Free betting tips: Europa League including Chelsea v BATE, Sporting v Arsenal
The Europa League continues on Thursday night with Chelsea and Arsenal aiming for victory again. We pick out our best bets.
Recommended bets
2pts Kai Havertz to score anytime in Zurich v Bayer Leverkusen at 14/5
1pt Gary Cahill to score anytime in Chelsea v BATE Borisov at 15/2
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Sporting CP v Arsenal
Group E, Estádio José Alvalade, 1755 BST, BT Sport 2
Arsenal are enjoying an excellent run of form having won their last ten games in all competitions and that should give them plenty of confidence as they travel to Portugal.
Despite a home record of five wins from five this season, Sporting find themselves as the 3/1 outsiders with Arsenal, four wins from five on the road, the even money favourites.
Unai Emery's Gunners have been pleasing on the eye alongside grabbing results, with a wonderful passing move helping them on their way to a 3-1 victory over Leicester last time out.
Despite Sporting's record at the Estádio José Alvalade, they are struggling in the Portuguese division and sit in fifth. If that were to stay the same come the end of the season, they would miss out on a spot in Europe for 2019/20.
Arsenal are more than equipped to keep their winning run going here, and they are capable of finding the net on more than one occasion. Two or more goals scored by the visiting team is available at a best price of 11/10, which looks good based on track record.
The north Londoners have hit at least three goals in their two Europa League games so far, that includes a 3-0 win away at Qarabag in their last encounter.
They have also managed to score two or more in every away game so far this season, and they should keep that trend going here.
Victory will go a long way in helping Emery's men wrap up top spot in Group E, and they do have enough about them to do just that.
Best bet: Arsenal to score over 1.5 goals at 11/10
Sporting CP v Arsenal Opta facts
- This will be the first meeting between Sporting CP and Arsenal since 1969-70, when they met in the second round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Sporting held Arsenal to a goalless draw in Lisbon, but were beaten 0-3 at Highbury.
- Arsenal have never beaten a Portuguese side away from home (D3 L3), losing each of their last three.
- Sporting have won each of their last three games in the Europa League, their best run in the competition since October 2011.
- Unai Emery has only lost one of his 20 Group Stage games in the Europa League (W11 D8), with those games coming while in charge of Valencia, Sevilla and now Arsenal.
- Six different players have scored for Arsenal in the Europa League this season, more than any other side (Aubameyang, Ozil, Guendouzi, Smith-Rowe, Sokratis and Welbeck).
Chelsea v BATE Borisov
Group L, Stamford Bridge, 2000 BST, BT Sport 2
Chelsea were left frustrated for large parts of their clash with MOL Vidi at Stamford Bridge, although they did enough to wrap up a 1-0 win over the Hungarian minnows.
They come up against BATE Borisov next, and you would expect their fortunes to be more favourable for Maurizio Sarri's side as they look to try and move six points clear the top of Group L.
One man who started in that victory of Vidi, and should start again here, is Gary Cahill, with the English centre-back seeing the majority of his game-time limited to this competition.
What has been a recurring theme for Chelsea in the Europa League, alongside winning, is a high tally of corners, with a total of 29 for them in their two group games so far.
Cahill did have an effort on goal in that victory over Vidi, and given the amount of corners they should expect to see here, he will have a few more opportunities to try and find the net.
Alongside that chance, the fact that Cahill won six aerial battles, more than any other player on the pitch, highlights his dominance when it comes to challenging for the ball.
It's worth taking into account the style of corner that the Blues take. The majority are floating balls into the edge of the six-yard box with the aim of the winning headers close to the goalkeeper.
In that situation, you would back Cahill to come out on top at least once.
Best bet: Gary Cahill to score anytime at 15/2
Chelsea v BATE Borisov Opta facts
- This will be Chelsea’s first ever meeting with Belarusian opposition.
- BATE Borisov have lost three of their four meetings with English clubs (W1) – losing 12 at home to Everton in 2009-10, and losing both meetings with Arsenal last season by an aggregate score of 2-10. All matches were in the Europa League group stages.
- Chelsea are looking to win their first three group stage games in a season in major European competition for the first time since the 2010-11 Champions League campaign.
- BATE’s win at MOL Vidi FC on matchday one ended a run of 12 away games without a win in major European competition, excluding qualifiers (D2 L10).
- Chelsea have attempted 50 shots in the Europa League this season, at least seven more than any other side. However, just 10 of these have been on target (20%), with just two finding the net (4%).
