Sports Blog 05/11/2015: Match Preview – UEFA Europa League, Thursday 5th November 2015

With 3 wins and one horrible loss for the English clubs in the Champions League this week, it’s time for Liverpool and Tottenham to try and correct their own respective mixed form in the Europa League.

First up sees a Russian trip for the Reds, as Liverpool visit Rubin Kazan at 6pm on BT Sport Europe. Whilst 3 1-1 draws is perhaps the dullest way to remain in the running for the knockout stages of the Europa League, it is a path that has left Liverpool 2nd in Group B. Their last European tie saw Liverpool look decidedly transitional, struggling to capitalise on Kazan playing with only 10 men for much of the game. That influx feeling continued the weekend after, a 1-1 result against Southampton extending Liverpool’s run to 5 draws in a row. Since then, however, Jurgen Klopp has managed to rack up 2 consecutive wins.

His first, a meagre 1-0 League Cup victory over Bournemouth, wasn’t exactly the stuff of champions but was nevertheless progress; his second was far more impressive, a 3-1 embarrassment of Chelsea in the Premier League that saw a resilient Liverpool come from behind after a 4th minute opener from Ramires. It helped that Philippe Coutinho looked like the player of seasons past, Liverpool’s brilliant Brazilian nabbing a brace against Mourinho’s men to leave him at a Super Mega PGM of 20-24 for Thursday evening’s game.



Their opponents, meanwhile, could do with a fresh injection of life themselves. An opening loss to the unlikely Swiss Group B toppers Sion, and draws against Bordeaux and Liverpool leaves Rubin Kazan with an unimpressive 2 points, but still, tellingly, plenty of chance to get into the knockouts. That Liverpool draw also saw Kazan get their first goal of the Europa League proper courtesy of Marko Devic, who sits at a Super Mega PGM of 17-21. Things are even worse domestically; after finishing 5th last season the Russian side now sit in 12th (out of a league of 16) following 9 losses in 14 games, meaning that their disappointing European form is still somewhat of a respite for a struggling Rubin.

If Liverpool can continue to click under Klopp and build on their growing form than a win in Russia is more than possible; our clients, however, aren’t too convinced, opting for the home side despite Spreadex offering a Liverpool/Rubin Kazan (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.6-0.8 (alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.4-2.6).

Hot on the heels of Liverpool’s trip to Russia is a visit to North London for Anderlecht, who face Tottenham at 8.05pm on BT Sport Europe. A 4th minute goal from Christian Eriksen had given Tottenham the lead in Belgium a fortnight ago, only for a swift response from Guillaume Gillet and a late goal from Stefano Okaka to spoil the party. That result leaves Spurs with 4 points from 3 games; not great, but in a group that sees Monaco on 5, Anderlecht on 4 and Qarabag on 3, Mauricio Pochettino’s men still have everything to play for.

Things have been much more consistent for Tottenham the league; since their opening defeat to Man United they haven’t lost a game. And whilst half of those results have been draws, back-to-back 5-1 and 3-1 victories over Bournemouth and Aston Villa respectively sees Spurs in fine form. Especially notable is the gradually improving Harry Kane; after a confidence-knocking goalless start to the season the English forward has 4 in his last 2 matches, and goes into Thursday night at a Super Mega PGM of 42-49. Spurs could also see a huge boost from the return of Son Heung-min; so explosive after his arrival, the South Korean summer signing has been out for 6 weeks with a foot injury but may appear this evening.



Like Tottenham Anderlecht have only 1 loss in the league so far this season, leaving them 1 point behind Gent in 2nd place. And in the Europa League their form has been near identical as well; an opening draw against Monaco gave way to a surprise loss against ostensible group minnows Qarabag, before grabbing their aforementioned victory over Tottenham 2 weeks ago. The scorer of that game’s winner Stefano Okaka, who goes into tonight’s game at 9/1 to score first, has been responsible for much of the Belgian side’s success this season, getting 8 goals in 11 appearances since he signed from Sampdoria in the summer.

Spurs were arguably unlucky to lose in the reverse fixture, and go into tonight’s game off the back of 2 impressive wins; both our Spreadex clients and traders alike feel like things should go their way this time, at a Tottenham/Anderlecht Goal Supremacy spread of 0.9-1.1.