Atletico Madrid - Rubin Kazan 1.45 - 9.10
I opposed this Atletico side at the weekend. Three reasons for doing that. The odds, they faced a strong opponent and Atletico played away from home. In Madrid yes, but not at their fortress, the Calderon Stadium.
At home in the league Atletico are 12-0-0 and they also won all their European home games.
I expect a strong home side, but it will probably be a mixed side. Definitely missing will be the suspended striker D Costa. Not the end of the world, as Falcao will start tomorrow.
M’Vila has joined Rubin from Rennes, but he is a doubtful starter for this game. Rondon we know from his Malaga days. It will be extremely tough for this rusty Rubin side tomorrow and the odds on the home win are what you could expect. Very likely home win.
At home in the league Atletico are 12-0-0 and they also won all their European home games.
I expect a strong home side, but it will probably be a mixed side. Definitely missing will be the suspended striker D Costa. Not the end of the world, as Falcao will start tomorrow.
M’Vila has joined Rubin from Rennes, but he is a doubtful starter for this game. Rondon we know from his Malaga days. It will be extremely tough for this rusty Rubin side tomorrow and the odds on the home win are what you could expect. Very likely home win.
Inter - Cluj 1.53 - 8.12
A changed side for sure, but I expect the Inter coach to send out a winning side tomorrow, or at least a side that he is expecting to do the business against a Cluj side that has not played competitive football for more than two months. Guarin will be back in contention for Inter, Pereira and Alvarez could play and Kovacic will be available after all. No Chivu or Samuel.
Bastos and Sougou, the leading Cluj forwards last season, have left the club. Likely home win.
Bastos and Sougou, the leading Cluj forwards last season, have left the club. Likely home win.
Newcastle - Metalist 2.20 - 3.61
What a game this could have turned out to be, if it had been played during the regular Metalist season. Metalist, with their many South Americans, usually play some attractive, fast and technical football, but it is winter in Ukraine and no way they will be in form for this game at Newcastle. Taison has left the club for Shaktar.
No FA Cup football for Newcastle this weekend and they will be able to focus 100 % on this Europa League fixture. Haidara, Yanga-M’Biwa and Sissoko will start tomorrow, but Gouffran and Ben-Arfa will not be involved. Backing the home win.
No FA Cup football for Newcastle this weekend and they will be able to focus 100 % on this Europa League fixture. Haidara, Yanga-M’Biwa and Sissoko will start tomorrow, but Gouffran and Ben-Arfa will not be involved. Backing the home win.
Stuttgart - Genk 1.55 - 7.07
Poor Stuttgart form is an understatement. They have lost all their matches since the Christmas break. Their last loss was only days ago, when they went down 1-4 at home Werder Bremen. I looked at their starting line up. Ibisevic started upfront and I only missed the injured Cacau.
Genk won two league games last week, one of them was vs. Club Brugge and 4-1 sounds pretty impressive. Vossen, Hyland, Buffel, De Ceulaer, their best offensive assets and they are all part of their 21 man squad for this game. I cannot back a team in some kind of crisis and certainly not as big favourites.
Genk won two league games last week, one of them was vs. Club Brugge and 4-1 sounds pretty impressive. Vossen, Hyland, Buffel, De Ceulaer, their best offensive assets and they are all part of their 21 man squad for this game. I cannot back a team in some kind of crisis and certainly not as big favourites.
Basel - Dnipro 2.50 - 3.03
The Swiss started their domestic season at the weekend. For Basel it turned out well winning 3-0 against Sion. Streller and Stocker scored a couple. Both A Frei and Bobadilla were missing, but both, or one of them, could return for this game.
Dnipro have been away in Marbella preparing for the season. They proved to be a great home team in the group phase, but more human in their away fixtures. I prefer the home win alternative.
Dnipro have been away in Marbella preparing for the season. They proved to be a great home team in the group phase, but more human in their away fixtures. I prefer the home win alternative.
Borussia Mönchengladbach - Lazio 2.40 - 3.22
Not the easiest game to predict, but in the group phase it looked like Lazio were more motivated in the Europa League. Since then Lazio have reached the cup final in Italy and they are very much involved in the race for a place in the Champions League next season and they may have lost some of their interest in this Europa League cup. Forget what I have just said, it is only speculation on my part. I only missed M Klose in the Lazio squad for this game. Fit again Mauri and Ederson are included and new player Pereirinha as well.
Thorben Marx will be back for Borussia. Borussia will play a league game in Hamburg only 36 hours after this match and I wonder where their priorities are. As you can see I have problems figuring out which side will be the hungriest side tomorrow. Easy to think it will automatically be the home side, but Borussia did not always convince in their home games in the group phase. OK, the away win.
Thorben Marx will be back for Borussia. Borussia will play a league game in Hamburg only 36 hours after this match and I wonder where their priorities are. As you can see I have problems figuring out which side will be the hungriest side tomorrow. Easy to think it will automatically be the home side, but Borussia did not always convince in their home games in the group phase. OK, the away win.
