Home and Away: Italians are my NAP for the day

6Dec 2012

Europa Liga

Two winners in the Champions League last night saw more success for the Home and Away column - and Jonno Turner is staying in Europe for a couple more selections today.

Two wins from two picks yesterday sees us go into Thursday on a roll - and we're turning our attentions to the Europa League for our first pick of the day.

Napoli welcome PSV Eindhoven to the Stadio San Paolo, looking to build on some impressive home form which has them unbeaten in 13 outings - and having won 11 of those, it is clear that Walter Mazzarri's side have the cutting edge to see off their Dutch opponents.

A 5-1 thrashing of Pescara last time out will have the Azzurri full of confidence ahead of this, their final group F game.

With qualification already in the bag, some are questioning whether the home side will chop and change their starting lineup - but Mazzarri will be desperate to move into the next stage of this competition on a roll, and eight goals from their opening two home group games underlines just how much quality the hosts have in their squad.

And with the Partenopei going great guns domestically too, and sitting second in Serie A, they will be keen to maintain momentum - and stake their claim for the Europa League trophy - by chalking up another convincing win here.

Visitors PSV go into this game sitting in bottom position in the group - and just one win from their opening five games is indicative of how far off the pace the Dutch side have looked so far this campaign.

Marcel Brands side have lost their last three games ahead of this tie - and a 3-1 defeat to rivals Ajax at the weekend will have knocked confidence down at the Philips Stadion.

The Boeren look particularly vulnerable on their travels, and three losses from four Europa League games on the road before this tie suggests that they may struggle to contain the might of Napoli.

In fact, the Dutch side have not even managed to score in their last three hours of away European football - against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and AIK, respectively.

And with the Red and White army currently sitting third in the Eredivisie, and already dumped out of this competition, they will have distractions of their own this evening - so I'm not giving much weight to the rumours of Mazzarri resting players.

Napoli are formidable on their own patch, and I can't see them throwing away their excellent home record by fielding an understrength side, so I'm backing the home win.

Bet 1: Napoli (HOME) @ 1.77

We're staying in this competition now - but switching our focus to Group B - and a top of the table clash, as leaders Atletico Madrid travel to Plzen.

Two points separate these two sides at the summit of the group, and they will both be keen to jockey for first place as they aim to secure the most favourable draw for the next round of this competition.

Qualification is already in the bag for both of these sides, but they won't rest on their laurels, and I forecast an exciting game in the Czech Republic this evening.

Atletico go into this game having lost just three of their last 33 games - and many are tipping Diego Simeone's side for the trophy already.

Los Rojiblancos have won four of their opening five clashes in this group, and five clean sheets from their last seven Europa League outings suggests that the visitors are more than capable of shutting out their opponents tonight.

In the bigger picture, Atletico have won 16 of their last 17 outings in this competition, and six of their last seven away from Estadio Vicente Calderon.

And they are going well domestically too - with four wins from their last four - all clean sheets, raising confidence in the visiting camp.

Plzen welcome their Spanish counterparts to the Czech Republic having won their last five domestic outings.

Pavel Vrba's side have won three of their last five at the Struncovy Sady - and will be keen to secure first place in the group - but I think that the quality of Atletico should be enough to see off the Viktorka, and they will not want to give up their lead.

The last time these two sides met, the visitors ran out 1-0 winners - and I'm backing the away win once again.

Bet 2: Atletico Madrid (AWAY) @ 2.86