Home and Away: Magpies looking for a miracle following first leg defeat in Portugal

 

Jonno Turner looks to European action as he aims to pick two winners from tonight's Europa League ties..

 

We're focussing on Europa League action for our two picks today - and for our first selection, we're off to Italy, where Lazio host Fenerbahce, looking to reverse a 2-0 defeat from their first leg tie in Turkey last week.

 

Vladimir Petkovic's side will be disappointed with that result, and have left themselves with it all to do if they are to get their qualification hopes back on track.

 

But their form at the Stadio Olimpico is good, and they will take some comfort from a recent run which has seen them lose just two from 21 in front of their own fans.

 

Furthermore, the Biancocelesti are unbeaten in half a dozen Europa League outings on their own patch - and four clean sheets in that time shows that they are well capable of holding out their continental guests when necessary.

 

Two wins on the bounce ahead of this clash will have boosed confidence in Rome - and the hosts will know that an early goal would change the whole balance of this tie.

 

Visitors Fenerbahce are particularly strong on their own patch, having remained unbeaten in 54 of their last 57 domestic ties in Istanbul - and they will be delighted that they managed to make the most of home advantage last week.

 

The tie has swung strongly in the favour of the Turkish side, but I reckon that there is plenty more drama left in this clash, and just four clean sheets from 10 suggests that Aykut Kocaman's side are likely to concede if put under excessive pressure.

 

With both sides having struggled to get a grip on the first leg clash, the game changed when Ogenyi Onazi was dismissed for the Italians - and Fener snatched two late goals - but this one was a lot tighter than the result suggests.

 

And with his side trailing Super Lig leaders Galatasaray by just four points, with a gruelling domestic run-in remaining, Kocaman could look to rest a couple of players for the return clash - which would leave the Turks wide open to a defeat here.

 

Bet 1: Lazio (HOME) @ 1.9

 

Switching out attentions to the Newcastle now, as they face Benfica at St James' Park, looking to overturn a 3-1 deficit secured in the first leg.

 

Alan Pardew's side took the lead in Portugal - but that happiness was short lived, and they soon suffered at the hands of Benfica's incredible attacking quality.

 

And Jorge Jesus' side will be full of confidence going into the return fixture, having remained unbeaten in their last 19 outings away from the Estadio da Luz.

 

Five clean sheets from their last six on the road shows just how difficult it will be for the Toon to get any respite from this tie, and having beaten Bayer Leverkusen and Bordeaux in their last two Europa League games outside Portugal, the Eagles will be desperate to maintain that impressive form here.

 

Saying that, Newcastle will go into this clash with a glimmer of hope, having notched a goal in the first leg - and six unbeaten at St James' indicates that they are becoming increasingly hard to beat in front of their own fans.

 

But three goals conceded in their last four - in games against Southampton and Stoke City - shows that the Magpies defence is still suffering with those all too familiar weaknesses, and that could cost them dearly against such attacking opposition.

 

Bet 2: Benfica (AWAY) @ 2.6

 

Bet HERE

Viewed 567 times