Thursday's Europa League Tips: Pick Porto and English pair for clean sheets, 4/1 Roma at Celtic

• Back wins & clean sheets for Villa and Forest

• Porto far too good for Malmo

• Roma to earn second win in Glasgow

• Safe Sub is here for the 2025-26 season - read all about it!

Ferencvaros v Rangers

17:45 kick-off
Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 4

Rangers got their first point on the board last time but another one might be hard to come by as they visit one of four unbeaten sides left in the competition as 16/54.20 underdogs in Budapest. Ferencvaros are 3/41.75 and have won five of six at home in the Europa League.

Rangers have improved a bit of late, but with four straight European defeats and 13 goals conceded this doesn't look like a game they can get much joy out of. Nine of Ferencvaros' last 11 games have gone over 2.5 goals. 

Utrecht v Nottingham Forest

17:45 kick-off
Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 1

Seven points and three clean sheets in Forest's last three Europa League games - so they're 8/111.73 at winless Utrecht, who are 15/44.75 but haven't lost in six home games, including a draw with Porto.

Both teams have scored in five of those six, but we all know Sean Dyche likes to start with a clean sheet and build from there, and the five UEL goals Forest have scored under him have all come from set plays. None of their last six aways have seen both teams score as well, and as the much better side that will dictate how this one goes. In his match preview, Kevin Hatchard takes a similar view. Read what he is backing here.

Midtjylland v Genk

17:45 kick-off
Live on Discovery+

Midtjylland finally lost last time away at Roma, but they're 4/51.80 to bounce back at home to 3/14.00 shots Genk, who are just two points behind them after back-to-back wins so are no mugs themselves.

The Danes have gone 20 games unbeaten at home and responded to defeat in Rome with 14 goals in three games, while Utrecht have shipped three in both of their last two, so expect a few goals here as Midtjylland prove their worth.

Nice v Braga

17:45 kick-off
Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports Extra

Braga have just stumbled after a great start with just a point from the last two games, so they could do with getting back on track against winless Nice - and they're 1/12.00 to do just that down in the South of France.

The hosts, who prop up the entire table, are 5/23.50 and have lost seven games on the spin, but they've scored in eight of 10 at home and while Braga's defence generally has been good they've been conceding goals lately with six of the past seven games seeing both teams score.

Basel v Aston Villa

20:00 kick-off
Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 1

Two comfortable home wins for Basel so far, but Premier League Aston Villa present a big step up as 7/101.70 favourites after winning seven games in a row - and Unai Emery will be taking this seriously after losing their last road trip in this in a shock defeat at Go Ahead Eagles.

Basel have drawn a blank in their last two home games so back a Villa clean sheet as well.

For an alternative view on Basel v Villa - read out stats-based preview featuring three bets

Celta Vigo v Bologna

20:00 kick-off
Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports Extra

Losing 3-2 at Ludogorets was a surprising blow for Celta, but beating Real Madrid on Sunday was a huge boost and they're now 13/102.30 here after eight wins in 11. Bologna are 21/103.10 and unbeaten since losing to Villa in their opening game.

But that Real Madrid win will do wonders for Celta and as good as Bologna have been, they've come up short against top sides away from home - and Celta's win at Real was about as good as it gets.

Celtic v Roma

20:00 kick-off
Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 3

Two wins in three for improving Celtic puts them in the top 24 and very much looking up, but they're underdogs at 11/53.20 at home against 6/52.20 Roma - who've won two in a row including just across Glasgow at Rangers.

Back in Serie A though, the Italians have lost back-to-back games before heading to Scotland and coupled with Celtic losing to Hearts there's form worries about both sides. Roma will lean on a defence that's not conceded more than a goal in the last 10 away games, while five of thieir last seven have gone under 2.5 goals.

Let's go for a narrow Roma victory.

Porto v Malmo

20:00 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports Extra & Discovery+

Porto are clinging to that eighth spot in the table but luckily have winless Malmo coming to town as huge 15/116.00 outsiders after scoring just twice in their five games so far - so no real goal threat is being brought with them.

A home win to nil at 4/61.67 looks like a banker, but for an odds-against punt then Porto with a -2 handicap at 13/82.63 could be the one against a side that struggles to score goals, especially on the road - Malmo have lost both their away games so far at Forest and Plzen by a 3-0 scoreline.

Lyon v GA Eagles

20:00 kick-off
Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports Extra

Group stage leaders Lyon are another home banker, quoted at 1/61.17 against Go Ahead Eagles - who've lost both games since that big upset win over Aston Villa at home on matchday 3. 

The Eagles haven't scored in the last two Europa League games while Lyon have kept four clean sheets in five and conceded two goals in total - it's not a big price for a win to nil but it has to be backed.

Now read all of our Europa League match previews & best bets