Tottenham - Lyon 1.90 - 4.91
Looking good for Tottenham ahead of this rather interesting fixture. They have a match free weekend and they will be able to concentrate on this game against Lyon. I take it for granted that coach Villas-Boas will send out his best players with one or two exceptions.
Lyon have struggled these last two weeks on the domestic frontier. First they lost to Ajaccio and then they were more or less outplayed by Lille at the weekend. Both games ended 1-3. Lisandro Lopez was back against Lille, starting upfront, but Lyon had no chance in the derby. I have just checked their squad for this game and I only missed the ineligible Mvuemba.
What can I say! As long as a certain G Bale is enjoying his game Tottenham will win most of their football games. Saying that I suggest Lyon have the capacity to trouble most sides in Europe and this 1.90 on the home win makes me hesitate. The odds were on the other side of evens at the start of this week.
Lyon have struggled these last two weeks on the domestic frontier. First they lost to Ajaccio and then they were more or less outplayed by Lille at the weekend. Both games ended 1-3. Lisandro Lopez was back against Lille, starting upfront, but Lyon had no chance in the derby. I have just checked their squad for this game and I only missed the ineligible Mvuemba.
What can I say! As long as a certain G Bale is enjoying his game Tottenham will win most of their football games. Saying that I suggest Lyon have the capacity to trouble most sides in Europe and this 1.90 on the home win makes me hesitate. The odds were on the other side of evens at the start of this week.
Bate Borisov - Fenerbahce 2.75 - 2.80
Backing the away win. Fenerbahce are 5-2-1 since the winter break. I just checked their squad on duty at the weekend and there were familiar faces, Kuyt, Raul Meireles and so on.
P Webo, R Ziegler and Emre are new Fener players, but maybe not eligible for play in Europe, at least not Emre. You know what I am about to say about Bate and I find it only natural to oppose this rusty, out of season side. Away winner.
P Webo, R Ziegler and Emre are new Fener players, but maybe not eligible for play in Europe, at least not Emre. You know what I am about to say about Bate and I find it only natural to oppose this rusty, out of season side. Away winner.
Levante - Olympiakos 2.30 - 3.40
A game they are looking forward to in Levante. They are usually not playing at this level in Europe and it is a big event in the history of the club. They have been close to rock steady in their home fixtures this season, but they lost at home to Malaga at the weekend (1-2). Totally undeserved loss, according to their coach.
O Martins was not allowed to play for Levante during the group phase, but he has been cleared to play in the knock out phase and he will play upfront for Levante tomorrow. D Navarro will play and only S Ballesteros will be missing.
The run away leaders in the Greek league, Olympiakos, have a new coach and it is Michel, who was sacked from Sevilla only to join Olympiakos. At the weekend they won 1-0 with Mitroglou, on as a substitute, scoring their goal. My favourite player Djebbour played upfront.
Olympiakos had Champions League ambitions and how motivated will they be for the Europa League? They have a stronger squad than Levante, no doubt about that, but how ambitious will Olympiakos be tomorrow?
O Martins was not allowed to play for Levante during the group phase, but he has been cleared to play in the knock out phase and he will play upfront for Levante tomorrow. D Navarro will play and only S Ballesteros will be missing.
The run away leaders in the Greek league, Olympiakos, have a new coach and it is Michel, who was sacked from Sevilla only to join Olympiakos. At the weekend they won 1-0 with Mitroglou, on as a substitute, scoring their goal. My favourite player Djebbour played upfront.
Olympiakos had Champions League ambitions and how motivated will they be for the Europa League? They have a stronger squad than Levante, no doubt about that, but how ambitious will Olympiakos be tomorrow?
Zenit - Liverpool 2.31 - 3.45
Same thing here. Zenit played their last league game in early December. They have prepared for this game in Turkey. I am sure, they have played quite a few friendlies, but you will never get in form by playing friendly games. Neto and Rodic, both defenders, have joined the club. Hulk has remained at Zenit and coach Spaletti as well. Bystrov will be suspended for this game and Danny will not be fit to play.
Losing to WBA earlier this week has complicated matters for Liverpool They can ill afford to lose their home fixture against Swansea on Monday and I can imagine that coach Rodgers will rotate his squad for tomorrow’s game, including one or two fringe players.
The odds on the home win may look tempting, but I just cannot do it, backing teams from the countries with a winter break.
Losing to WBA earlier this week has complicated matters for Liverpool They can ill afford to lose their home fixture against Swansea on Monday and I can imagine that coach Rodgers will rotate his squad for tomorrow’s game, including one or two fringe players.
The odds on the home win may look tempting, but I just cannot do it, backing teams from the countries with a winter break.
Dynamo Kiev - Bordeaux 2.00 - 4.57
The Ukrainians have prepared in Marbella, Southern Spain and they came third in the Marbella Cup. Bezus and Selin have joined the club and Brown Ideye will be back from the African Cup for this match. Shovkoskiy is on their injury list. Khacheridi and D Silva are injury doubts.
