UEL Matchday 6 Betting Preview & Odds
Group Stage Deciders on Thursday
A Lot Can Change on Matchday 6
Heading into the final group stage Matchday of the Europa League, there’s still a lot left to play for. Six knockout stage places are up for grabs. Also, first place has only been clinched in three of eight groups. Recall that the top two teams in each of the eight groups advance to the knockout stage. Finishing in first in the UEL means more than in the Champions League, as it means a first round bye. Let’s take a look at the UEL Matchday 6 betting odds from an action packed final day.
Crucial Games in the Knockout Stage Picture:
Group C:
Date & Time:
Location: Stadio Olympic, Rome (ITA)
Roma are -335 favorites and don’t forget that they managed to win the UEFA Europa Conference League last year. They’ll be up for this match and the home support will certainly be behind them. They’re also favored to cover the 1½-goal spread at -125 odds. Ludogorets, who have advanced out of the group stage on three occasions, are +875 underdogs. A draw isn’t seen as likely either, at +465 UEL Matchday 6 betting odds.
Group D:
Date & Time:
Location: King Power at Den Dreef Stadion, Heverlee (BEL) (ITA)
Union Saint-Gilloise have done an incredible job in their first European campaign for 48 years. The Belgian side has already clinched first place in Group D in their first group stage appearance in UEFA competition. Now, they can take it easy when they host Union Berlin on Thursday. Union Berlin, the current Bundesliga leaders, don’t exactly have that luxury. However, if they win they know they’ll finish in second place in the group.
A draw wouldn’t be enough for Union Berlin if SC Braga defeat Malmo. So, they’ll try to get their third straight win in all competitions. They’ve also won their last three Europa League matches by a 1-0 scoreline. In fact, even their two losses in the competition have finished 1-0. Under 2½ goals for a sixth straight time in a Union Berlin UEL match shows even odds. Union Berlin are -110 favorites, while USG sit at +290 odds.
Date & Time:
Location: Estádio Municipal de Braga, Braga (POR)
Braga know they need a win to advance to the knockout stage but even that might not be enough. Braga host Malmo on Thursday at the same time as the Union Saint-Gilloise and Union Berlin match. Malmo are 0-5 in the Europa League and have only managed to score twice in the competition. Braga’s Vitinha bettered that total in one match with a hat trick in a 3-3 draw vs. USG a few weeks back.
The Primeira Liga’s second place team, Braga, have made the UEL knockout stage in their last four appearances. Unsurprisingly, they are priced at -315 UEL Matchday 6 betting odds heading into Thursday. Malmo sit at +825 odds and the spread is set at 1½-goals.
Group F:
Date & Time:
Location: De Kuip, Rotterdam (NED)
Group F has quite possibly the most intriguing Europa League fixtures of the Matchday. All of the teams in the group are still in contention for the knockout stage and we could even have a four-way tie. Lazio and Sturm Graz enter Thursday with eight points, while FC Midtjylland and Feyenoord have five. Feyenoord host Lazio in a must win match for the Dutch side.
The good news for Feyenoord is that they enter Thursday with a superior goal difference to Lazio and Sturm Graz. So a win would mean that Feyenoord have an advantage in a four-way tie scenario. Lazio, who lost 3-1 to Salernitana in Serie A on Sunday, most likely need to avoid defeat here. Feyenoord, who lost 4-2 to Lazio in the reverse fixture, are +120 favorites. Meanwhile, Lazio show +205 odds to win. A draw would be a good result for the Biancocelesti, especially with star striker Ciro Immobile out, and it’s priced at +265 odds.
Date & Time:
Location: MCH Arena, Herning (DEN)
Midtjylland are in the same position as Feyenoord, needing a win to stay alive. Luckily, they also have a superior goal difference to both Sturm Graz and Lazio. The Danish side lost 1-0 to Sturm Graz back in September but are -120 favorites here.
This is a huge match for Sturm Graz though, as they’ve never advanced to the knockout stage of a UEFA competition. Against the +½ spread, the Austrian side is showing -110 odds to get a result and advance. Sturm Graz are +310 underdogs, while a draw sits at +270 odds in this one.
Group G:
Date & Time:
Location: Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Baku (AZE
SC Freiburg have been dominant in Group G and clinched first place following the fourth Matchday. On cruise control, they drew with Olympiacos last week. Their opponents this Thursday, Qarabag, currently occupy second place in the group but it’s a precarious position. With seven points, they’re just a point ahead of Nantes, who face last place Olympiacos on Thursday.
