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Thursday Football Cheat Sheet: Bets for Europa League and more

Max Liu
08 March 2023
3:00 min read

Will Bruno Fernandes lead by example for Man Utd against Betis?

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It's a big Thursday of football this week with Manchester United and Arsenal in Europa League action. Get the best bets for both of those matches and much more...

Gunners face tough test in Portugal
Man Utd to bounce back against Betis
Plus more Europa League and Copa Libertadores

Sporting v Arsenal: Gunners to tiptoe through tie

Sporting Lisbon 3.55/2 v Arsenal 2.35/4, the Draw 3.55/2
17:45
Live on BT Sport 2

Kevin Hatchard says: "The UEL field simply isn't as strong as it has been in years gone by, and although Italian giants Roma and Juventus stand alongside Manchester United as potential winners, it does feel like there's a genuine opportunity here.

"Arteta's hand will be forced to some extent by existing injury problems. Leandro Trossard is carrying a knock, while there are doubts over Eddie Nketiah's involvement. Gabriel Jesus is still working his way back to fitness, and Mohamed Elneny is definitely out with a knee injury.

Sporting Lisbon

Arsenal

Arsenal 1 1 Sporting Lisbon
Sporting Lisbon 3 0 Boavista
Sporting Lisbon 2 2 Arsenal
Portimonense 0 1 Sporting Lisbon
Sporting Lisbon 2 0 Estoril Praia
FC Midtjylland 0 4 Sporting Lisbon

Arsenal 4 1 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 1 1 Sporting Lisbon
Fulham 0 3 Arsenal
Sporting Lisbon 2 2 Arsenal
Arsenal 3 2 Bournemouth
Arsenal 4 0 Everton

Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal Thursday 09 March, 17:45

Full stats

"This feels like a tie where the Gunners would be happy to conserve energy and keep things close in the first leg, knowing that they have a second game to come at the Emirates. Tottenham lost at the Jose Alvalade this season, while Borussia Dortmund were well beaten there last term.

"Sporting have found some decent form of late, so I'll back them in the Double Chance market at 1.81."

Kevin's bet: Back Sporting Double Chance @ 1.814/5

Man Utd v Betis: Reds to bounce back

Man Utd 1.454/9 v Betis 8.615/2, the Draw 5.14/1
20:00
Live on BT Sport 1

Kevin Hatchard says: "It remains to be seen what effect that drubbing on Merseyside will have on United, and I can't quite get excited about them being 1.45 here in the Match Odds market. I suspect they will win (they have delivered 16 victories from the last 17 competitive games at Old Trafford), but what will the margin of victory be?

"Betis created some excellent chances against Real Madrid at the week, only to be foiled by a stubborn Thibault Courtois display, and I think they can score here. Betis have found the net in ten of their last 12 competitive games, and they have won five of their last six games on the road, so they will have confidence.

Manchester United

Real Betis

Manchester United 3 1 Fulham
Real Betis 0 1 Manchester United
Manchester United 0 0 Southampton
Manchester United 4 1 Real Betis
Liverpool 7 0 Manchester United
Manchester United 3 1 West Ham United

Real Betis 1 0 Mallorca
Real Betis 0 1 Manchester United
Villarreal 1 1 Real Betis
Manchester United 4 1 Real Betis
Real Betis 0 0 Real Madrid
Elche 2 3 Real Betis

Manchester United vs Real Betis Thursday 09 March, 20:00

Full stats

"I'll back United to win and both teams to score at 3.25 on the Exchange, which seems a big boost from the 1.45 for the straight home win. Both teams have scored in seven of United's last ten home games in all competitions."

Kevin's bet: Back Manchester United to win and BTTS 3.259/4

Juventus v Freiburg: Germans to lose dream clash

Juventus 1.728/11 v Freiburg 5.95/1, the Draw 3.9
20:00
Live on BT Sport

"It's not just Union Berlin who are living out their dream this season, as their Bundesliga stable-mates Freiburg now face a mind-boggling clash with one of European football's biggest clubs.

"Freiburg have never won a major trophy, and were relegated to the second tier of German football as recently as 2015. However, Freiburg are starting to slow down, especially away from home. In 2023 they have lost 3-1 at RB Leipzig, 6-0 at Wolfsburg and 5-1 at Borussia Dortmund.

"In October, they went down 5-0 at Bayern, and this body of evidence suggest that Freiburg can beat the lesser lights on the road, but struggle against the elite teams.

Juventus

SC Freiburg

Inter Milan 0 1 Juventus
SC Freiburg 0 2 Juventus
Juventus 4 2 Sampdoria
Juventus 1 0 SC Freiburg
Roma 1 0 Juventus
Juventus 4 2 Torino

1. FSV Mainz 05 1 1 SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg 0 2 Juventus
SC Freiburg 2 1 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
Juventus 1 0 SC Freiburg
Borussia Mönchengladbach 0 0 SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg 1 1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Juventus vs SC Freiburg Thursday 09 March, 20:00

Full stats

"Despite their off-field problems, Juventus go into that elite bracket. Were it not for their points deduction, the Turin giants would be second in Serie A, and they have won 15 of their 25 games in the Italian top flight."

Kevin's bet: Back Juventus -1.0 @ 2.285/4

Bayer Leverkusen v Ferencvarosi: Back Wirtz to have a say

Bayer Leverkusen 1.331/3 v Ferencvarosi 11.521/2, the Draw 6.25/1
17:45

Paul Higham says: "Bayer Leverkusen came through a crazy tie against Monaco to make this stage, playing out two 3-2s before winning on penalties in the Principality.

"Now they face Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros who are in the knckout stages of European competition for the first time - and who lost 2-1 here in last season's Europa League.

"Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso hopes that epic win over Monaco can kick-start Leverkusen's season, as that came after a sticky spell of four defeats in five."

Paul's bet: Back Over 2.5 goals, Wirtz goal or assist & Traore 1+ shot on target @ 16/5

Copa Libertadores: Fortaleza v Cerro Porteno

Fortaleza 1.768/11 v Cerro Porteno 5.39/2, the Draw 3.55/2
22:00

Nathan Joyes says: "The Paragayan's may have made it to the round of 16 last year, but they didn't win a single away game, losing two, drawing two and scoring just one goal.

"In their last qualifier, they beat Chilean club Curico Unido 1-0 in both legs, which was largely underwhelming. They even rested seven players in between the fixtures, in order to progress to the next round.

"Fortaleza, on the other hand, blew Maldonado away. A comprehensive 4-0 victory, with over 60% possession and 27 shots sent out a statement. Thiago Galhardo set the tone, scoring his seventh goal in his last 10 matches. New signing Juan Lucero came off the bench to score a brace, and is another option the home side will have on Thursday evening.

"Cerro Porteno will look to take a draw back to Paraguay, but Fortaleza will be on the hunt for a goal or two on home soil."