Thursday's Europa League Tips: Back 7/1 Forest Bet Builder & Emery to work his magic for Villa | OneFootball

Braga v Ferencvaros Tip - Back 3/1 goals & cards OddsBoost

Wednesday 15:30 kick-offFiest leg: 0-2Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 1

It was a bit of a surprise win for the Hungarians last week so Braga have work to do here, but they've won eight of nine European games at home with seven clean sheets so they're by no means out of this tie - and they're 4/9 favourites to win the leg at the very least, while Ferencvaros are the same 4/9 to book a first European quarter-final spot in 50 years.

Robbie Keane's men are in great form with six straight wins scoring 17 goals - another one here might just be enough - but Braga did keep the most clean sheets in the Europa League and are unbeaten in nine at home so this is a tough call. I fancy Sportsbook OddsBoost here based on the extreme situation promoting the chances of both teams to score, and adding in two cards each again due to the stakes being so high.

Freiburg v Genk Tip - A cagey first half & Genk to get through

Click here for Freiburg v Genk oddsThursday 17:45 kick-offFirst leg: 0-1Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports Extra

Another 1-0 defeat in the Bundesliga on Sunday made it just one win in six for Freiburg, who've also failed to score in three of the last four, while in European knockouts they've only scored in one of five now after last week. They have only lost twice at home all season though and they're 4/7 favourites to win with Genk big 4/1 outsiders.

Freiburg did have a 3-3 draw at home a couple of weeks ago but their lack of scoring otherwise is the big worry, especially with Genk finding the back of the bet in their last eight away games, so I've got this one down for a cagey first half perhaps even with no goals, but with Genk ultimately to use that goal advantage to get through.

Lyon v Celta Vigo Tip - Going the distance in France

Click here for Lyon v Celta Vigo odds17:45 kick-offFirst leg: 1-1Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 4

Lyon have hit a wall at just the wrong time, with no win in six now following a 13-game winning run that saw them top the Europa League table, but they're 1/1 match favourites and 1/2 to get through at home after last week's draw. 13/5 Celta are a decent away side though with just one defeat in their past nine aways and just two in 10 European road trips.

There's not been a ton of goals in recent games but both sides have scored in five of six for Lyon and seven of nine for Celta so considering that and the fact these two are pretty evenly matched then I think this one has extra-time written all over it. It's 11/2 for either team to win in extra time and 9/2 for it to be decided from the penalty spot. But we'll just play if a bit safer with the score draw after 90.

Midtjylland v Nottingham Forest Tip - 7/1 Bet Builder the pick in Denmark

Click here for Midtjylland v Nottingham Forest odds17:45 kick-offFirst leg: 0-1Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 2

That late winner at the City Ground could be huge for the Danish surprise package, who only lost once in the group stage and have now beaten Forest twice in this year's competition. They did lose at home at the weekend for the first time in almost a year, ending a 25-game run without defeat, and they're 23/10 in the match odds with Forest fancied at 11/10.

Midtjylland's defence is pretty tight at home, conceding more than once in just one of 18 and Forest have had their problems scoring, but they did get two at Man City and three at Fenerbahce recently. This could be tight but I'd back Forest to get through somehow at 13/8 if pushed. Best bet wise I'd rather take advantage of the Bet £10 Get £10 on Bet Builder offer and go down that route.

Morgan Gibbs-White has had three shots on target in both of his last two Europa League aways so two here should be no problem, while Elliott Anderson leads the team in fouls so has to be backed to give a couple away. And while Forest corners shouldn't be a problem the hosts have had at least four in their last six straight European home games.

Roma v Bologna Tip - Can't split these Serie A rivals

Click here for Roma v Bologna odds20:00 kick-offFirst leg: 1-1Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 2

A draw as expected in the first leg and this should be tight again, as even though 8/11 Roma have lost just one in nine at Stadio Olimpico, 15/4 Bologna have won five on the spin away from home and have won two of the last three away games against Roma. The lack of goals is a worry for Bologna as they scored more than one in just one of their past 11 games.

In the Europa League they've had the joint-most efforts on target but the goals return of late means we shouldn't expect a shoot-out, with a similar story to the first leg the more likely scenario. I think the smart play here is to just back the draw.

Aston Villa v Lille Tip - Always back Europa League expert Emery

Click here for Aston Villa v Lille odds20:00 kick-offFirst leg: 1-0Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 1

That was a tough but crucial win last week for Villa - their eighth in the competition but only one in the last six matches as the Europa League looks more and more like their best route into next season's Champions League. And with Europa League specialist Unai Emery at the helm they should go close.

Lille will be lively though as they're in good form and Villa Park hasn't been the usual fortress of late with just one home win in five and only one clean sheet in 10. Emery is the master though and Villa have been good in Europe, scoring 2+ goals in six of seven European home games so I've got a hard time believing they won't be good enough to pick off Lille and win this game as well as going through.

Betis v Panathinaikos Tip - Counting cards in Seville

Click here for Betis v Panathinaikos odds20:00 kick-offFirst leg:Live on TNT Sports 4 & Discovery+

Both sides had a man sent off last week so this should be a tasty rematch in Seville, where Betis are big 8/15 favourites to progress but Rafa Benitez will have a master plan for 29/20 Panathinaikos and their one-goal lead. Betis also haven't won in four at home with three draws in there - a result that'd do just fine for the Greeks.

But counting cards must be the way ahead here going on their individual efforts and last week's scrap, and both teams to get 3+ cards each seems reasonable with Betis hitting that number six times and the visitors eight. Another angle is Panathinaikos over 4.5  cards at 11/2 as they've hit five in three away games in the competition this season, including the last play-off round, getting four in another and will head to Spain with the gameplan to frustrate.

Porto v Stuttgart Tip - Hosts to finish the job off

Click here for Porto v Stuttgart odds20:00 kick-offFirst leg: 2-1Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 3

A great result for Porto last week leaves them as short as 2/7 to get through thanks to a fearsome home record at Estadio do Dragao where they've won 10 of the past 11 and lost just once all season - that being a League Cup game. So although Stuttgart bring some firepower with them, scoring 2+ goals in five of six on the road, it's an uphill battle for the 5/2 shots to progress.

The big problem for the visitors being Porto haven't failed to score at home since October and in their 21 home games this season they've kept 12 clean sheets and conceded a single goal eight times - only in that one single defeat did they concede more than once. Stuttgart might well get a goal but it's hard to see it being anything other than a consolation. Porto don't need to win the game but Stuttgart having to go forward means they're far more likely to.