Expect Genk to endure a Hungarian video nasty

Our Europa League man Kevin Hatchard been examining the Matchday Four fixtures, and he thinks Hungarian outfit Videoton can spring another surprise.

Videoton vs Genk, Thu 18:00 BST

 

Match Odds: Videoton 2.68, Genk 2.8, the draw 3.5

 

Hungarian outfit Videoton have been one of the surprise packages of the group stage. On the road their inexperience at this level has been ruthlessly exposed (they  lost 3-0 in Genk and 1-0 in Basel), but at their Sostoi Stadion they are a different outfit. Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa has masterminded home wins against Sporting  Lisbon and FC Basel, and Videoton are unbeaten in their last ten European home games.

 

Group leaders Genk know a win would see them progress, but they have never won an away game in the group stage of a major European competition. Genk were also shaken  by the weekend's lamentable 3-1 defeat at Cercle Brugge, who had been bottom of the Belgian league.

 

With a trip to Sporting up next, Videoton know they realistically must win this game to progress, and I fancy them to do it. Videoton are fast starters (all five of  their group stage goals have come in the first half), so you could back them to win and then cash out if they take an early lead.

 

Recommended Bet:

Back Videoton to win at 2.68

 

Marseille vs Fenerbahce, Thu 20:05 BST

 

Match Odds: Marseille 1.93, Fenerbahce 4.6, the draw 3.55

 

After winning just one of their four group games, it's crunch time for Marseille. Anything less than a home win against group leaders Fenerbahce would seriously dent  their chances of reaching the knockout phase.

 

Elie Baup's men are on a poor run of form, with just one victory in their last eight matches, a sequence that has included four defeats. L'OM can at least rely on  their goalscoring prowess at the Stade Velodrome - the last three games there have been 2-2 draws, and Marseille have only drawn a blank in one of their nine home  games.

 

Fenerbahce know a point will be enough to progress, and they are also scoring freely. Fener have netted at least once in each of their last nine matches, and have won  both Europa League away games.

 

Marseille's recent form makes the 1.93 on offer for the home win a bit suspect, but with both teams scoring goals, I think Over 2.5 Goals is overpriced at 2.04.

 

Recommended Bet:

Back Over 2.5 Goals at 2.04

 

Newcastle vs Maritimo, Thu 20:05 BST, Live on ESPN

 

Match Odds: Newcastle 1.44, Maritimo 9.2, the draw 4.6

 

Group D table-toppers Newcastle are struggling badly in the Premier League, and have lost their last two home games to West Ham and Swansea. Magpies boss Alan Pardew  says his side have been humbled by those defeats, and he's vowed to put things right against Maritimo.

 

That declaration of determination is bad news for the men from Madeira, who need a win to have any chance of reaching the last 32. Maritimo have already lost 1-0 in  Bordeaux and 2-0 at Club Brugge, and even with Newcastle misfiring it's tough to see them getting the result they need.

 

At the heart of Maritimo's problems is their lack of firepower - they have failed to score in eight of their 17 matches this season (including three of the last four),  and they have scored more than once on just one occasion. Newcastle have kept clean sheets in three of their four Europa League group games (including a 0-0 draw at  Maritimo), and they are 2.04 to record another shut-out.

 

Recommended Bet:

Back Newcastle to keep a clean sheet at 2.04

 

Hannover vs FC Twente, Thu 18:00, Live on ESPN

 

Match Odds: Hannover 2.22, Twente 3.5, the draw 3.7

 

Hannover's games continue to feature boatloads of goals. Seven of their eight Europa League games have featured Over 2.5 Goals, and that bet has paid out in 17 of  their 22 matches in all competitions. Hannover's defence is suspect (although keeper Ron-Robert Zieler is excellent), but they have an array of attacking talent  including Jan Schlaudraff, Mohammed Abdellaoue, Mame Biram Diouf and Didier Ya Konan. When they played Twente in Enschede, the 96ers came back from 2-0 down to draw 2 -2.

 

Twente realistically need a win to have any chance of progressing, and that will leave them open to Hannover's lightning-fast counter-attacks. Twente's goals have  dried up recently, which is why I would lean towards backing Over 2.5 Goals at 1.78 rather than Over 3.5 Goals at 2.88.

 

Recommended Bet:

Back Over 2.5 Goals at 1.78

 

Bet HERE !

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