The Europa League qualifying campaign continues this week with the second leg games from the Third Round of qualification. There are a number of strong teams playing away from home this week and that can give you a nice boost in the odds when putting together your accumulator. Everton are the only English team in this round of qualification, with last seasons 5th place finishers Arsenal achieving automatic qualification for the group stage of the competition.
Here are my tips for this round of games;
Ruzomberok vs Everton (0-1 agg)
Ronald Koeman’s new look Everton side were underwhelming in the first leg last week as Leighton Baines scored the only goal of the game to give the Merseyside club a hard fought victory. Koeman selected a strong side last time around with summer signings Michael Keane, Davy Klaasen and Wayne Rooney all starting the game. Klaasen impressed in midfield on that night, but further forward Rooney struggled to impose himself upon the game as he toiled before being shifted further back in the side. You would expect Everton to pick up a comfortable victory on Thursday though and they have a much better side than their Slovakian opponents.
Everton to win – 4/11 (Ladbrokes)
Oostende vs Marseille (2-4 agg)
Oostende gave as good as they got last week in France, losing the game 4-2. Those two away goals will have boosted their confidence though and Marseille will have to keep their wits about them to ensure victory on Thursday. Expect a tighter game this time around in Belgium, but with Oostende having to chase the game, I fancy Marseille to pick them off and a seal an away victory on Thursday.
Marseille to win – 3/4 (Ladbrokes)
Fenerbahce vs Sturm Graz (2-1 agg)
Turkish side Fenerbahce picked up an important 2-1 victory away in Austria last time around thanks to an own goal from Dario Maresic and a strike from Roman Neustadter. It was a tight game out in Austria, but Fener are strong at home and the atmosphere is sure to be fiery when they welcome their opponents to the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium on Thursday. I expect Fener to turn in a winning performance and advance to the group stages of the Europa League even with star man Robin van Persie.
Fenerbahce to win 4/9 (Ladbrokes)
Videoton vs Bordeaux (1-2 agg)
The first leg between these two sides was closer than many expected as all three of the goals came in the first 33 minutes. Younousse Sankhare gave Bordeaux the lead before Marko Scepovic levelled things up for the Hungarian side. Ten minutes later Younousse Sankhare restored Bordeaux’s lead for a second time and that was the way it stayed until the end of the match. You would expect Bordeaux to have too much quality for their inferior opponents on home soil and I’m backing them to pick up another victory on Thursday.
Bordeaux to win 19/20 (Ladbrokes)