Key pointers for matchday six

 

Christian Crowther studies the final-day permutations in all three groups involving English teams, and two others in which qualification has gone to the wire...

 

 

Much like it's more illustrious cousin the Champions League, much has already been decided ahead of matchday six in the Europa League.

 

No fewer than eight of the 12 groups have their top-two spots secured - albeit not necessarily the order decided - though there is still plenty of potential for upset,  not least in two of the groups featuring Premier League teams.

 

What better place to start than Group A, where Liverpool's young guns were dealt a tricky draw with the likes of Serie A third-place finishers Udinese and moneybags  Anzhi Makhachkala, who come replete with Samuel Eto'o.

 

With a new manager in the dugout devoid of European experience, it always looked like Liverpool could struggle and, sure enough, it is possible that only a victory  away to eliminated Udinese at 2.02, will suffice, as they must match whatever Young Boys do at home to Anzhi.

 

Group J containing Tottenham is another one which promised to be tight, with Italian giants Lazio being thrown in with European veterans Panathinaikos. However, unlike  Liverpool, Spurs have a manager in Andre Villas-Boas who does not just have experience in this competition but has actually won it with Porto.

 

Nevertheless, the Londoners have still made hard work of it, drawing four of their five games to date. One of those matches came to this week's opponents  Panathinaikos, who they entertain knowing only a defeat at White Hart Lane would see the Greeks qualify at their expense.

 

That doesn't seem likely however, as Tottenham have hit form at the perfect time - winning their last three Premier League games - while finally recording a Group J  victory when Jermain Defoe's hat-trick secured an emphatic 3-1 victory in their last home group game. Defoe can be backed at 3.4 to get the ball rolling with the first goal of the game on Thursday.

 

To get top spot, Tottenham need to not only win but hope Lazio lose away to bottom club NK Maribor, or that the Biancocelesti draw and they triumph by two goals or  more.

 

Newcastle have been the most impressive of the English sides in the competition, claiming seven from a possible nine points at home and also securing two away draws.

 

Alan Pardew's side now travel to Bordeaux, a team whom they have already dispatched 3-0 at St James' Park, knowing that a victory would secure first place as they  currently sit one point behind the French side in Group D. Newcastle are currently rated at 5.0 to pull this off.

 

Elsewhere, Stuttgart, who are yet to win on home soil in the competition, face Norwegian champions Molde - a team they lost against on matchday two - knowing a slip up  could allow Danish side FC Copenhagen to sneak through at their expense if they overcome group leaders Steaua Bucharest.

 

Copehagen's chances of three points are currently rated at 2.2 whereas Stuttgart are massive 1.18 favourites to overcome Molde.

 

The other group with qualification undecided is Group G, where Basel are two points clear of Videoton, meaning that the latter must win and hope the former lose in  order to progress. Basel visit leaders Genk, who they will overtake with a win. Should Basel be beaten at 3.05 and Videoton beat underachieving Sporting Lisbon in Portugal at 5.3, the Swiss side will finish third rather than first.

 

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