Thursday's Europa League & Conference League Tips: Back a 10/3 City Ground stalemate & 9/2 Palace Bet Builder at Shakhtar

Braga v Freiburg Tip - Back Braga to edge first leg

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Europa League semi-final
20:00 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 4 & HBO Max

Braga have won the first leg just twice in 11 Europa League knockout ties, but they have won 12 of the last 16 home games in Europe so are 7/52.40 favourites here against Freiburg, who are 21/103.10 for a victory in their first European semi-final.

Despite dodgy domestic form the Germans have breezed through with three emphatic wins, putting away Celta Vigo nicely in the last round 6-1 on aggregate. That second leg was just a second away win in nine in the competition and with Braga scoring in 18 straight home games this could be tough.

The Germans thrived at Celta but the Spaniards had to throw caution to the win being 3-0 down already, but Braga usually keep things tight at home and with this relatively new territory for both this has a nervy first-leg feel to it.

Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa Tip - Stalemate at the City Ground

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Europa League semi-final
20:00 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 1 & HBO Max

The home side has won six of the last seven meetings, and Forest are slight 6/42.50 favourites to add to that run with Vitor Pereira's side flying after 4-1 and 5-0 wins gave their Premier League survival chances a huge boost.

Villa, who are 15/82.88 in the first leg, have scored four goals in two of three and Unai Emery is a master in this competition, but despite them both banging in the goals I'd expect this to have a more cagey, European flavour at the City Ground.

Forest's home games aren't usually packed with goals, just two of nine going over 2.5, while Villa have only scored more than once in one of seven away games and Emery lost his last semi-final (in the 2023/24 Conference League) by a heavy first-leg defeat - so caution will be a key word.

It was 1-1 in an even contest when they last met in Nottingham just a couple of weeks ago and I can see something similar here, with Emery in particular happy to go back to Villa Park level.

Rayo Vallecano v Strasbourg Tip - Rayo to edge ahead

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Conference League semi-final
20:00 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports Extra & HBO Max

It was a rollercoaster for Rayo Vallecano in the quarters as they threw away a 3-0 lead from the first leg at AEK Athens, only to pinch a goal back to go through 4-3. Strasbourg managed to wipe out a 2-0 deficit to win their second leg 4-0 against Mainz, so both teams are battlers.

Rayo are 6/52.20 match favourites but there's nothing between them in terms of making the final, while Strasbourg are 23/103.30 to take a first-leg lead back to France.

The Spaniards are pretty good at home - winning five of six Conference League games and suffering just two defeats in 19 in all competitions at Vallecas, so they're worthy favourites, but Gary O'Neil's visitors can pose a threat and at least score a goal to set up an exciting second leg.

Shakhtar v Palace Tip - Back Sarr to strike in 9/25.50 Bet Builder

Click here for Shakhtar Donetsk v Crystal Palace odds
Conference League semi-final
20:00 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 2 & HBO Max

Palace were comfortable winners against Fiorentina in the quarters and they're 1/12.00 to win the first leg in Poland against the Ukrainians and 4/91.44 to book a place in the final.

Shakhtar have won just two of six games in their 'home' in Krakow so the 27/103.70 on them to beat Palace doesn't seem worth backing, even if Oliver Glasner's men have lost two of three.

This is clearly the priority now as Glasner looks to end his spell with the Eagles with another trophy, and they should really be far too strong.

Watch out for a fast start for the visitors - Shakhtar have only scored four first-half goals in the competition while Palace are 14-1 on aggregate in first halves, so we'll take them to double up in the half-time/full-time market at 21/103.10.

Ismaila Sarr is your man with his competition, with seven goals so far including one in the last three, so we'll back him anytime goalscorer at 15/82.88 in what should be a routine Palace victory.

Now read all the rest of our Europa League & Conference League betting tips