ONE of our new writers Ross Casey (@RossCasey24) has already been in the winners this week. Here’s his favourite fancies for three of Thursday’s Europa League action.
Atletico Madrid v Sporting Lisbon | Thursday 5th April 2018, 20:05 | BT Sport
It is safe to say that I owe Mark O'Haire a lot in terms of this first selection. His NAP of the European coupon was Diego Simeone's side to win and Under 3.5 Goals against Deportivo last weekend and it came in without much doubt.
Atletico Madrid are of course superlative in terms of their defence – they have conceded just 14 goals this season and face fewer than 2.50 shots on-target per-game.
With Lisbon losing five of their last eight away matches, I hold little hope that they are going to get anything out of this game and after failing to score on the road against Barcelona, Porto and even Braga last weekend, I think the likelihood is that Atletico win ‘to nil' here with a best price of 41/50 with Marathon.
This bet has in fact landed in each of the last eight games played at Wanda Metropolitano, so those odds look more than tempting.
Lazio v RB Salzburg | Thursday 5th April 2018, 20:05 | BT Sport
Lazio have lost momentum of late, despite losing just one of their last 10 they also boast a pretty unwanted record of five wins in 15 in all competitions.
A large reason behind this is their inability to keep a clean sheet.They have conceded in 10 of those games mentioned and when you consider they have scored 26 times in that sequence, it is a big, big problem.
Had they had a better defence in several matches, their attack would win them games! Alas, their lack of keeping sides out are costing them wins and up against a Salzburg side that score for fun, I will be siding with both teams to score in this one.
The Austrian outfit have scored twice at both Real Sociedad and Borussia Dortmund in their previous two Europa League games and netted an incredible 99 goals in 45 matches this season at over an average of two goals per-game.
Expect them to net, but also the impressive Lazio attack to show their qualities too. Both teams to score is a best price of 11/14 with Unibet.
RB Leipzig v Marseille | Thursday 5th April 2018, 20:05 | BT Sport
Marseille come into this match with a very good record of late, winning four of their last five. They are having to depend upon their attacking instincts of late due to the injuries they have at the back and actually the tactic is proving fruitful.
The Ligue 1 side haven't managed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last eight matches, conceding 15 goals in total. Considering the importance of away goals in two-legged knock-out competitions such as the Europa League, I can see this being a fun, open match for the neutral to enjoy.
Both teams to score has landed in each of the last six Marseille matches, whilst over 2.5 goals has also in five out of those six games.
Leipzig are six games unbeaten themselves and should take plenty of confidence into this one after scoring six times in their last three games.
For me, the tactic of just trying to out-score the opposition will fall foul here for Marseille as Leipzig can outdo them at home, although Marseille will certainly play their part.
Back Leipzig to win and Both Teams To Score at 13/5 with William Hill.
Best Bets
Atletico Madrid v Sporting Lisbon – Atletico to win ‘to nil' (41/50 Marathon)
Lazio v Salzburg – Both Teams To Score (11/14 Unibet)
Leipzig v Marseille – Leipzig to win and Both Teams To Score (13/5 William Hill)
