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Europa League: Solid Spurs to keep out Maribor

 

Our Europa League columnist Kevin Hatchard has been trawling this week's fixtures for betting opportunities, and he's picked out four of the best games.

 

 

NK Maribor vs Tottenham, Thu 18:00 BST, Live on ITV4

Match Odds: Maribor 5.7, Spurs 1.75, the draw 3.9

 

After draws against Lazio (unfortunate - three goals disallowed) and Panathinaikos (clumsy - slacked off in closing stages), Spurs are now in need of their first win.  Slovenian champions Maribor will be no pushovers - they shredded Panathinaikos 3-0 in their group stage opener, and only lost 1-0 at Lazio.

 

Opta tell us that Spurs have kept seven clean sheets in their last 14 European games, conceding 13 goals during that run, and Maribor may find it difficult to breach  the Londoners' defence. Maribor have failed to score in two of their last three European games, and in the Champions League qualifiers they only won 1-0 at Luxembourg  minnows Dudelange.

 

I'm not expecting many goals, and the Spurs clean sheet looks tempting at 2.36, as does Under 2.5 Goals at 1.88. It says a lot about Spurs' defending that keeper Hugo  Lloris has played two Europa League games and hasn't made a save in either. The case for unders is strengthened by the absence through injury of Spurs duo Gareth Bale  and Emmanuel Adebayor.

 

Recommended Bets:

Back Spurs to keep a clean sheet at 2.36

Back Under 2.5 Goals at 1.88

 

 

Lyon vs Athletic Bilbao, Thu 18:00 BST

Match Odds: Lyon 2.02, Athletic 4.2, the draw 3.65

 

Struggling Athletic Bilbao were given a solid kick in the unmentionables at the weekend, as they lost 3-2 at Valencia in La Liga. The Basque outfit were 2-1 up in the  88th minute, but conceded two late goals to suffer their fifth away defeat of the season. Marcelo Bielsa's men are yet to win on their travels this term, and they  appear to be a shadow of the side that reached last year's Europa League final.

 

Lyon sit top of Group I after victories over Sparta Prague and Hapoel Kiryat Shmona, and Remi Garde's men have won five of their six matches at Stade Gerland. I'm  surprised the Lyon win is available at 2.02, so take advantage.

 

Recommended Bet:

Back Lyon to win at 2.02

 

 

Panathinaikos vs Lazio, Thu 18:00 BST, Live on ESPN

Match Odds: Panathinaikos 3.5, Lazio 2.3, the draw 3.45

 

Before Tottenham went to Greece to face Panathinaikos on Matchday Two, I tipped the North Londoners to win, and frankly I'm still annoyed they didn't. Spurs went 1-0  up early on and were in cruise control, but drifted off into sleepyland and allowed a poor Pana team to grab a 1-1 draw.

 

I don't expect Lazio to make the same mistake. The Romans have won their last four matches in all competitions, and their confidence is sky-high after the weekend's 3 -2 success against AC Milan. Pana have won just once at home in seven games, while Lazio have won four out of six on their travels.

 

Recommended Bet:

Back Lazio to win at 2.3

 

 

Helsingborgs vs Hannover, Thu 18:00 BST

 

Match Odds: Helsingborgs 4.6, Hannover 1.92, the draw 3.8

 

Helsingborgs managed a 2-2 draw against FC Twente last time out, and I expect goals again as they face an equally attacking Hannover side. Helsingborg are the second- highest scorers in the Swedish Allsvenskanliga, with 45 goals netted in 27 games. They have scored at least once in eight of their last ten matches.

 

Hannover have been goal crazy this season. 10 of their 15 games this season have featured Over 3.5 Goals, including three of their last four in the Europa League.  Helsingborgs have to go for it (they are bottom of the group), and I think there will be space for Hannover to score goals on the counter.

 

Recommended Bet:

Back Over 3.5 Goals at 3.05

 

(Source: Betfair)

 

Bet H E R E !

 

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