The Europa League group stages continue on Thursday with Manchester United, Arsenal, Wolves, Celtic and Rangers will all be in action as the group stages of the Europa League continues today.
We run through some key games, what a win for Arsenal will mean for the club and Unai Emery’s future. Ole to field youngsters in their game against Astana away from home.
ASTANA VS MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United will be aiming to cement top position in Group L when they take on rock-bottom Astana at Astana Arena on Thursday evening. The Red Devils proved their worth in back-to-back wins over Partizan, and they are seen as hot favourites to win their penultimate group game. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is likely to stick to his rotation policy against the Kazakhs.
However, regardless of which players will be deployed in the starting XI, we believe that punters can find value in betting on the Premier League side. Astana did well to meet their primary goal, with the team clinching the domestic trophy, but they will have a big fish to fry in Thursday’s football match against Man Utd. Since the hosts have nothing to play for against the Red Devils, we do not believe that they are capable of grabbing something from the match.
ARSENAL VS EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
Emirates Stadium will host Group F derby between Arsenal and Eintracht Frankfurt. Following three consecutive wins, the Gunners shared the spoils with Vitoria Guimaraes in their last group game. Even though Spanish tactician Unai Emery is likely to stick to his rotation policy against Eintracht Frankfurt, we predict that the Premier League side will find the net in Thursday’s showdown.
One of the men to watch in the home team will be Brazilian youngster Martinelli, who has netted three goals in the Europa League so far this term. Die Adler, on the other hand, are eager to regain their spot in the top two. Since the Germans are likely to adopt an attack-minded approach in the Emirates Stadium clash, we are tempted to put our money on both teams to score. When the two teams met at Commerzbank-Arena earlier in the process, Arsenal outplayed Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0.
BASAKSEHIR VS AS ROMA
Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu will host Thursday’s Europa League clash between Istanbul Basaksehir and Roma. A spot in the knockout stages is at stake as only two points separate the two teams in Group J. Thanks to back-to-back wins over Wolfsberger, the Turkish side climbed to the top position in the standings, but Borussia M’gladbach and Roma are breathing down their neck.
The Romans have been playing above expectations in the 2019/2020 Europa League season, and, as a result, they occupy third position in Group J ahead of the trip to Istanbul. A close encounter is on the cards, but given the attacking potential of the two teams, both teams to score bet should be considered. French attacker Enzo Crivelli, who scored a brace in the 3-0 win over Wolfsberger, will be the man to watch in the home team, while Basaksehir defenders should have Bosnia international Edin Dzeko at bay.
SPORTING BRAGA VS WOLVES
Sporting Braga and Wolverhampton square off against each other in the Group K derby at Estadio Municipal de Braga. Braga have been struggling to live up to their expectations in Primeira Liga, but they have been producing excellent showings in the Europa League this term. The Portuguese outfit are one point away from securing their spot in the last 32, but the game against the Wolves will be anything but a walk in the park for the home side.
WOLFSBERGER VS B. MÖNCHENGLADBACH
Borussia M’gladbach will be aiming to move one step closer to booking their place in the Europa League last 32 when they take on Wolfsberger at Merkur Arena. Die Fohlen are hungry for revenge as they were hammered by the Austrian side at Stadion im Borussia-Park 4-0 earlier in the process, and given the home team’s current form, away win should be considered.
CELTIC VS RENNES
Thanks to a thrilling 2-1 win over Lazio in Rome, Celtic booked their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League. The Hoops, though, want to finish the process in the top position, and we are positive that they are going to take Thursday’s game against Rennes very seriously. Seeing that the Scottish champions have turned their Celtic Park into a real fortress, we do not believe that the visitors are capable of grabbing something from the match.
Rennes have been struggling to live up to their expectations in the 2019/2020 Europa League season, with the team collecting only one point from possible 12.
SEVILLA VS QARABAG
Sevilla will be aiming to keep their 100% record intact in the Europa League group stages when they welcome Qarabag at their Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Thursday evening. Even though head coach Julen Lopetegui has been resting key players in the Europa League, los Sevillanos have been scoring goals for fun in Group A, and they are seen as hot favourites to beat Qarabag in Andalusia.
Since the La Liga side are a real force to be reckoned with at home, the visitors are likely to return to Azerbaijan empty-handed.
Below are the full list of fixtures:
THURSDAY 28TH NOVEMBER
GROUP A
F91 Dudelange 20:00 Apoel Nicosia
Sevilla 20:00 FK Qarabag
GROUP J
Istanbul Basaksehir 17:55 Roma
RZ Pellets WAC 17:55 B. Mgladbach
GROUP K
Besiktas 17:55 Slovan Bratislava
Sporting Braga 17:55 Wolves
GROUP L
FC Astana 15:50 Man Utd
AZ Alkmaar 17:55 Partizan Belgrade
GROUP B
Lugano 20:00 FC Copenhagen
Malmö FF 20:00 Dynamo Kiev
GROUP C
FK Krasnodar 15:50 FC Basel
Trabzonspor 15:50 Getafe
GROUP D
Rosenborg 20:00 LASK
Sporting 20:00 PSV Eindhoven
GROUP E
Celtic 20:00 Rennes
Lazio 20:00 CFR Cluj
GROUP F
Arsenal 20:00 Frankfurt
Vitória Guimarães 20:00 Standard Liege
GROUP G
Feyenoord 17:55 Rangers
Young Boys 17:55 FC Porto
GROUP H
CSKA Moscow 17:55 Ludogorets
Ferencvárosi TC 17:55 Espanyol
GROUP I
Oleksandria 17:55 Wolfsburg
Saint-Étienne 17:55 KAA Gent
By David Kofi Tei
