Thursday's Europa League Tips: Back 4/1 Stuttgart shot & 5/1 Fenerbahce Bet Builder at Forest | OneFootball

UEFA Europa League

Paul Higham's Europa League betting tips include 5/1 Bet Builder for N.Forest v Fenerbahce

Paul Higham has best bets for all of Thursday's Europa League second legs, including a 4/1 Bet Builder for Celtic's trip to Stuttgart and a 5/1 shot on Fenerbahce as they visit Nottingham Forest.

Stats strong for goals in Hungary

Click here for Ferencvaros v Ludogorets odds...Thursday 26 February, 17:45 kick-offLive on Discovery+ & TNT Sports ExtraFirst Leg: 1-2

It's evenly poised after the first leg, Ludogorets taking a narrow lead to Hungary, where they lost 3-1 to Ferencvaros during the group stage in November and 3-0 in Champions League qualifying in August. The hosts are 4/7 to secure the hat-trick and 20/23 to qualify for the next round, with the visitors 9/10 to go through despite losing 13 of 20 Europa League ties on the road.

Both teams have scored in six of Ferencvaros' last seven Europa League home games and in four of five Ludogorets aways so expect more here, and that could throw up the possibility of this one going the distance - it's 5/1 for either side to win in extra time - but just in case the hosts run away with it we'll back them to win the match.

Unbeaten Plzen to pip Pana

Click here for Plzen v Panathinaikos odds...Thursday 26 February, 17:45 kick-offLive on Discovery+ & TNT Sports ExtraFirst Leg: 2-2

Another tie in the balance after an entertaining draw in Athens as Plzen remained the only unbeaten side in the competition and they're 1/1 match favourites back home in Czechia, where they've kept 16 clean sheets in 22 games in Europe and haven't been beaten since early November. A 0-0 draw with Sparta Prague at the weekend was more like their usual defensive strength at the Doosan Arena.

This should be a bit tighter than the first leg with what's at stake - plus Plzen have drawn the last three at home and only one of Panathinaikos' last seven aways saw both teams score. I'm not quite convinced enough for a win to nil but Plzen being such a tough side to beat I think they'll get the job done in a tight one.

Red Star to avoid defeat to go through

Click here for Red Star v Lille odds...Thursday 26 February, 17:45 kick-offLive on Discovery+ & TNT Sports ExtraFirst Leg: 1-0

It's an uphill battle now for Lille, who also lost here 1-0 in the league stage in November, and you'd expect something similar here as Red Star are on a six-game winning streak and have lost just once at home in 13, while the French side have never won a knockout tie in Europe after losing the first leg. Lille have also won just two of 16 knockout games away in Europe.

Just needing a draw, which is 23/10, can be tricky for the home side but Red Star's campaign has been built on defence and winning low-scoring games - as they've not scored more than once in any game yet in the competition.

Back dangerous Undav in Stuttgart success

Click here for Stuttgart v Celtic odds...Thursday 26 February, 17:45 kick-offLive on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 2First Leg: 4-1

Job done really for Stuttgart, with Celtic basically playing for pride here while praying for a miracle - an even bigger one than just purely overturning a three-goal deficit given they're winless in 12 European knockout ties away from home. Stuttgart are unbeaten in eight as well and having scored 3+ in six of those it seems an impossible job - hence 66/1 on Martin O'Neill's side going through.

Stuttgart aren't the type of side to just sit on this lead, and after scoring first and winning all four Europa League home games this season I expect a repeat here - O'Neill won't let his side just give up and eight of their last nine have seen both teams score. And we can enhance our price by adding 2+ shots on target for the dangerous Deniz Undav - who has 11 in the last five home games for Stuttgart.

Hosts Bologna to beat Brann

Click here for Bologna v Brann odds...Thursday 26 February, 20:00 kick-offLive on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 2First Leg: 1-0

Bologna seem to have bounced back, with now three wins on the spin after ending a seven-game winless home run last time out with a second straight 1-0 victory. They're unbeaten their last eight Europa League games too so this will be a tough one to turn around for 5/1 match underdogs Brann, who are 10/1 to qualify.

The Norwegians have suffered since their league ended with three defeats and a draw, while they're winless in six in this competition and without a goal in three of five away games, so they've not got particularly strong claims here. Bologna don't score many goals though, bagging more than once in just one of nine at home so put this one down for a narrow home win.

Shoot for profit with in-form Aspas

Click here for Celta Vigo v PAOK odds...Thursday 26 February, 20:00 kick-offLive on Discovery+ & TNT Sports ExtraFirst Leg: 2-1

Celta Vigo have just found some form at the right time, moving into the top six in La Liga by beating Mallorca after last week's first-leg win - and with five wins in six at home they're big favourites at 1/14 to qualify and 13/20 to win the match itself, although a draw will do.

PAOK have won just three of nine away games but perhaps Celta's record of just one clean sheet in 13 European home games will give them hope of a 7/1 upset. Both teams to score is a reasonable price at 1/1 and we'll back that, along with the in-form Iago Aspas to have 2+ shots on target for the third game running.

Back Genk to finish the job off

Click here for Genk v Dinamo Zagreb odds...Thursday 26 February, 20:00 kick-offLive on Discovery+ & TNT Sports ExtraFirst Leg: 3-1

Genk lost 3-0 in the Belgian league on Sunday as a warning that this tie may not be over, and they've lost five of eight European knockout games at home as well, but Dinamo don't have the best record in these ties with four defeats in five away from home.

The Croatians are 11/5 to win the game, which wouldn't be the end of the world for Genk with their lead, but Dinamo's inability to keep a clean sheet in 11 European games could well end their hopes. So even though their need is greater, going all-out from the start could play right into Genk's hands.

Back big 5/1 Bet Builder at the City Ground

Click here for Nottingham Forest v Fenerbahce odds...Thursday 26 February, 20:00 kick-offLive on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 1First Leg: 3-0

Fenerbahce are unbeaten in 14 straight away games, but they've got a mountain to climb after being hammered in the first leg so there's not too much for Forest to worry about. You do wonder though if the visitors are worth backing at 5/1 to grind out a win if they keep pushing and score late on when the tie's basically done and dusted.

Forest are clearly the better side and shouldn't have any problems seeing this out, but they're a short price for a team that doesn't need to win. I can't quite pull the trigger on an away win so I've got to the stats for a Bet Builder and backed Ismail Yuksek to be fouled 2+ times as he has been in his last three games - and in five of seven Europa League games.

N'Golo Kante has given away four fouls in four games for his new side so far but should double that average in this environment, while Marco Asensio has hit the target in nine of his past 11 games and will be having a pop any chance he gets.

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