Champions League and Europa League Matches
Champions League
Celtic go into their away game with Moscow dynamo tonight with their Champions League survival hanging by a thread.
After their 1-0 defeat in Glasgow last week this looks a lost cause for Celtic as their away form in this competition is awful. Celtic can take a little encouragement from the fact they made a few chances in the first match-but were unable to take them-and they look capable of scoring tonight. The only problem is they will leave gaps at the back and the Russian side showed last week they can take advantage of that and score on the counter.
It’s hard to see anything other than a win for Dynamo and we’re just amazed at the price of Dynamo. They are Evens (Skybet) and that looks a fantastic price for them against a team without an away win in six years on foreign shores in the competition. The draw is 12/5 (Bet365) and that could be a possibility if Dynamo settle for what they have, although we think that’s unlikely.
Celtic are 11/4 (Ladbrokes) to win, but given their past record we just can’t see that being a likely outcome. The over 2.5goals at Evens (Paddypower) does looks worth a bet as we can see both teams making a few chances.
We’re taking Dynamo to win and were predicting a 2-1 correct score at 7/1 (Ladbrokes). Kokorin 13/2 (Paddypower) is our tip to be first goalscorer.
Shakhtar Donetsk were surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw at home in the first leg by Romanian side Timosoara. Shakhtar are 4/5 (Coral) to win away in the second leg, but there wasn’t a lot between the two sides last week and Timisoara 3/1 (Skybet) have to have a chance tonight.
We’re going to go with a draw 11/4 (Bet365) and having a bet on a 1-1 scoreline 11/2 (Coral).
Europa League
Fulham hold a 3-0 lead from their first leg match with Lithuanian team Vetra. They won the first match comfortably and we can see another easy victory tonight. Fulham are long odds on at 1/8 (Bet365) so you won’t get rich backing them at that price, but there are couple of alternatives to the straight win bet that give better odds.
Fulham to be wining at half time/full time is 2/5 (Coral) and to be winning at half time 4/11 (Coral) and are options rather than a win bet.
We’re predicting a pretty easy night for the Cottagers and a bet on the 4-0 correct score 15/2 (Paddypower) can be a winner. Andy Johnson 9/2 (Skybet) is our pick as first goalscorer.
Aberdeen were trounced 5-1 at home by Sigma and will only be playing for their pride in the Czech Republic tonight. It was a bit of a horror show from the Dons last week and a much improved performance will be needed if they are not to suffer another humiliating defeat. Could they mount a miracle comeback, or even just win the match tonight? In a word …No! Take Sigma at 4/7 (Coral) and go for a 2-0 correct score 5/1 (Bet365).
Motherwell were also soundly beaten last week, but unlike compatriots Aberdeen at least they were beaten away by a decent looking side. They could sneak a win at home against Steau and we’re backing them at 12/5 (Bet365) to get a home win. We’re tipping the 2-1 correct score 10/1 (Coral).
St Patrick’s great 1-0 result against Russia side Krylya sets up an exciting second leg game. We think an upset could be on the cards here although we are taking Krylya 1/4 (Ladbrokes) to win the match. But we’re going for a 2-1 correct score 9/1 (Coral) that would be enough t see the Irish side go through on away goals.
We’re also tipping Derry City to pull off a surprise and get a home win against CSKA Sofia. Only a late goal By CSKA in the first leg spoiled a great performance from Derry and they showed enough to make us believe they could be value at 3/1 (Paddypower) to get a win against their more illustrious opponents.
Our prediction is a 2-0 win 19/1 (Paddypower).