Europa League / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 27 August 2009 / Leave a comment

All the major in-running betting stories from tonight's Europa League action...

2008 UEFA Cup winners Zenit St Petersburg were amongst the most high-profile casualties from tonight's Europa League pre-qualifying round after falling at the hands of Portuguese side Nacional. The Russian side were amongst the early favourites for the competition and traded as low as 20 but a 1-1 home draw was enough to ensure they won't be achieving their feat of two years ago in 2009/10.

Another side who certainly won't win it is Aston Villa. Though they won 2-1 tonight, matched at a high of 1.54, Ashley Young's early missed penalty cost them dear as the Austrian side progressed on away goals after Martin O'Neill's side were matched at just 1.08 on the "to qualify" market.

Earlier in the day Everton in-running backers will be disappointed that David Moyes' men gave away a one goal lead to draw 1-1 against Olomouc after trading at a low of 1.22 but they went through easily nonetheless, courtesy of their four goal lead from the first leg.

Roma, who won 7-1 against Kosice tonight, head the Europa League betting at 12 with other fancied teams including Villarreal (15.0), Valencia (16.5) and Werder Bremen (17.0).

Back in England, Manchester City's globetrotters had to fight hard to overcome a typically resilient Crystal Palace side in the Carling Cup. Neil Warnock's team did well to keep the visitors at bay for the first half but a Shaun Wright- Phillips goal early in the second half and a second from Carlos Tevez ensured they progressed. City hit [1.97] on the match odds market before SWP's opener.