EUROPA LEAGUE MD2 TIPS: FOREST THE FANCY FOR MIDWEEK MAGIC
The second week of the Europa League has thrown up some interesting ties for the British clubs as Aston Villa, Rangers and Nottingham Forest hunt for much-needed wins.
Their games are part of a packed fixture list, and we have scanned that list and compiled three of the best bets for Matchday 2…
Tip 1 – Sturm Graz to beat Rangers @ 13/10
A last-gasp winner gave Russell Martin his first league success after six attempts against Livingston on Sunday – anything else would have been unthinkable.
Rangers face a Sturm Graz side just two points off the top of the Austrian Bundesliga with a game in hand. Both of these sides suffered defeat on Matchday 1: Sturm at Midtjylland and 10-man Rangers at home to Genk.
Both of the Austrians’ Champions League wins last season came at home and, though the Gers had some impressive wins on the road in Europe last season, they look like a side devoid of direction this time round.
Their five goals scored in six league games is the joint-second fewest in the Scottish top tier.
Despite having lost twice at the Liebenauer Stadium already this campaign, the home side will be targeting three points here.
Rangers have already lost at Viktoria Plzen and heavily away to Club Brugge in a failed Champions League qualifying campaign, so the smart money could be on the 13/10 for Sturm Graz to dump even more misery on their beleaguered head coach here.
Tip 2 – Nottingham Forest to beat Midtjylland & Igor Jesus to score @ 8/5
European football returns to the City Ground for the first time since 1995.
Forest are yet to win under Ange Postecoglou but the draw at Real Betis last week represented a solid start to their Europa League campaign.
Their opponents here, Midtjylland, got off to a winning start against Sturm Graz but this one is a good opportunity for the Tricky Trees.
Midtjylland sit second in the Danish Superliga with just one defeat but haven’t won on English soil since they beat Manchester City in 2008.
Forest had 22 shots and seven corners without scoring against Sunderland on Saturday and will be looking for Igor Jesus to fire.
The Brazilian is yet to get off the mark in the Premier League but got both goals in the draw at Betis and bagged another brace in the EFL Cup at Swansea.
It’s 8/5 for him to score and Forest to win here – a bet which holds value and a result that could be crucial for Postecolgou.
Tip 3 – Feyenoord-Aston Villa draw @ 5/2
Having failed to score in their opening four games of the season, Aston Villa enjoyed a narrow win over Bologna last Thursday, which was followed by a first league win against Fulham.
Robin van Persie’s Feyenoord are unbeaten in the league and have yet to concede at De Kuip.
They did lose to Braga last week in this competition, though, and despite their early-season issues Villa have lost just once away from home.
They have also drawn three of their six league games and, with Ollie Watkins off the mark for the season, they will feel they can get something here.
The draw, at 5/2, would be a good one and would make for a decent start to their third European campaign in a row.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
