UEFA Cup Group Stage betting odds and preview

Europa League / Editor / 01 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

The UEFA Cup group stage is about to get into full swing on October 25 with Scottish Premier League outfit Aberdeen and Premiership trio Tottenham, Bolton and Everton aiming to progress into the knockout stage of the competition while offering plenty of opportunities for punters to bet.

Premiership strugglers Bolton, in their third successive European campaign, will offer generous odds for customers fancying a bet on them progressing due to the tough prospect which awaits them. In addition to home games against SC Braga and Aris Thessaloniki, Sammy Lee's men should get good betting odds for games at Red Star Belgrade and German giants Bayern Munich.

No doubt customers will be interested in a bet on last season's quarter-finalists Tottenham, who face a repeat of their successful 1984 UEFA Cup final win against Anderlecht away in Belgium, while they will be a good bet to get past Spanish strugglers Getafe and Dutch outfit Aalborg at home and away at Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Everton, who venture into the group stage for the first time, could offer good betting odds due to their surprise element. Decent odds should be on offer for a bet on their final group game at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar - who disposed of Newcastle last season - while German side FC Nuremberg will not be easy.

Those betting on the 'Toffees' to do well at Goodison Park will have noted that Blackburn's first-round conquerors, Larissa of Greece, are up first, while Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg also visit.

Punters looking at Aberdeen's prospects when betting could get generous odds on the Scottish outfit. Jimmy Calderwood's side face daunting away games at Greek side Panathinaikos and Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid with Pittodrie outings against Danes FC Copenhagen and Russians Lokomotiv Moscow.