Back Thursday's Europa League treble at 6/1!
Sporting CP v Istanbul Basaksehir - 17:55
Sporting aren’t in sparkling form domestically, but they look a good price to beat Istanbul Basaksehir in this first-leg.
The Portuguese side, while struggling on the road, have won eight of their last 10 home games (losing only to Porto and Benfica, which is no disgrace), and considering this run contains three Europa League wins at the José Alvalade Stadium—including a 4-0 demolition of PSV—they’ll still feel confident.
Basaksehir have won just three of their last eight on the road, and their 4-0 away defeat to Roma in this competition suggests they’re fallible on the road in Europe.
Sporting at evens looks the bet.
Ludogorets Razgrad v Inter - 17:55
Next up, I’m backing tournament favourites Inter against Ludogrets on the road.
Inter’s away form has been superb this season—winning nine of their 12 in Serie A—and although they come into this on the back of consecutive defeats against Napoli and Lazio, the visitors still have more than enough quality to claim a first-leg victory.
Ludogrets have won just one of their last six games in all competitions, and are winless in four Europa League games – a run including a 6-0 defeat against Espanyol.
Antonio Conte’s men should return to Italy with a lead.
Bayer Leverkusen v Porto - 20:00
Finally, I have Bayer Leverkusen beating Porto at home.
The Germans are in red-hot form, having won six of their last seven in all competitions, including a thrilling 4-3 triumph over free-scoring Borussia Dortmund, and I believe they are well-equipped to beat Porto.
The visitors, while predictably dominant domestically, really struggled away from home in Europe – comfortably losing 2-0 away at Feyenoord and Rangers.
Leverkusen are stronger than both of those sides, and a home win against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League earlier in the season is evidence of this quality.
