All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Wolves vs Espanyol – Match Preview

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Wolves vs Espanyol
Thursday 20th February 2020
UEFA Europa League, Molineux.

Live on BT Sport ESPN – Kick-Off: 20:00 GMT.

Wolves return to Europa League action this week when they welcome Espanyol to Molineux on Thursday night.

Having come back from a much-needed winter break, Wolves played out a 0-0 draw with Leicester City at Molineux on Friday evening. Nuno Espirito-Santo’s side have played more football this season than any other Premier League team, but have had almost a week in preparation ahead of this fixture.

Espanyol haven’t quite had that luxury and have been playing week in week out in Spain’s La Liga, where they currently sit rock bottom. Despite their standing, the Spanish side have lost only one of their last four, winning one and drawing two. Abelardo Fernandez’s side finished top of Group H in the Europa League, where they lost only once.

Wolves finished second in Group K behind Portuguese side Braga. They lost only one of their six group matches, winning four and drawing the other. The defeat to Braga on the opening group night had ramifications on their standing in Group K, as had they not lost, they would have finished top of the pile.

Diogo Jota struck a hat-trick in Wolves’ last Europa league encounter, the 4-0 win over Besiktas at Molinuex. The Portuguese is priced at 7/1 to open the scoring on Thursday night on SkyBet.

Thursday night will be the first time these two sides have ever faced one another in any competition.

Espanyol ended the group stage unbeaten on the road, and picked up seven points from a possible nine away from home. Wolves’ only defeat in the group stages came on home soil, where they lost 1-0 to Brage. SkyBet are offering odds of an away win at 19/4.

For the first time in the history of the Europa League VAR will be implemented for the last 32, and will continue until the end of the competition.

Wolves vs Espanyol will be televised live in the UK on BT Sport / ESPN with kick-off at 20:00 GMT.

Prediction: Wolves 2-0 Espanyol 

Suggested Tips – Wolves vs Espanyol – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Wolves to win 2-0 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Raul Jiminez – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Wolves vs Espanyol – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Wolves to win 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 – 6/4.

Markets last updated at 09:40 on Thursday 18th February 2020.

Club Brugge vs Manchester United – Match Preview

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Club Brugge vs Manchester United
Thursday 20th February 2020
UEFA Europa League, Jan Breydel Stadium.

Live on BT Sport 2 – Kick-off: 17:55 GMT.

Manchester United return to Europa league this week when they travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge on Thursday evening.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side returned from the Premier League winter break with a fine 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in Monday night. Goals from Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire sealed the victory, but it’s a quick turnaround for the Red Devils, who have only two full days to prepare ahead of this one.

Club Brugge started their European expedition in this season’s Champions League, where they were ultimately eliminated but finished well enough to secure a place in the Europa League. Brugge finished 3rd in group A, behind Real Madrid and 1st placed PSG. Overcoming them European powerhouses was a near impossible task, however the Belgian side did give Madrid a scare at the Santiago Bernabeu. They raced into a first-half 2-0 lead before being pegged back, drawing 2-2. Brugge failed to win any of their group matches, drawing three and losing three.

Manchester United on the other hand finished top of Group L, winning four, drawing one and losing one of their six group matches. United conceded two goals in six matches, and they came in their 2-1 defeat away to Astana. 5/6 clean sheets for the group stage is an impressive feat, and SkyBet are offering a Manchester United win to nil at 10/3.

These two sides have met twice before in Europe which came back in the 2015/16 Champions League campaign. Manchester United won both comprehensively, 3-1 at Old Trafford before a 4-0 win away in Belgium.

For the first time in the history of the Europa League, VAR will be implemented into the latter stage of the competition.

Club Brugge vs Manchester United will be televised live in the UK on BT Sport 2 with an early kick-off time off 17:55.

Prediction: Club Brugge 1-1 Manchester United 

Suggested Tips – Club Brugge vs Manchester United – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Draw 1-1 – (link no longer available).
  • Anytime Goalscorer – Odion Ighalo – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Club Brugge vs Manchester United – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Draw 1-1, 2-2, or 3-3 – 3/1.

Markets last updated at 09:30 on Thursday 18th February 2020.

Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool – Match Preview

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Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool
Tuesday 18th February 2020
UEFA Champions League, Round of 16, Wanda Metropolitano

Live on BT Sport 2 HD – Kick Off: 20:00 GMT

Atletico Madrid and Liverpool lock horns in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Tuesday night.

The Reds travel back to the ground where they claimed their sixth European Cup in June. They defeated Tottenham 2-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano, a memory that is still fresh in the minds of Kopites around the globe.

The hosts Atletico Madrid are, in fairness, in a poor run of form having won only one of their last seven encounters in all competitions. Diego Simeone’s side have won only three times in all competitions this year and sit fourth in Spain’s La Liga. Atletico were held by Valencia at the weekend, drawing 2-2 at the Mestalla.

Liverpool on the other hand are cruising to their first English League title in thirty years, and sit top of the Premier League with an incredible twenty-five point gap between themselves and 2nd placed Manchester City. Sadio Mane was the matchwinner in their latest Premier League game, he struck in the closing stages to secure a 1-0 victory away to Norwich.

Diego Simeone’s side finished second in group D behind Italian giants Juventus. Atletico did however lose two of their six group matches, but are still unbeaten in this years competition on home soil.

Liverpool finish top of group E where they won four of the six group matches, losing one and drawing the other. Liverpool’s defeat came in the opening group match away to Napoli where they lost 2-0.

These two sides last met in 2010 in the semi-final stage of the Europa league. The match finished 2-2, but Atletico progressed to the final on the away goals rule. Tuesday night’s meeting id the fifth time these two sides have met in Europe.

The referee for this encounter is Szymon Marciniak. The Polish official has taken charge of three matches thus far, and has awarded ten yellow cards. This considered, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points for this clash. Marciniak took charge of Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat away to PSG in last season’s Champions’ League group stage, and awarded eight yellow cards.

Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool will be televised live in the UK on BT Sport 2 with kick-off at 20:00 GMT.

Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Liverpool

Suggested Tips – Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Draw 1-1 – (link no longer available).
  • Anytime Goalscorer – Roberto Firmino – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Draw 1-1, 2-2, or 3-3 – 7/2.

Markets last updated at 18:35 on Tuesday 18th February 2020.