Europa League and Europa Conference League Acca Tips: European Thursdays Are Back

Despite a stellar selection of Champions League games, the Europa League and the Europa Conference League look set to provide excellent entertainment.

Sevilla and West Ham were the two victors last time out, with many teams across the continent now fancying their chances of taking home the big prize themselves. Read below for Matthew O’Regan’s 6.73 odds acca fancies for the opening group stage games.

• Union Saint Gilloise vs Toulouse: Toulouse Double Chance
• Ajax vs Marseille: Marseille Draw No Bet
• Zrinjski Mostar vs AZ Alkmaar: Win to come EZ for AZ

Acca odds: 6.73

Odds via bet365 as at 16:00 Monday 18th September, 2023.

Union Saint Gilloise vs Toulouse: Les Violets have Nothing Toulouse

Europa League, Thursday 21st September, 17:45

With the dangerous Liverpool in their group, both teams know that this opening game is a big chance to get an early advantage over each other to kick off the campaign.

Toulouse have had a historic rise to reach the Europa League. Sitting in Ligue 2 just two seasons ago, they won the league and in the next season, shocked the French world when they won their first-ever Coupe de France with a 5-1 win over Nantes in the final to secure qualification for the tournament.

They haven’t started the season as well as they may have hoped. However, Toulouse have managed some impressive draws against both PSG and Marseille at home.

As for Union St-Gilloise, it was a fairy-tale campaign for them in this competition last year, reaching the quarterfinals before losing out to Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen. Since then, however, in the league, they have struggled to look the same.

They lost their main striker, Victor Boniface, for over £15 million and have failed to win in their last three games, including a shock 4-0 loss to Mechelen. They will be struggling for confidence, and Toulouse will see a great chance to capitalise.

With Toulouse showing some promise to start the season in the league, they have enough about them to get a draw or all three points in this game.

• Selection: Toulouse Double Chance
• Best Odds: 1.880
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 7/10

Ajax vs Marseille: Continuing Ajax Woes

Europa League, Thursday 21st September, 20:00

On paper, many would think that being the European powerhouse they once were, Ajax would have a great chance at winning the Europa League this season, especially considering they usually find themselves in the knockout stages of the Champions League most years. However, from the way the season has begun for both teams, Marseille are by far the ones to be coming into this game full of confidence.

Ajax’s summer saw them lose some of their biggest players in Jurrien Timber, Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez, and Calvin Bassey, and they have struggled to get going this season after losing them, sitting in 12th place with just one win in the first four games, leaving question marks about manager Maurice Steijn after just a handful of games.

Marseille, on the other hand, had a window that left many of their fans excited, bringing in the likes of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, and more. And the start of the season has shown some great promise, with Les Phocéens sitting in 3rd place.

However, they heartbreakingly crashed out of the Champions League qualifying stage on penalties, and they will be keen to make up for it in this first game. It is always tough to go to Ajax; however, after the start they have had and Ajax’s struggles, they can certainly pounce and come away with all three points.

• Selection: Marseille Draw No Bet
• Best Odds: 1.98
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 7/10

Zrinjski Mostar vs AZ Alkmaar: Win to come EZ for AZ

Europa Conference League, Thursday 21st September 17:45

It’s into the Conference League for this one, and the Netherlands side AZ takes on the back-to-back champions of Bosnia.

It is a great moment for Zrinjski, becoming the first-ever Bosnian side to qualify for the group stages of a European competition. But, unfortunately, they come up against one of the early favourites in the tournament, AZ Alkmaar.

A perfect start in the league for the Dutch side sees them in second place, and it has been Vangelis Pavlidis leading the way with six goals in his first four games, a player whose market value is worth more than the Zrinjski side put together.

AZ will be full of confidence and keen to make sure that the Bosnian fairy tale comes to a halt in the opening fixture in order to pick up three early points in the group.

I can see AZ just having too much ability over the Bosnian Champions in this one and coming out with a comfortable win.

• Selection: AZ to Win
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10 (TRACKED BET)

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