Champions League and Europa League Betting
Today our attention tuns to Europe once again as we look at the best bets for the Champions League and Europa League matches being played today and tomorrow.
Champions League
The SPL runners up Celtic kick of their Champions league campaign with a home tie against Dinamo Moscow in Glasgow tonight. Celtic have been going well in pre season games and have yet to lose a goal in the four pre season games they have played.
They will need to be at their best tonight as the Russian side are midway through their season and will have a fitness advantage over them. Celtic have a great home record in this competition and at only 4/5 (Coral) look a decent enough price to bet in the win only market. It does look quite a tricky tie, but we’re taking Celtic to win 2-0 7/1 (Ladbrokes). As they haven’t lost a goal in pre season taking Celtic to win to nil at 6/4 (Paddypower) could be well worth abet at pretty generous odds.
We’re tipping Celtic to win and we’re having a bet on Shaun Maloney 10/1 (Skybet) to be first goalscorer.
Other bets tonight in the Champions League qualifiers we like include Shakhtar 2/7 (Bet365) to beat Romanian side Timisoara and APOEL Nicosia who could prove good value at 2/1 (Coral) at home in their tie with Partizan Belgrade.
Europe League
There’s Plenty of British interest in the third qualifying round of the Europa League tomorrow. Premier League Fulham travel to Lithuania to meet FK Vetra who surprisingly beat Finnish side HJK Helsinki in the last round.
We can’t see Fulham having too many problems here and at 8/15 (Coral) look a banker bet. We’re recommending a bet on the 2-0 correct score at 11/2 (Paddypower) and think Clint Dempsey is worth abet to be first goalscorer at 8/1 (Ladbrokes).
SPL side Motherwell scored 8 goals in their home match in the last round against Albanian side Flamurtari, but they will do well to score at all tonight in their away match against Steaua Bucharest. While not the force they once were Steaua are still a pretty strong team and are hot favourites at 2/5 (Skybet) to get a win. Motherwell are 7/1 (Bet365) but we can’t see an upset. Motherwell will probably try and keep the score down to give themselves a chance in the return leg so taking the half time/full time result of Draw/ Staeua at 7/2 (Coral) could be worthwhile.
Our prediction is a 2-0 win for Steaua at 11/2 (Paddypower)
Aberdeen face Czech side Sigma at Pittodrie and considering the SPL side were unbeaten in their home matches in the UEFA Cup last season-including a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich-the 11/10 (Bet365) on offer on Aberdeen winning looks a really good bet.
We’re tipping the Dons to win and we’re going for the 3-1 correct score 18/1 (Coral).
A bet on Lee Miller 6/1 (Ladbrokes) to be first goalscorer is abet to be on.
Irish side Derry City look to have a very tough task away at CSKA Sofia. Bulgarian football is pretty weak at the moment though and we don’t expect a really heavy defeat for the Irish side.
CSKA to win 2/5 (Paddypower) with a 2-0 scoreline 11/2 (Paddypower) is our prediction.
St Patrick’s overcame Valletta in the last round with a good away win and now they face Russian side Krylya Sovetov at home tonight. Their opponents are one of the lesser know Russian teams, but they are ambitious and their current squad includes Jan Koller and Jiri Jarosik, so they have plenty of experience.
The Russians like to get the ball down and play passing football and we think the 8/11 (Ladbrokes) that’s on offer about them winning in Dublin looks a great bet.
We’re tipping Krylya to win and we’re going for a 3-1 correct score 14/1 (Bet365).