and have found the net in 13 of their 14 matches this season. Vitinha leads the Europa League with four goals so far.
Meanwhile, Union have both scored and conceded just two goals in four matches so far. All four of their matches have gone under two goals. So, it’s no surprise that under 2½ sits at -125 odds for Thursday’s match. However, Union Berlin’s last match is against leaders USG, which means a draw wouldn’t be a great result for them. So, Union may have to push more than usual to get a goal here. Perhaps that could mean they’re a little more vulnerable than usual on the other end.
Ludogorets vs. Real Betis:
PFC Ludogorets Razgrad deserve a lot of credit for the position they’re in right now. They’ve managed seven points from four matches in a group with AS Roma and Real Betis also in it. The last time Ludogorets and Betis met, it was a five-goal thriller which ended in a 3-2 Betis win. Ludogorets now host Real Betis in Bulgaria for the reverse fixture which has a lot of knockout stage ramifications.
Should Real Betis draw or win, they’ll clinch Group C. A Ludogorets win could cause a bit of chaos. Roma’s path to the knockout stage would become more complicated. Jose Mourinho’s men would need to win vs. HJK on Thursday and beat Ludogorets next week to have a chance of advancing. Currently, the Europa League Matchday 5 odds price Real Betis as +125 road favorites. Still, Ludogorets are being given around a 60 percent implied chance to draw or win the match. The Bulgarians sit at -155 odds to cover their +½ spread.
Despite some dreadful La Liga road form from Betis, they’re 2-0 away from home in the Europa League. Real Betis have also struggled recently, with just one win in their last five matches in all competitions. In seven October matches, they’ve averaged just a goal per game. Although, neither team has been shut out yet in the Europa League. Both teams to score has occurred in three of four matches for both sides and it could be a consideration come Thursday.
Ferencvaros vs. Monaco:
This doesn’t immediately stand out as being one of the best games on the Europa League schedule, however, it is certainly one of the most important matches of the week. Four-time defending Hungarian champions Ferencvaros are looking for their first-ever Europa League knockout stage appearance. With a win and a Trabzonspor draw or loss vs. Red Star Belgrade, Ferencvaros will win the group and bypass the first knockout round.
Monaco, on the other hand, need all three points. They’re three points behind Ferencvaros and level with Trabzonspor. They’ve been wildly inconsistent as of late and come into this fixture with two wins and two losses in the UEL. Monaco are -105 favorites to win but are winless in their last three matches in all competitions. They conceded four goals to Lille on Sunday, which they also did in their last Europa League match, at Trabzonspor. Wissam Ben Yedder and Breel Embolo are a dynamic duo up front but the defense is a big concern.
Malian winger Adama Traore has been electric. He has 12 goals in 18 matches for Ferencvaros and started in Ferencvaros’ 1-0 win over Monaco in September.
Ferencvaros, have also conceded in their last four matches and are +270 underdogs heading into Thursday. They are seen as more likely to cover the ½-goal spread, though, at -125 odds. A draw, which helps Ferencvaros more than Monaco, sits at +270 odds. Since joining from Sheriff Tiraspol, Malian winger Adama Traore has been electric. He has 12 goals in 18 matches for Ferencvaros and started in Ferencvaros’ 1-0 win over Monaco in September.
Important Matches in Knockout Stage Picture:
Four matches in Group F are still completely wide open. All of Lazio, Midtjylland, Sturm Graz and Feyenoord currently sit on five points. This week, Lazio host Midtjylland in Rome while Sturm Graz welcome Feyenoord to Austria. Fresh off a 2-0 road win over Atalanta, Lazio will carry momentum into Thursday, however, star striker Ciro Immobile is out until after the World Cup. Regardless, Lazio are one-goal favorites heading into Thursday. Feyenoord decimated Sturm Graz 6-0 in the reverse fixture and the Dutch side are -105 favorites.
Although they’re both in the knockout stage, the winner of Fenerbahce vs. Rennes will win Group B. That means bypassing the preliminary knockout round, which both teams will desperately want to do. These teams drew 2-2 in France last month after Fenerbahce scored a last minute equalizer. Now, the reverse fixture in Istanbul is a pick’em. Fenerbahce show +160 odds to win, while Rennes come in at +180. Rennes are on a roll at the moment, with six straight wins in all competitions.
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