EUROPA LEAGUE MD4 TIPS: TOUGH NIGHT FOR RANGERS AS TABLE TAKES SHAPE
It’s the fourth round of fixtures in the Europa League, and the British representatives face some tough tests as the competition heats up.
Rangers are bottom of the pile and desperately need something at home against Roma, while their Glasgow rivals Celtic head to Midtjylland.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa host Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Nottingham Forest will hope to build on a win over Porto with a positive result at Sturm Graz.
Their games are part of a packed fixture list, and we’ve got tips for each on Matchday 4… are you ready?
Tip 1 – Roma to beat Rangers & under 2.5 goals @ 13/5
A low-scoring affair is surely on the cards at Ibrox.
Rangers meet Roma in a clash of tight defences but less-than-potent attacks. The Gers have just 12 goals in 10 league games, while Roma are even more frugal – just 10 scored in their 10. Giallorossi have, though, conceded just five goals in Serie A, with Rangers conceding just a goal a game.
The Europa League has been little different, and with just three goals scored between them, the under 2.5 goals market stands out here. Roma have won four Serie A games 1-0 so far and have yet to score more than one in any competition.
Danny Rohl’s men have won both Scottish Premiership matches under the new boss, but lost 3-0 to Brann and also to Celtic in the League Cup on Sunday.
Roma will fancy their chances of leaving Glasgow with three points, condemning the hosts to another week in last place.
Tip 2 – Aston Villa to beat Maccabi Tel Aviv & Porto to beat Utrecht @ 57/50
Aston Villa have two wins from three in the Europa League and, despite a Premier League defeat against Liverpool on Saturday, have turned around a poor start to their season.
They face Maccabi Tel Aviv at Villa Park, looking to bounce back from a disappointing result against Go Ahead Eagles on Matchday 3 and strengthen their push for automatic progression from the league phase.
The visitors are yet to win in the Europa League, and Villa have yet to lose at home in Europe, nor did they in last season’s Champions League – the ideal chance for the Villans to get back to winning ways.
Porto, meanwhile, have been virtually flawless this season.
The only real blip came last time out in the Europa League, losing at Nottingham Forest, while in the Primera Liga they have failed to win only once – a 0-0 draw at home to Benfica.
Their latest European assignment takes them to Utrecht – who are winless, goalless and pointless. Porto will be relishing the challenge to bounce back from the defeat to Forest and leap into the top eight of the table.
Tip 3 – Midtjylland - Celtic draw @ 27/10
A chaotic week for Celtic ultimately ended with two wins from two. A comfortable victory over Falkirk and a League Cup semi-final win over Rangers gave Martin O’Neil (yes, that’s right) a winning start in his interim return to Parkhead.
O’Neil takes the Hoops to Denmark to face top-of-the-table Midtjylland. The Danes have won three from three in the Europa League and represent a stern test for Celtic.
Recent wins indicate that two consecutive losses are behind them and a win last time out in this competition over Sturm Graz has given Celtic four points from their three games and a real chance of qualification.
If Celtic can keep it tight, though, they can return to Glasgow with a share of the spoils, and the 27/10 is appealing as O’Neil continues his unbeaten record.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