FC Zurich v Bayer Leverkusen
Group A, Letzigrund, 1755 BST
These two sides both have six points from a possible six so far, although it should be the visitors who continue their perfect start to the Europa League campaign.
Leverkusen may sit 13th in the Bundesliga standings, but they have already demonstrated that they are a side who are too strong for this group with seven goals in two games.
Zurich may have conceded none in this group, but Ludogorets and Larnaca do not pose the same level of threat that Leverkusen will and that's why their defence will be seriously tested on Thursday night.
It is also worth noting that the Swiss outfit have conceded five goals in their last two league games.
That is why there is value in backing individual goalscorers here, and Kai Havertz has been enjoying a wonderful season up to this point.
Havertz is a bit of a record-breaker for the Bundesliga outfit. When he made his first-team debut in October 2016 against Werder Bremen, he became the club's youngest ever player in the top flight of German football at the age of 17 years and 126 days.
His goal against Wolfsburg made him the club's youngest ever Bundesliga goalscorer, and he has continued to go from strength-to-strength since then.
The 19-year-old is the current leading goalscorer at the club with four goals and three assists, with his form in Europe catching the eye.
Havertz scored two in their 3-2 victory over Ludogrets, while contributing one goal and a further assist as they beat AEK Larnaca 4-2 at home.
He is a player who clearly enjoys this competition, which makes his 14/5 anytime goalscorer odds look great value as he aims to stay amongst the top scorers in the Europa League this season.
Best bet: Kai Havertz to score anytime at 14/5
FC Zurich v Bayer Leverkusen Opta facts
- FC Zurich have never won in 11 previous meetings with German opponents (D2 L9, excluding GDR), including a 0-5 home loss in their only previous encounter with Bayer Leverkusen (2007-08 UEFA Cup group stage).
- This will be Bayer Leverkusen’s first meeting with Swiss opposition since winning 5-0 at FC Zurich in the group stages of the 2007-08 UEFA Cup.
- No side has scored more Europa League goals this season than Bayer Leverkusen (7, level with Arsenal). However, Zurich are one of three teams yet to concede in the competition (also Real Betis and Chelsea).
- Bayer Leverkusen have lost just one of their last eight away games in European competition (W3 D4), and are unbeaten in their last five (W2 D3).
- Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz has been directly involved in four goals in the Europa League this season (three goals and one assist); a joint-high in the competition, alongside PAOK Salonika’s Leo Jabá.
Eintracht Frankfurt v Apollon Limassol
Group H, Commerzbank-Arena, 2000 BST
Last season's DFB Pokal winners are enjoying life back in the Europa League as they sit top of Group H with maximum points.
Frankfurt will fancy their chances of making it three wins from three in Europe this season as they welcome an Apollon side who sit bottom with one point so far.
The Bundesliga outfit have also won their last three in the league and sit just outside the top six by two points. They are a side who have demonstrated that they know where the net is having scored 13 goals in those games.
Limassol have won five from five in the Cypriot first division, although as their form in Europe shows, the calibre of opponent is not anywhere near what they can expect to face here.
They should leave here empty-handed in a game where they might not be as competitive as hoped. Frankfurt have 13 goals in four home games this season, the second-highest of any German top-flight side.
Eintracht also beat Lazio 4-1 in their only home game of this competition, while wrapping up a 2-1 victory away at European regulars Marseille in the opener.
The general price of 1/2 highlights how a home win is expected here, but there is value in backing plenty of Frankfurt goals given their track record in recent weeks.
Best bet: Eintracht Frankfurt to score over 2.5 goals at 13/8
Eintracht Frankfurt v Apollon Limassol Opta facts
- Eintracht Frankfurt have won both of their previous meetings with Cypriot opponents, beating APOEL Nicosia 3-0 away and 2-0 at home in the 2013-14 Europa League group stages.
- Apollon Limassol have lost all three of their meetings with German opponents in all competitions, by an aggregate score of 0-9.
- Eintracht Frankfurt have lost only one of their 10 previous matches in the Europa League (W7 D2), winning both of their games so far this campaign.
- Apollon Limassol have won just one of their last 18 Europa League matches (D5 L12), failing to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 17.
- Emilio Zelaya has scored three of Apollon Limassol’s last four Europa League goals, with all of these strikes coming in or later than the 87th minute.
Odds correct as of 1830 BST on 23/10/18
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