Seeley’s Selections – Thursday’s Europa League

There are three British teams in European action on Thursday night in the Europa League and I think it’s going to be a good evening for all our sides.

Lille v Everton, Thursday 6pm
The first match is probably the trickiest one to call; it’s the clash between Everton and Lille in Northern France.

Boylesports can’t really split the two teams making the home side slight favourites at 7/5 with Roberto Martinez’ men available at 2/1. You know my views when bookies can’t split sides; back the draw at usually the biggest price of the three outcomes and that’s exactly what you have to do in this clash with Boylesports’ 11/5.

The similarities between these two are incredible. Everton’s 3-0 win against Aston Villa in the Premier League was their first win in six matches and only their second clean sheet of the season. Lille have only one win in their last seven matches and have conceded five in their last two games. Only basement boys QPR have a worse defensive record than Everton and both teams have scored in eight of their 11 games this season.

Thats the best bet in this one – Both Teams to Score which is obvious, but not with the Boylesports compilers who have chalked it up at 5/6. In Lille’s two Europa League games this season, both have ended in 1-1 draws which looks a reasonable wager at a much tastier 19/4 with Boylesports.

A draw would suit both sides and keep them both firmly in the driving seat to make the competitions knock-outs stages and in a game where the bookies can’t split the two sides, the draw is ALWAYS the way to bet.

Seeley’s Selections:
Draw @ 11/5
Correct Score: 1-1 @ 19/4

Celtic v Astra Giurgiu, Thursday 8.05pm
There is no team in Europe who have cost me more readies than Celtic over the years.
I honestly can NEVER get them right. Well I fancy them strong on Thursday to win and win well in their Europa League clash at Celtic Park against Astra Giurgiu. Sorry Celtic fans! It’s taken new Celtic coach Ronny Delia a bit of time but the Bhoys have found a bit of form and this could be very one-sided on Thursday.

The Scottish champions have won three of their last four matches and Saturday’s 5-0 win at Ross County was their best performance of the season so far and and the 4/6 available on them with Boylesports to beat the Romanians is the best bet of the evening. In their last European appearance they won 1-0 at home to Dynamo Zagreb, a team who smashed Astra when they met 5-1.

A win for Celtic would pretty much assure a place in the knock-out stages and I think they will cruise to a convincing one. I really like Celtic to win by more than one goal and the 9/5 on them -1 has to be taken with Boylesports.

Astra have already been on the back of a few heavy defeats this season and another looks on the cards. Celtic to win to nil is 17/10 with Boylesports which I wouldn’t put anybody off, but I’d rather take them to win by 3-0 and 4-0 scorelines which are available at 11/1 and 22/1 respectively.

Celtic striker Anthony Stokes is back in the goals after a brace at the weekend and in a game where I fancy a few for the home side the 9/2 on him to grab the opener is worth taking.

Seeley’s Selections:
Celtic to win @ 4/6
Anthony Stokes First Goalscorer @ 9/2

Tottenham v Asteras Tripoli, Thursday 8.05pm
Spurs are the shortest price of all the British teams in Europa Cup action at odds of just 3/10 with Boylesports to beat Asteras Tripoli at White Hart Lane on Thursday night. I fully expect Tottenham to win this and win it well .

I can’t get too heavily involved in the short price on them to win the game but the 11/5 on them -2 on the handicap with Boylesports is worth getting involved with.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side will need to win by more than two goals for us to collect and in their four home wins this season you would have collected twice.

European nights at White Hart Lane are always special occasions and the team usually performs. In their last seven Europa Cup matches they have won five by two goals or more. Greek sides are never the best of travellers and Asteras are one of the worst in Greece. I really can see this being a very easy night for Tottenham and I fancy them to put this to bed early and cruise through by a 3-0 margin which is available at 13/2 with Boylesports.

They beat AEL Limassol by that scoreline in their only home European match this season and won two group games last term by the same scoreline as well.

Seeley’s Selections:
Tottenham -2 @ 11/5
Tottenham to win 3-0 @ 13/2

B Lucky!