Europa League Betting: Gladbach and Zurich to generate goals

Gladbach's Lucien Favre can't believe how many goals his team have scored

The Europa League group stage is coming to a close, and Kevin Hatchard's been trawling the fixtures for his best bets...

Borussia Monchengladbach v FC Zurich
Thursday December 11, 18:00
Live on BT Sport 2

Group A has been fascinating, and even though Borussia Monchengladbach are sitting in top spot, they could still be eliminated if they lose their final game at home to FC Zurich. The Swiss outfit kept alive their qualification hopes on Matchday Five, as they beat the group's whipping boys Apollon Limassol 3-1.

After a wobbly spell in the Bundesliga, Gladbach steadied the ship at the weekend with a 3-2 victory against Hertha Berlin. They've scored freely throughout their Europa League campaign, with 21 goals netted in seven games. Four of those matches have featured four goals or more, and it's worth noting that an Over 3.5 Goals bet has paid out in three of The Foals' last five outings in all competitions.

Zurich's games also feature plenty of goals. Backing First Half Over 1.5 Goals has paid out in all five of their Europa League group games, and four of those matches have featured at least four goals.

This is a straight shootout between two sides who have firepower, but haven't defended well in recent weeks. If Zurich score first it could become a chaotic tear-up. If Gladbach net first, they can employ their lightning counter-attacks. There should be plenty of entertainment either way.

Recommended Bet
Back Over 3.5 Goals at 2.6213/8

Red Bull Salzburg v Astra Giurgiu
Thursday December 11, 18:00

Red Bull Salzburg's impressive 3-1 win at Celtic secured top spot in their group, and they can relax against an Astra Giurgiu side that cannot qualify for the last 32. A relaxed Red Bull Salzburg is a dangerous beast, as they have plenty of firepower at their disposal. They have carved out an eight-point lead at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga, and they'll be keen to maintain their momentum after what was a sticky start to the campaign under new coach Adi Hutter.

Astra have domestic priorities to concentrate on, and their away form won't give their fans much hope. The Romanian outfit haven't won any of their last eight road matches in all competitions, and in the Europa League they lost 2-1 at Celtic and 5-1 at Dinamo Zagreb.

I expect Salzburg to win well, and as they are dominating their domestic league, they have no need to rest players. On that basis, it's definitely worth sticking half a point each on Alan and Jonathan Soriano in the First Goalscorer market. Alan scored a hat-trick in the weekend's 4-2 win at Austria Vienna, and he also netted a brace at Celtic Park. Soriano has 24 goals in all competitions, including five strikes in the Europa League. If they're in the starting line-up, get on.

Recommended Bets
Back Red Bull Salzburg -1.5 & -2.0 on the Asian Handicap at 1.981/1
Back Alan 3.814/5 and Jonathan Soriano 3.613/5 in the First Goalscorer market (half a point each, Sportsbook Product, keep an eye on team news)

Young Boys v Sparta Prague
Thursday December 11, 20:05

With Napoli expected to beat Group I no-hopers Slovan Bratislava, this is surely a straight fight for second spot. Sparta are a point ahead of Young Boys, but the Swiss side have home advantage.

Young Boys are on a roll, having won their last five games in all competitions, and in the Europa League they have won both home matches against Napoli (2-0) and Slovan Bratislava (5-0). If you stretch back into their previous Europa League campaign in 2012, Young Boys have actually won their last six home matches in the competition.

Given that fine record in front of their own fans, the hosts look attractively priced at 2.6813/8. Young Boys were soundly beaten 3-1 in Prague, but Sparta's recent away record in Europe is poor (no away win in UCL since 2010, one win in nine in UEL), and top scorer David Lafata is struggling with a back injury.

Recommended Bet
Back Young Boys to win at 2.6813/8

Sevilla v Rijeka
Thursday December 11, 20:05
Live on BT Sport 2

The Europa League holders Sevilla still have work to do to make the knockout phase of this year's competition. A 2-0 defeat at Feyenoord on Matchday Five secured progress for the Dutch, so Unai Emery's men must now avoid defeat against Croatian outfit Rijeka.

Sevilla have plenty of reasons to be confident they can get the job done. They have won their last four Europa League games at the Sanchez Pizjuan, and all of those victories were by a margin of two goals or bigger. The Andalusians are also unbeaten at home this season, and have won eight of their ten games on home soil.

Sevilla have also responded well to that reverse in Rotterdam. They bashed Granada 5-1 in La Liga, beat Sabadell by the same scoreline in the Copa del Rey, and at the weekend they ground out a 1-0 league win at Rayo Vallecano.

Rijeka are gaining plenty of European experience and have done well to still be in contention, but although star striker Andrej Kramaric is an outstanding talent, there's little else for Sevilla to fear. Rijeka have lost both of their group-stage away games 2-0 at Feyenoord and Standard Liege, and I'm expecting a similar result in this one.

Recommended Bet
Back Sevilla -1.5 on the Asian Handicap at 1.875/6

2014/15 Europa League P/L (1pt per bet)

Points Staked: 44

Points Returned: 51.38

P/L: +7.38 points