Home and Away: Back Rubin to reign in Spain

 

Jonno Turner switches his attentions to the Europa League as he tips two sides to do the business in their first leg ties this evening.

 

We're focusing on Europa League action this evening - and heading to Spain for our first pick, as Levante host Rubin Kazan at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, looking to make home advantage count in this first leg tie.

 

Juan Ignacio Martinez' side have lost two from their last three home outings, and have been rocked of late by hotshot forward Obafemi Martins requests to leave the club.

 

Just one win from their last four games suggests that confidence has been knocked in the Granotes camp, and only a last minute equaliser from Barkero prevented them losing two on the bounce at Valencia on Saturday.

 

That result left the hosts sitting 11th in La Liga - and with seemingly little chance of making their domestic top six this campaign, they will be desperate to nudge themselves ahead in this tie - especially with a tricky reverse fixture in Russia on the horizon.

 

Levante have kept just one clean sheet from their last six at home, and I think that their defensive weaknesses could cost them not only this game, but the tie - with away goals all-important.

 

Visitors Rubin Kazan return to Spain for the second time in two months - having beaten last years' Europa League winners Atletico Madrid convincingly 2-0 in their last trip.

 

That victory sent Kurban Burdyev's side a long way to securing their place in this round, and a 1-0 loss in the return leg was enough to see the Russians through.

 

The away side go into this clash unbeaten in their last four European away games - and it is clear that they look to come out of the traps quickly, in an attempt to kill the tie before the second leg.

 

Indeed, just one loss from half a dozen away from the Tsentralnyi Stadium suggests that they are a force to be reckoned with on their travels, and I think that they will look to employ the same game plan which stunned their hosts in Madrid.

 

They successfully held out the likes of Falcao in that clash, and they will know Levante's biggest threat Obafemi Martins' strengths well, since he played for them last season.

 

Bet 1: Rubin Kazan (AWAY) @ 3.2

 

Over to Portugal now - and in-form Benfica host Bordeaux at the Estadio da Luz, aiming to secure their 13th home win from 14 games.

 

Jorge Jesus' side have been formidable on their own patch in recent months, and go into this one having lost just one from 23 outings - a run which has lifted them to the top of the Primeira Liga, and will have them eyeing Europa League glory this campaign.

 

Three clean sheets from their last four in front of their own fans shows just how comfortable the Aguias have looked in recent weeks, and they will be desperate to prevent their visitors from notching any vital away goals here.

 

Jesus has a full squad to choose from - barring Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic, who is suspended - and will be looking to secure a victory in this tie against a Bordeaux side which has looked off-colour in recent weeks.

 

The visitors have won just one of their last six games, and sit a disappointing 10th in Ligue 1 following four losses on the bounce domestically.

 

Boss Francois Gillot has been playing down his sides chances in this clash, even going so far as to call them 'the surprise of the competition' - and he will be well aware that just one clean sheet from six outings on the road is unlikely to be good enough to contain this Benfica side, full of momentum and vigour.

 

Furthermore, just one win from seven Europa League games away from the Stade Chaban Delmas suggests that the visitors historically struggle in these games - and I'm backing the home win here.

 

Bet 2: Benfica (HOME) @ 1.55

 

Bet HERE

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