Bordeaux lost their defender Mariano to an injury at the weekend and he is ruled out of this game along with N’Guemo. They looked a bit toothless in their last league game and Diego Rolan, new Bordeaux striker, has been added to their squad. I am waiting for their big man Diabate, but he is not part of their squad for this game. Once again tempting odds on the home win, but I cannot do it and you know why.
Bordeaux lost their defender Mariano to an injury at the weekend and he is ruled out of this game along with N’Guemo. They looked a bit toothless in their last league game and Diego Rolan, new Bordeaux striker, has been added to their squad. I am waiting for their big man Diabate, but he is not part of their squad for this game. Once again tempting odds on the home win, but I cannot do it and you know why.
Bayer Leverkusen - Benfica 2.25 - 3.60
A fixture to look forward to. Both sides are doing just fine in their domestic leagues. Bayer have been involved in a couple of high scoring games lately and they in fact lost their first home game of the season ten days ago, vs. B Dortmund 2-3.
Benfica are joint leaders together with Porto in Portugal. They have travelled with a 21 man squad. I missed A Kardec and P Aimar. Rodrigo, Lima and Cardozo are their offensive weapons.
Celtic finished ahead of Benfica in their Champions League group. Benfica only needed to defeat the Barcelona reserves at the Camp Nou Stadium, but wasted some glorious chances.
Bayer are 7-2-1 at home in the Bundesliga, but I will suggest that Benfica usually are more of a home team than the Germans and my choice in this fixture has to be the home win.
Benfica are joint leaders together with Porto in Portugal. They have travelled with a 21 man squad. I missed A Kardec and P Aimar. Rodrigo, Lima and Cardozo are their offensive weapons.
Celtic finished ahead of Benfica in their Champions League group. Benfica only needed to defeat the Barcelona reserves at the Camp Nou Stadium, but wasted some glorious chances.
Bayer are 7-2-1 at home in the Bundesliga, but I will suggest that Benfica usually are more of a home team than the Germans and my choice in this fixture has to be the home win.
Ajax - Steaua Bukarest 1.57 - 7.32
Likely home win. Steaua have not played competitive football for two months. Need I say more. Ajax, fielding their best players, could not defeat lowly Roda in Amsterdam at the weekend. The match ended in a 1-1 draw and it was of course a very disappointing result for Ajax. I would not dream of calling this young Ajax side a reliable side, but surely their tempo will be too much for the Romanians at this moment. The Ajax striker K Sightorsson is fit and playing again and Cuenca has joined from Barcelona. Ajax to win.
Anzhi - Hannover 96 1.73 - 5.60
I have the feeling I backed Anzhi in all their European home fixtures in the group stage. This time I just cannot back Hiddink’s team. I refuse trusting sides that are not playing regular competitive football and Aznhi played their last league game on December 10th. They have prepared for this game in Dubai and Spain. I just watched some photos from their most recent training and I can only say, you do not want to play football under these conditions.
Willian has joined Anzhi from Shaktar, but C Samba has left the club for QPR. L Traore, their big man in their front line, will not play tomorrow. S Eto’o has back problems and there is no guarantee he will be fit to play.
Hannover are not exactly in brilliant form, but they have at least won their last two domestic home games. They are still missing, among others, their captain Cherundolo, L Stindl, Eggimann and Rausch. For the moment I will stay away from this fixture from a betting perspective, or invest in the away win.
Willian has joined Anzhi from Shaktar, but C Samba has left the club for QPR. L Traore, their big man in their front line, will not play tomorrow. S Eto’o has back problems and there is no guarantee he will be fit to play.
Hannover are not exactly in brilliant form, but they have at least won their last two domestic home games. They are still missing, among others, their captain Cherundolo, L Stindl, Eggimann and Rausch. For the moment I will stay away from this fixture from a betting perspective, or invest in the away win.
Sparta Prague - Chelsea 6.01 - 1.75
As Chelsea have a home game against the first division side Brentford in the cup on Sunday I should think that coach Benitez will field a quite strong Chelsea side tomorrow. No need to rest too many regulars. Demba Ba and John Terry will not play.
No domestic league game for Sparta since the end of November. Backing the away win.
No domestic league game for Sparta since the end of November. Backing the away win.
Napoli - V Plzen 1.53 - 7.50
It looks like Napoli will go on fielding a mixed side in the Europa League. Latest signings Calaio and Rolando could start tomorrow, Dzemali, Donadel and El Khaddouri as well.
Definitely missing will be the injured Behrami. Cavani likes to play football, he is like Messi and I should think he will start tomorrow.
Impressive group campaign by this Plzen side and I backed them more than once. Too bad, they have not played competitive football for ages and I cannot back them in this game. Mixed side or not, I expect Napoli to win this first leg.
Definitely missing will be the injured Behrami. Cavani likes to play football, he is like Messi and I should think he will start tomorrow.
Impressive group campaign by this Plzen side and I backed them more than once. Too bad, they have not played competitive football for ages and I cannot back them in this game. Mixed side or not, I expect Napoli to win this first leg.
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