Sports Blog 19/02/2015: Match Preview – UEFA Europa League Last 32 Leg 1, Thursday 19th February 2015

It is time to turn an eye to the second of Europe’s continental club tournaments, with four British sides competing in the first leg of the last 32 of the Europa League.

First up is an early kick-off, with Everton travelling to Switzerland to face a group of Young Boys at 6pm on ITV4. What could sound on paper as an easy draw for Everton is anything but, as Young Boys have won their last 7 home games in Europe, including a victory over Napoli, no mean feat with the Italian side sitting in 3rd in Serie A. On top of this Young Boys have not lost in 9 games, 8 of these being victories. If this form is to continue then Renato Steffen (6 goals, 9/1 to score first), Guillaume Hoarau (6 goals, 5/1) and Raphael Nuzzolo (5 goals, 12/1) will need to find the back of the net.



Everton’s European story this season has been in stark contrast to their home form; despite sitting in 12th in the league, the Toffees managed to top a group that included Wolfsburg, a team who are second in the Bundesliga and recently beat Bayern Munich 4-1, alongside Lille and Krasnodar. Yet Everton’s chances tonight may be hampered by their continued long list of injuries, and the fact that they have only scored once in their last 4 games. If there is any time to buck this trend it is now, and Lukaku (10 goals, 11/2), Mirallas (8 goals, 9/1) and Naismith (6 goals, 9/1) will all need to put a shift in if this is to happen. Our Spreadex traders (just) have faith that it can, at a narrow Everton/Young Boys (h) Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 0-0.2, with a Total Goals spread of 2.4-2.6.

Whilst Everton are off in Switzerland, the other Merseyside team hosts Besiktas at 8.05pm on ITV. Liverpool are going into this game having only lost once in their past 16 games, including a tight win over Tottenham that has pushed them back up to 7th in the league. Yet it is through their failure in the Champions League, rather than a strong performance in the Europa group stages, that sees they enter at this point, and face a tough challenge in the wily Turkish side. With Steven Gerrard out, the focus will largely be on Daniel Sturridge, who is still rusty after his long injury period; he is at 3/1 to score first with 3 goals, whilst Balotelli is at 7/2 on 3 goals and Raheem Sterling (who could potentially be absent through injury) is at 5/1 on 9 goals.



Besiktas won’t be intimidated by Liverpool’s current form despite suffering an 8-0 embarrassment when they last visited Anfield. The Turkish team are top of the Super Lig, undefeated in Europe this season, and managed to beat Tottenham to top their group. They also have something Liverpool are sorely lacking: an in-form striker. Demba Ba, who memorably sunk Liverpool’s title hopes last season with Chelsea, is on 22 goals at 15/2 to score first, ably backed by Gokhan Tore (16/1), Olcay Sahan (14/1) and Cenk Tosun (11/1), all on 7 goals apiece. Yet for all this Liverpool’s form seems to be the main concern for our traders, as they fancy the Reds at a Liverpool/Besiktas Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 1-1.2 with a Total Goals spread of 2.5-2.7.

We then head over to Scotland, where Celtic host Inter Milan on BT Sport 1, in a tie that is perhaps less intimidating for the Scots than it once would have been. Whilst Inter Milan topped their Europa League group, the Italian side had a relatively fortuitous draw; similarly, whilst they have scored 7 goals in their past two games, they have lost as many as they have won in their past 6, and are sitting unhappily in 10th in Serie A. Yet they do have Mauro Icardi (15 goals at 4/1) and former-Bayern star Xherdan Shaqiri (17/2 to score first) at their disposal, alongside Fredy Guarin (5 goals, 14/1).



Celtic, on the other hand, are sitting atop the Scottish Premier League, and have won their past 6 games on the trot. Yet the Scottish league hardly compares to Serie A, and Celtic have ominously lost their last 4 fixtures against Italian sides. And whilst they finished second in their group, Celtic paled in comparison to a rampant Red Bull Salzburg, not the greatest sign ahead of their match against Italian footballing royalty. The Hoops may be missing Kris Commons (who remains at 13/2 to score first on 6 goals), but will have Stefan Johansen (7 goals, 15/2) and John Guidetti (6 goals, 6/1). Our traders have Inter to just edge the tie, at a very tight Inter Milan/Celtic Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 0.05-0.25.

Finally, and perhaps most excitingly, Tottenham host Fiorentina on BT Sport 2. Despite a mixed set of results in their past 6 games, with 3 wins, 2 losses and a draw, Tottenham have scored in 15 of their past 16 games, and managed to beat both Chelsea and Arsenal in impressive displays. In Europe they were slightly less convincing, finishing behind Besiktas in their group, and this tie is coming at the start of a very difficult period for Spurs which sees 6 games in 17 days, including the League Cup final against Chelsea. What will make the difference for Tottenham is Harry Kane; on 21 goals this season the youngster has been the breakout star in English football this season, and will be carrying the hopes of Spurs on his shoulders.



Yet Fiorentina will provide fierce competition. They have won 7 of their last 9 European games away from home, have scored in 11 of their last 12 games, are unbeaten in 8 and have reached the semi-final of the Coppa Italia. Both sides have been playing attacking football this season but might be more cautious in this first leg, with Tottenham especially needing to leave something in the tank for their upcoming fixtures. Our Spreadex traders have given Tottenham a very slim home advantage at a Tottenham/Fiorentina Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 0.2-0.4, with a cagey Total Goals spread of 2.6-2.8.