Sports Blog 23/04/2015: Match Preview – UEFA Europa League Quarter Finals 2ng Leg, Thursday 23rd April 2015

With the Champions League semi-finals full of the European old-guard, the Europa League upstarts could still throw up some surprises tonight in the quarter final 2nd legs.

First up is the return fixture of perhaps the biggest shock of last week, as Wolfsburg visit Napoli at 8.05pm on Sky Sports 1. With both sides being two of the best left in the competition, a tight game was on the cards. The 4-1 demolition of Wolfsburg then, who bear in mind are 2nd in the Bundesliga, was surprising to say the least. This impressive victory leaves Napoli firmly in control on home soil, and atop the Europa League Outright Index with a spread of 74-77 compared to last week’s 45-48. Interestingly, this European run could be a last Italian hurrah for Rafa Benitez, as reports persist he is on his way to the blue side of Manchester.



It has been a sharp fall from grace for Wolfsburg. Last week they were at an Outright Index spread of 54-57, the best out of the remaining sides; now they are at 25-28, distinctly at the bottom of the pile. However, there is a slim chance they could turn this around. Wolfsburg have scored 23 in their last 25 games, a stat the German side will be clinging to if they want reach the 4 goal deficit victory they need to progress to the semi-finals. Our Spreadex traders, perhaps unsurprisingly, aren’t too optimistic about Wolfsburg’s chances, giving the Italian side the edge at Napoli/Wolfsburg Goal Supremacy sports spread betting quote of 0.25-0.45 with a Total Goals spread of 3.05-3.25.

Beyond that Italian/German fracas, things get a lot harder to call. The other Italian side in the competition, Fiorentina, host Dynamo Kiev at 8.05pm on ITV4, and still have a bit to do if they want to ensure a place in the final four. An added time equaliser from Khouma Babacar (who will frustratingly be absent tonight due to a knee injury) not only pulled Fiorentina level with Kiev, but put them in the driving seat for the 2nd leg by gifting them an all-important away goal. This leaves them at a marginally better Outright Index spread of 54-57, compared to last week’s 50-53, the third best of the remaining sides.



Yet Dynamo Kiev aren’t out of it yet. A goal in Italy would easily put the spark back into Dynamo, something they are easily capable of given how long they led for in Kiev last week. However, and it is probably a big however, Dynamo Kiev have lost 3 of their 4 away games in Europe, seeing their Outright index spread slip to 35-38 from 39-42. Sadly for Kiev, it looks like the Italian side will get the narrow win they need, at a Fiorentina/Dynamo Kiev Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 0.7-0.9 with a Total Goals spread of 2.55-2.75.

The next game is even tighter to call, with both Dnipro and Club Brugge needing to break their goalless deadlock at 8.05pm on ESPN. The first leg ended in a cagey snore-draw; however, something will need to give tonight. Despite their failure to nab an away goal, Dnirpo have seen their Outright Index spread increase from 40-43 to 42-45 as they extended their unbeaten run to 6 games at the weekend.



However, last week’s goalless performance is an anomaly for Club Brugge, a side who put 6 past AaB and 5 past Besiktas over the respective legs in each previous knockout round. They are unbeaten in 15 Europa League matches this season, the only team left in the competition to hold this claim, and only need a single goal to make things very difficult for Dnipro. However, the Ukrainian side’s home advantage has seen Brugge’s Outright Index spread slip to 41-44 from last week’s 42-45. This leaves a Dnipro/Club Brugge Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 0.4-0.6 with a Total Goals spread of 2.25-2.45.

Finally, Zenti St. Petersburg will attempt to overcome a slim deficit as they host Sevilla at 8.05pm, with Spreadex's In-Play betting available. The Russian side managed to snatch an important away goal, and were perhaps unlucky to be going into the 2nd leg on the back foot. However, they haven’t beaten a Spanish team in their last 8 fixtures with such sides, causing their Outright Index spread to fall to 39-42 from 41-44.



Two late goals saw Sevilla take the lead ahead of this 2nd leg. They will be going into this match not only with a slim victory to protect, but off the back of a 12 game unbeaten run in all competitions and on firm footing to continue their Europa League title defence. This sees them on the second best Outright Index spread of 55-58; however, our traders are expecting Zenit to utilise their home advantage, at a very tight Zenit St. Petersburg/Sevilla Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 0.1-0.3. Yet with a Total Goals spread of 2.65-2.85, such a narrow margin may not be enough for Zenit to progress over the current champions.