Home and Away: Visitors to Hammar hosts as they look to move into pole position

 

Jonno Turner looks at action in Sweden and the Europa League this evening...

 

We're off to Sweden for our first pick of the day - as in-form Assyriska travel to Hammarby, looking to secure their fourth win on the bounce.

 

Valentic Azrudin's side go into this clash sitting second in the Superettan, and just one loss from their last 10 league outings shows that they are on a real run of  form at the moment.

 

Five unbeaten from six away from the Sodertalje Fotbollsarena shows that the visitors are more than capable of getting something from this encounter - and, seven goals  scored, with three clean sheets on the bounce, shows just how dominant the away side have been of late. Hosts Hammarby have struggled to get going this campaign, and  have won just one of their last half a dozen league games ahead of this one.

 

A 1-0 loss at Falkenburg last time out will have knocked confidence down at the Soderstadion, and that leaves Gregg Berhalter's side sitting eighth in the table.

 

The Bajen have not kept a clean sheet in three league outings, and that suggests that their guests could notch one or two here.

 

I fancy the away side to take maximum points in this encounter, at cracking value.

 

Bet 1: Assyriska (AWAY) @ 3.5

 

Back to more familiar climes now, as Chelsea host Basel at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of their Europa League semi final.

 

The Blues take a 2-1 lead into this clash, and that puts them in a stellar position to book their place in the last two of this competition - as long as they can  maintain the impressive form they have shown in recent weeks on their own patch.

 

Rafa Benitez' side have won 10 of their last 13 in front of their own fans, drawing two and losing one, and will be confident of holding out their Swiss opponents in  this clash.

 

Murat Yakin's side travel to London in need of 'a miracle' if they are to reverse their hosts advantage (his words, not mine) - and three without a win for the Swiss  Super League leaders suggests that they may have hit a bad patch at just the wrong time.

 

The St Jakob-Park club will be keen to arrest that slump this evening - but will need two goals in order to keep themselves in touch with qualification.

 

At times in the first leg, the Swiss side dominated their opponents, but couldn't make the pressure tell - and Yakin will be rueing those missed chances now.

 

Basel have impressed many with their European performances so far this campaign, but I think that this may be a step too far for them - and my money's on Chelsea to  weigh in with a win here, booking their place in the final of this competition.

 

Bet 2: Chelsea (HOME) @ 1.56

 

Bet HERE

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