EUROPA LEAGUE MD1 TIPS: FOREST & CELTIC FACE TRICKY TRIPS
The Europa League returns for the 2025/26 season as 36 teams enter the league phase of the competition looking for European glory and, with it, a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Porto and Feyenoord are among the former champions looking to reclaim their crown while Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Rangers and Celtic fly the flag for British interests.
Here, we have scanned the fixture list and compiled three best bets for Matchday 1 of the Europa League…
Tip 1 – Real Betis to beat Nottingham Forest @ 13/10
A rather turbulent start to the season has seen Nuno Espirito Santo replaced as Forest manager by Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian, of course, led Spurs to the Europa League title last term, but all is not well at the City Ground.
They’ve won only once this season, a 3-1 win over Brentford on the opening day, and threw away a two-goal lead at Championship side Swansea City in the EFL Cup.
Betis sit sixth in La Liga with just one defeat so far and lost only three games domestically at home last term. Postecoglou has history here too – his first Europa League tie in charge of Celtic was on this ground and his side slipped to a 4-3 defeat despite taking a two-goal lead.
He won’t be relishing his return to last season’s Conference League finalists and the 13/10 for a home win here could provide some value.
Tip 2 – Under 2.5 goals in Nice vs Roma@ 19/20
Roma’s Serie A season has seen their opening four games contain just four goals – three 1-0 wins and a 1-0 defeat to Torino.
They travel to Nice on Tuesday and it’s fair to say a tight affair is expected.
Both of the French club’s home games in Ligue 1 so far have had a 1-0 scoreline and their Champions League qualifier, which they lost to Benfica, also saw under 2.5 goals land in both legs.
Furthermore, of Roma’s eight league phase games in the Europa League last season, just two had three goals or more.
The Stade de Nice could be about to host a cagey game – 19/20 for under 2.5 goals here seems to make big sense.
Tip 3 – Celtic-Red Star Belgrade draw & under 2.5 goals @ 17/5
Celtic have made an unbeaten start to their domestic campaign and kick off their Europa League adventure with a trip to Belgrade.
It is a difficult trip to the Serbian capital for Brendan Rodgers and co, and they will be determined to bounce back from the dismal Champions League qualifier, which saw them eliminated on penalties by Kairat Almaty.
Both legs of that tie finished goalless, while three of the Hoops’ five Scottish Premiership matches so far have had under 2.5 goals. A point would mark a solid return.
While the hosts have a 100% league record this season, they have shown vulnerability at home in Europe, losing to Pafos and drawing with Lech Poznan in the qualifying rounds.
If Celtic can keep it tight, this one could be uneventful. And that suits them.
We like the 17/5 for a draw with under 2.5 goals.
Fancy all our Europa League Matchday 1 shouts to land? You can combine all three tips into a 17/1 accumulator. Add it to your betslip by clicking here.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
