UEFA Europa League Value Bets - 06/03/25
- JN Value Betting
- Mar 5
- 3 min read
BEST BETS:
FCSB VS LYON:
GEORGES MIKAUTADZE - TO HAVE 1+ SHOT ON TARGET - 4/6 (CORAL) - 1.5PTS
FENERBAHCE VS RANGERS:
YOUSSEF EN-NESYRI - TO SCORE ANYTIME - 11/8 (SKY BET) - 1PT
AJAX VS EINTRACHT FRANKFURT:
KENNETH TAYLOR - TO HAVE 1+ SHOT ON TARGET - 5/4 (BETWAY) - 1PT
Britain's three representatives in the Europa League resume their campaign on Thursday evening, after earning themselves automatic qualification into the Last 16. Both Tottenham and Manchester United will be grateful for having avoided an extra two matches given the mounting injury issues within their squads. However, finishing in the top eight spaces has not aided them in avoiding potential banana skins in the draw.
FCSB VS LYON
Romanian Champions Steaua Bucharest have made it into the Last 16 of European competition for the first time in twelve years. They have certainly impressed earned their right to have progressed this far, winning six of their ten matches, and drawing two - only tasting defeat against Man United and Rangers. They welcome a Lyon side to Romania who secured their place in this stage with a sixth placed finish in the League Phase. However, they'll have to negotiate a tricky first leg here against a FCSB side who have only lost once in their last thirteen games.
A recall to the starting lineup for Georges Mikautadze is likely in this one, with the Georgian attacker having 10 goals to his name in just 1,430 minutes this season. Despite it being a lower priced selection, I feel that there is still some value to be had in backing Mikautadze to register a shot on target here. This selection has landed in twelve of his fourteen starts this season, and he is averaging 1.52 shots on target per 90 for the campaign. This should leave him being the lowest priced of the Lyon players in the market. However, that is not the case, and the 4/6 still represents value in comparison to others in the market.
FENERBAHCE VS RANGERS
Drama is never far away when Jose Mourinho is involved, and that has proved correct again this week with the Portugeuese manager reportedly suing rival club Galatasaray following alleged racism from Mourinho in the recent derby between the sides. He'll have to be focused here as his side take on Rangers for a place in the Quarter-Finals, and it's unlikely that Mourinho will let this derail his side, given his record in European competition. Rangers come into this one in poor form, which has carried on since the dismissal of Philippe Clement, they've lost three of their last five, and this is the only competition where they have the chance of bringing home some silverware.
Rangers will need to attempt to stay in the tie in Istanbul, with Fenerbache in red hot form at home. The Turkish side have scored three goals in each of their last six home games, and should they do so here, they could put the tie to bed before it heads to Ibrox next Thursday. I am keen to once again get Youssef En-Nesyri onside in this one, the Moroccan striker has scored in thirteen of his last sixteen matches - scoring nineteen goals in those matches. That has taken his total to 26 goals this season, and he is averaging a goal every 91 minutes. That makes the 11/8 for him to score generous, especially against a Rangers side who conceded seventeen goals in their last nine matches.
AJAX VS EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
Ajax have a glittering record in European competition, and will be desperate to get their names back among Europe's elite. They've opened up an eight point lead at the top of the Eredivisie, and winning the league title will secure them a place in the League Phase of the Champions League next season. They'll be keen to leave their mark on this competition beforehand, and must get a positive result to take to Frankfurt next week. Following a chaotic 3-3 draw with Viktoria Plzen in their first home fixture, Eintracht Frankfurt won their final three home League Phase matches without conceding a goal. They'll look to take advantage of an Ajax side who were fortuitous to progress past Union Saint-Gilloise in the previous round, having gone down to ten men early in the second leg.
Kenneth Taylor has five Europa League goals to his name for Ajax this season, and the midfielder is the Dutch side's top scorer in all competitions, it's likely that they'll rely on him once again given their injury issues in attacking areas. I was surprised to see the 5/4 on offer for him to register a shot on target here, Taylor has had a shot on target in twelve of his last fourteen starts, and against a Frankfurt side who are conceding 5.40 shots on target per game this season, I can see this run continuing.
