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Europa League Fact File.

Similarly to the champions league yesterday, this years Europa league has taken a twist with a new format. All 36 teams have been placed into one league table. All 36 teams will play 8 teams at random, 4 home games, 4 away games. The concept remains the same, the more points your score, the higher up the table you go, the higher you go, the more likely you are to qualify. The table is split into 3 categories. 1-8, 9-24, and 25-36.


1-8 will consist of the 8 teams who accumulate the most points across their 8 games. If you achieve top 8 status, you essentially get rewarded with a bye round, and you will head straight into the 1/8 round.


If you finish in the 9-24 positions, this will mean you have qualified for the playoff knockout stages. The team placed between 9-16 will be seeded and will play a team selected at random from the remaining 17-24 teams.


If your team finishes in the 25-36 region, it simply means they have been eliminated from Europe.


Todays games are alot harder to call, as from places 4, down to 13 could all move to and from the top 8, and from 13 down to 27 all fighting to stay or qualify for the playoffs. Certain models have 18 teams already qualifying for the playoffs at worst before kick off, and a further 7 teams already eliminated before they kick a ball.


Below I have dug into a few of the most crucial matchups of the slate. All 36 teams will play today, all kicking off at the same time, so we have a huge slate, but not every game is worth betting.


Galatasaray vs Ajax

Both teams projected to qualify for the playoffs at worst, with Galatasaray looking to break into the top 8 with a win. Ajax need points here to try and secure their place in the playoffs as they are one of the teams as risk. Galatasaray are on an incredible 26 game unbeaten streak whereas Ajax have lost 4 of their last 10.


Anderlecht vs Hoffenheim

Anderlecht are one of the teams in the top 8 that are on the brink of being de ranked. A win would see them secure their top 8 place, and a draw in some circumstances would also see them finish top 8, but Hoffenheim are on the outside looking in, and need a win and a few losses to go their way to qualify. Hoffenheim are averaging only 1 goal per game and Anderlecht have been tight on Defence allowing only 1 on average too. A tough task for Hoffenheim to qualify, the computer gives just 1.7% chance they qualify. More to play for, for Anderlecht.


Bilbao vs Plzen

Bilbao are safely through to the 1/8 with a guaranteed top 8 finish. They do have a very slim chance of finishing top but would need to beat Plzen by 6 goals and hope lazio lose to nil. Plzen however, are one of the teams outside looking into the top 8, just 2 points behind Basel (who play man united). There are 7 teams ahead of Plzen right now, but a win and a few loses that bounce their way could see them into the top 8. Plzen also in a good run of form, losing just 2 of their last 20. Bilbao won 1 in their last 5, and are cemented into the top 8.


Man United vs Basel

Interesting matchup, both teams currently inside the top 8, but neither are safe. A man United win ensures top 8, but a draw or loss make it a long night needing other results to go their way to keep them up there. Basel need a win to be secured into the top 8 as they are in the cusp. We all know about man united struggles, but have found some recent form winning 5 of their last 4, but Basel aren’t a walk over, only losing 2 of their last 10, 1 of their last 10 home games and losing only once in this years Europa league.


Porto vs Tel Aviv

Porto are 1 point from playoff qualification, and tel aviv are done for Europe this year. Porto have been known in recent years as a high scoring high powered offence, but have struggled this year. They have just gone 5 games without a win, and have only won 2 games in this years Europa, but luckily for them, they face Tel Aviv who have also only won 2 games in this years Europa. A must win game for Porto to qualify and a game of pride for Tel Aviv.


Bodo/Glimt vs Nice

Really surprising campaign from Nice to be second from bottom after being 4th in ligue 1. Nice have lost 5 and drawn twice, scored just 6 goals and conceded 15. They’ve not played the best of teams in the Europa league either, losing in back to back weeks against Elfsborg, and Union SG and their only 2 points coming from Twente and Sociedad. This is a good sign for Glimt, coming off back to back wins in the Europa league which sees them just one point from top 8. A win here and a few losses in the positions above could be huge.


Olympiakos vs Qarabag

Olympiakos sit lower than Glimt currently, but are the most favoured team from the outsiders (from top 8). It has to be said, they do have the most favourable matchup this week, as no team has conceded less goals than olympiakos, and Qarabag are in the lower section of the league for goals scored. Qarabag also have nothing to play for as they are eliminated with just 3 points.


There are obviously a lot of games today, but not every game is worth the risk. there are 4 games between teams separated by 2 league places which the outcome might not even matter in their matchups. There are also a lot of teams facing other teams who have already qualified or even been eliminated.


Leans - Straights/Parlay Pieces.

Anderlecht Draw No Bet @ 1.57 / -175

Porto ML @ 1.48 / -208

Bodo/Glimt Draw No Bet @ 1.83 / -120

Olympiakos-1 Handicap @ 1.45 / -222

Plzen +1.5 Handicap @ 1.57 / -175

Basel +1.5 Handicap @ 1.50 / -200


Sprinkle Bets

Plzen Or Draw @ 2.62 / +162

Bodo/Glimt ML @ 2.55 / +155


3U POD.

Olympiakos Qualify For Top 8 @ 1.67 / -149