The Europa League takes center stage on Thursday with 16 games to go in UEFA’s secondary competition.
They include a tricky trip to Turkey for Eric ten Hag and Manchester United, while both Tottenham and Rangers have their share of must-win tasks.
There’s a lot to look forward to and we’ve picked our three best bets for Thursday.
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bet of the day
Ajax will beat Qarabag @ 5/4
Ajax are on a nine-match unbeaten run and will look to make it two Europa League wins from three matches when they face Azerbaijani side Qarabag.
Francesco Farioli’s side have scored 20 goals in seven games, winning five, and showed determination to oust Heracles in a seven-goal Eredivisie thriller on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Qarabag has lost both of its Europa League matches. They lost 3–0 at Spurs last month with the home side reduced to 10 players after just eight minutes, while they were ahead early against Malmo but eventually lost 2–1.
This will be their ninth European game and so far, their only win in 90 minutes has come against Gibraltarian minnows Lincoln Red Imps. They have lost five of their last six and Ajax could add to their troubles.
special of the day
Fenerbahce and Manchester United match tied 5/2
Man Utd are becoming draw specialists, with Ten Hag’s side finishing all four of their last six in all competitions.
Indeed, apart from defeating League One side Barnsley at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup, the Red Devils can only claim three wins in 10 matches this season.
Four of the next five finished level, including both Europa League games against FC Twente and Porto. Now Ten Hag takes his side to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce and former United boss Jose Mourinho.
Fener’s only home defeat this season came against league leader Galatasaray.
In August, they were denied by Aidan Zhegrova’s winner in stoppage time in a Champions League qualifier as Lille led them 2–1 in France, while the second leg went against them only after extra time.
With former Red Devil Fred and veteran Edin Dzeko in midfield, as well as Allan Saint-Maximin, the hosts have enough to worry a weakened visiting team and it could be a hat-trick of draws in this competition for Ten Hag Is.
long shot of the day
Spurs beat AZ Alkmaar 4-1 @ 14/1
Tottenham have won four of their last five games by more than a goal and should beat AZ Alkmaar by a little more than a margin.
The Lilywhites beat Qarabag 3-0 in last month’s Europa League opener, but it is one of just three clean sheets in 11 matches for Anze Postecoglou’s attack-minded side so far this season.
The AZ have lost four consecutive games since the end of September, although they have scored at least in two of them.
They should find enough space behind Tottenham’s high line to create chances and get on the scoresheet, but the Londoners have the quality to win this game with plenty of extras in the final third, especially when Postecoglou found the ball through Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke and Introduced Heung-min. The son was against Qarabag at home last month.
They beat West Ham 4-1 here on Saturday and the scoreline again is a distinct possibility.
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