Vital Week in Europe for English Clubs
This week sees the penultimate group games being played in the three European competitions. It could be good news for some English clubs but some are struggling to get through. An exciting few days lie ahead of us.
United Battling to Survive
With two games left to play in Group A, Manchester United find themselves a point adrift at the bottom. Wednesday November 29 sees them travel to third placed Galatasaray who have already beaten them at Old Trafford. Bet365 gives odds of 8/5 on United winning in Turkey.
They really do need something from this game, preferably a win. That’s particularly the case as their final group game is at home to leaders Bayern Munich.
United will hope second placed FC Copenhagen lose against Bayern on Wednesday. However, unless a good result is achieved in Turkey, United’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages may end this week.
Newcastle Struggling to Qualify
It was all going so well for Newcastle after earning four points from their first two games in Group F of the Champions League. Then came Borussia Dortmund and two defeats have left United bottom of the group.
Now they travel to much improved PSG who are scoring goals for fun. A win for United would take them above the Ligue 1 leaders but they are yet to score an away goal in this group.
A win for third-placed Milan against Dortmund (now group leaders) and defeat for United in Paris will end their European season.
Eddie Howe will hope they can regroup and at least get a point in Paris or pray that Dortmund beat Milan. It’s 19/5 at William Hill that Newcastle can beat PSG.
It’s looking good for new Premier League leaders Arsenal. They top Group B by four points and can beat Lens at home on Wednesday. BetVictor gives odds of 20/23 on the Gunners being ahead at both half and full time.
Manchester City have already qualified for the last 16 with two games remaining. They can beat RB Leipzig at home (1/3 at bet365) to clinch winning the group.
In the Europa League, West Ham United top Group A and are five points ahead of third placed Olympiakos. This Thursday sees them away at Backa Topola and they should be able to confirm their place in the knockout rounds.
A win is important though as winning the group will take them into the last 16 rather than the knockout play-off round. It’s 1/4 at bet365 that happens.
No Greek tragedy for Seagulls
It’s been an exciting first European campaign for Brighton and Hove Albion. It wasn’t looking good when they lost their first game and then went 2-0 down in Marseille. However, they battled back to draw in France and then beat Ajax home and away.
That left them in second place, a point behind Marseille (who they host in their final game) and three ahead of Thursday’s opponents, AEK who beat them at the Amex.
A win in Greece will take them into the knockout stages. Anything else would see them in trouble if they lost at home to Marseille and AEK beat Ajax in their final game. A bet on both teams to score in Greece looks a good bet and is 8/13 at William Hill.
Liverpool lost at Toulouse in their last Europa League group game but still have a two-point lead over the French side. USG are third and five points behind Liverpool with LASK six adrift. The Reds won 3-1 away against LASK and a win over them at Anfield looks very likely. You can get 40/85 at BetVictor on the Reds leading at the break and full time.
Finally, Aston Villa will be looking for revenge on Legia Warsaw. They lost 3-2 away to the Poles in their opening Europa Conference League game. Since then, Villa have won their next three games and just a point at home on Thursday will see them qualify. With their excellent home form, the 3/10 at bet365 should be taken.
