Home And Away: No Greek tragedy for injury-hit Udinese

Daily Tipping / Jonno Turner / 16 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Self-confessed niche coach Francesco Guidolin has excelled at Udinese

The return of the Europa League has captured Jonno Turner's imagination today, with Manchester United and Udinese the two teams that he fancies...

Thursday nights. Channel 5. The jokes have been doing the rounds for months, and it's finally the time. Ajax welcome Manchester United to the Amsterdam Arena, but have been on a poor run of late, winning just once of their last five.

Frank de Boer's side have conceded an average of two goals per game over the course of that run, with defensive weaknesses apparent which leave them likely to concede against an attack of Manchester United's quality.

And the home side will be desperate to avoid a third consecutive home defeat as they face the English champions this evening. The visitors are a wounded animal after being knocked out of the Champions League - as Ajax were - and this competition is new territory for them.

But the Reds have had plenty of time to feel sorry for themselves since their cup exit, and Fergie has indicated that they are now ready to go on and win the Europa League.

They have won four of their last five Premier League games, and confidence is high at Old Trafford following positive results against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool in the last three weeks.

And they have won six of their last eight league games on the road, a run in which they kept an impressive five consecutive clean sheets.

Bet 1: Manchester United (AWAY) to win @ [1.85]

It said in the paper that controversial Muslim cleric Abu Qatada has to be released from prison as he hasn't broken any rules in England. Oh yeah, what about the u after q one?

Udinese welcome group-stage surprise story PAOK to the Stadio Friuli this evening, as they aim to make their home advantage count in the first leg of this tie.

The hosts are enjoying an impressive season domestically, currently occupy fourth place in Serie A, and Francesco Guidolin's side have lost just two of their last 16 on their home patch, keeping seven clean sheets in that time.

PAOK are also enjoying a successful campaign in Greece, and are third in the Super League after 21 games. The visitors have been chalking up the wins of late, but have failed to win two of their last four, and have only won four of their previous 11 away outings in this competition.

When the Greeks visited Spurs, they lined up ultra-defensively and hit the Londoners on the break, but I think that Udinese will be more adept at countering that style of play than Harry's side were. I think they'll be adding another win to that impressive home record this evening.

Bet 2: Udinese (HOME) to win @ [1.82]