So, Qarabag will be hoping to get a win in Azerbaijan. They’re priced at even odds to do so but Freiburg (+½) come in at -130 odds to cover the spread and get a result. It’s certainly possible that Qarabag could lose and still go through but expect them to try to remove all doubt.
Date & Time:
Location: Stadio Karaiskaki, Piraeus (GRE)
Olympiacos were heartbreakingly eliminated from knockout stage contention as Freiburg equalized in the 93rd minute last week. They’ll be playing for pride at home on Thursday vs. Nantes. Nantes, the defending Coupe de France champions, need to come away from Greece with a win just to have a shot of finishing second.
Substitute Ignatius Ganago was the hero as Nantes scored in the 94th minute to defeat Qarabag last week. They’ll hope for more heroics but are favorites to win, at +130 odds. Olympiacos, who can’t even finish third to drop down to the Conference League, are +200 underdogs.
Group H:
Date & Time:
Location: Medical Park Stadyumu, Trabzon (TUR)
Turkish champions Trabzonspor got a statement win last Thursday by defeating Monaco 4-0. Now, they need to defeat Ferencvaros to keep their knockout stage hopes alive. Impressively, Ferencvaros have already clinched first place in the group. It’s the first time Ferencvaros have ever advanced from the group stage in a UEFA competition.
Trabzonspor will hope that works in their favor, as Ferencvaros don’t have too much to play for. The odds show as much, as Trabzonspor are -170 favorites heading into Thursday. Ferencvaros sit at +440 odds, while a draw is priced at +320.
Date & Time:
Location: Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON)
It’d be a big disappointment for a team as talented as Monaco not to advance to the knockout stage. They come into Thursday one point ahead of both Trabzonspor and Crvena Zvezda, or Red Star Belgrade. The Monegasques will definitely advance with a win but a draw would mean they’re playing with fire.
Meanwhile, nothing less than a win is acceptable for Red Star Belgrade. With both teams needing a result, this should be one of the best matches of the week. Monaco are -150 favorites at home, while Red Star are priced at +350 odds to win. A draw, which neither team will be happy with, is priced at +315. With both teams pushing for a result, totals betting could be popular here. Under three goals is priced at -140 odds while the over sits at +110.
Matches With Placing Ramifications:
Date & Time:
Location: Emirates Stadium, London (ENG)
Date & Time:
Location: Aspmyra Stadion, Bodø (NOR)
Arsenal and PSV have already booked their places in the knockout stage but both teams can still finish first in Group A. A win for Arsenal over FC Zurich will be enough and the Gunners are massive -600 favorites. PSV need to win on the road at Bodo/Glimt and hope Arsenal draw or lose vs. Zurich. Bodo, in the Arctic circle, is a tough place to play but PSV are still +110 favorites.
Date & Time:
Location: Roazhon Park, Rennes (FRA)
Date & Time:
Location: Cracovia Stadium, Kraków (POL)
Like in Group A, Group B’s Rennes and Fenerbahce already know they’ll be playing in the knockout stage. The coveted preliminary knockout round bye is still up for grabs, though, and it could come down to goal difference. That’s because Rennes and Fenerbahce are level on points and drew both of their meetings. Turkish side Fenerbahce come in on a +4 goal difference, while Rennes are at +3.
So, as long as Fenerbahce equal Rennes’ result on Thursday, they’ll finish first. Rennes are playing at home vs. AEK Larnaca and are two-goal favorites. Meanwhile, Fenerbahce have a tougher task on the road vs. Dynamo Kyiv. Fenerbahce are just ½-goal favorites in the match that’ll be played in Poland.
Date & Time:
Location: Reale Arena, San Sebastián (ESP)
This is certainly a match worth paying attention to, even if both teams are through. Real Sociedad will look to become the only perfect team in the group stage when they host Manchester United on Thursday. Sociedad stunned Man U 1-0 at Old Trafford in September and the Red Devils are out for revenge.
If Manchester United win by more than one goal, they’ll finish in first place. Any other result will see Sociedad get the preliminary knockout round bye. Man U are priced at just +125 odds to win on the road. With Cristiano Ronaldo back in the fold, though, maybe the 37-year old still has some tricks up his sleeve.
When the knockout stage begins in February be sure to check out pointspreads.com for all of the latest Europa League odds and picks!
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