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Matchday 2 of the Europa League lands on 15 October, and there is a selection on six of the night’s ties. The spread of prices says plenty about how the editors read this round: the shortest pick sits at 1.74, the longest stretches to 2.90, and an odds converter will turn those figures into fractional or American format if that suits you better. With the league phase table only starting to take shape, the clubs that slipped on the opening matchday are already chasing points, while the early winners have a chance to build a cushion. TipsGG publishes free football predictions with pre-match odds for the Europa League and other major competitions. Sports Data Managers Oleksandr Vaskov and Oleksandr Halian contribute two calls apiece, with TipsGG Sports & Esports Expert Oleksii Svyrydov supplying the other two football betting tips.
| Match | Market | Odds | Analyst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyon vs Crystal Palace | Crystal Palace to win by 1 goal or draw | 2.15 | Oleksandr Vaskov |
| Union Saint-Gilloise vs Real Sociedad | Union Saint-Gilloise to avoid defeat (1X) & both teams to score (Yes) | 2.16 | Oleksandr Halian |
| NEC Nijmegen vs Levski | Levski to avoid defeat (X2) & under 4.5 goals | 2.09 | Oleksandr Halian |
| Bournemouth vs Sturm Graz | Both teams to score (Yes) | 1.91 | Oleksii Svyrydov |
| Celta Vigo vs Juventus | Juventus to avoid defeat (X2) & under 3.5 goals | 1.74 | Oleksii Svyrydov |
| Hoffenheim vs Besiktas | Over 2.5 goals & Besiktas to avoid defeat | 2.90 | Oleksandr Vaskov |
Lyon vs Crystal Palace Prediction
Lyon made a solid start to their Europa League campaign by winning away at Anderlecht. In the league, however, the side has eased off and lost to Lens, who are going through a difficult spell themselves. Main striker Loïs Openda picked up an injury, and on top of that Paulo Fonseca rotated his squad for the opening Europa League fixture of the season. Lyon concede two goals at home fairly regularly — even opponents of Auxerre‘s level managed that.
Crystal Palace, after a tough start, beat the current team of their former coach Oliver Glasner — Nottingham Forest — in the league. Pierre Sage, who knows Lyon well, unlike his counterpart puts out his first-choice XI in the Europa League.
Crystal Palace are consistently productive in European competition and can take advantage of their opponent’s defensive problems. I expect a narrow edge for the Eagles in this one.
Prediction: Crystal Palace to win by 1 goal or draw at odds of 2.15
Union Saint-Gilloise vs Real Sociedad Betting Tips
At the Den Dreef, the Jupiler League runners-up host the holders of the Copa del Rey.
Union Saint-Gilloise, despite regular changes of players and coaches, remain title contenders year after year and are a constant presence in European competition. Their unique recruitment and club management model keeps paying off: the yellow-and-blues have not lost at home since December last year, when they went down to Marseille (2:3) in the Champions League. The Brussels side began this season in qualifying for Europe’s most prestigious tournament, going out in a goal feast against Bodø/Glimt on aggregate (5:6), beaten only in extra time.
Real Sociedad have been anything but consistent in the new campaign — four wins, one draw and four defeats across all competitions. The San Sebastián club try to play attractive, attacking football, though it does not always bring results.
Both teams have already served up entertaining matches more than once this season. I expect the game in Belgium to be productive as well, with the hosts extending their long unbeaten home run.
Prediction: Union Saint-Gilloise to avoid defeat (1X) & both teams to score (Yes) — 2.16
NEC Nijmegen vs Levski Odds & Pick
The Goffertstadion hosts a matchday 2 Europa League meeting between two sides that fell short in Champions League qualifying and also came away empty-handed from the opening round of Europe’s second-tier club competition.
NEC Nijmegen, after a summer sell-off of their key men, predictably have little to shout about, yet they are still afloat, sitting mid-table in the Eredivisie with nine points from eight matches. In 13 games this season the Dutch side have won only three times (against Olympiacos (2:1) it took extra time), drawing four and losing six.
Levski impressed by reaching the final round of Champions League qualifying, where they lost out to AEK on aggregate. In the Bulgarian league the blues lead the way with a game in hand and a one-point cushion over their nearest pursuer. Since the start of a season that began back in July, Levski have lost just three of 20 matches: twice in Europe and once in the national Super Cup.
NEC Nijmegen managed a draw with Ajax after the international break. Even so, the team remain far from last season’s standards. Their opponents, by contrast, have been playing steadily for months now. I believe that consistency and excellent teamwork will keep the blues from embarrassing themselves in Nijmegen.
Prediction: Levski to avoid defeat (X2) & under 4.5 goals — 2.09
Bournemouth vs Sturm Graz Preview
The Cherries come into this European night in low spirits after a Premier League setback. In the last round, the side suffered a heavy defeat to Chelsea in London (1:5), with Evanilson scoring the visitors’ only goal. They sit 18th in England on 3 points, still without a win this season. In the Europa League, though, things look far brighter: an opening victory over Real Sociedad (2:1) gives them confidence, and continental football remains their main outlet and a chance to make amends in front of their own fans.
Sturm Graz travel to England after a convincing away win over Austria Vienna (2:0) in the Austrian Bundesliga. The hero of that game was Umar Diakite, who scored twice — first with a header right on the stroke of half-time, then from the penalty spot after the break. Graz were the sharper side and duly settled into 4th place in the national league after 8 rounds with 14 points. In the Europa League, the black-and-whites opened with a goalless draw against Rennes.
Despite the obvious gap in class and financial muscle between the clubs, Bournemouth currently have serious problems in defence, and Diakite, who is in the mood, and his team-mates will certainly try to exploit that. On the other hand, the English side are at home and simply have to push forward aggressively to make up for that shameful game in London. I expect a dynamic match in which I consider the hosts favourites, though neither defence is likely to keep a clean sheet.
Prediction: Both teams to score (Yes) — odds of 1.91
Celta Vigo vs Juventus Match Tips
In La Liga, Celta had to settle for a goalless draw away to Elche at the weekend. Claudio Giráldez‘s men were extremely pale going forward, failing to register a single shot on target and extending a poor away run that now stands at 6 matches without a win across all competitions. The Celtics currently occupy 9th place in the Spanish league (8 points). In the overall Europa League table the Vigo side are 25th following an opening defeat to Omonia (0:1), and they badly need points, especially at their own Estadio Balaídos.
Juventus also failed to win in the latest Serie A round, drawing with Cagliari (1:1) thanks to a late goal from Randal Kolo Muani. The Bianconeri‘s dominance was clear but did not show up in the final result. The closing stages were highly emotional: Turin head coach Luciano Spalletti and Cagliari boss Fabio Pisacane were both sent off by the referee for unsporting behaviour. Even so, the Bianconeri began their European campaign powerfully, thrashing NEC Nijmegen (5:0) in round 1 and topping the league phase table.
Despite being the away team, the Turin giants look clear favourites thanks to superior personnel and a confident European start. Celta are currently short of ideas in attack and chronically inconsistent, and the Italian side will certainly try to take advantage. I expect pragmatic football with a low total, in which the visitors at the very least avoid defeat.
Prediction: Juventus to avoid defeat (X2) & under 3.5 goals — odds of 1.74
Hoffenheim vs Besiktas Prediction
The two teams arrive in very different moods. The Germans are on a run of three defeats, sit in the lower reaches of the Bundesliga table, made a poor start in Europe and have serious defensive problems they cannot seem to fix.
Besiktas, by contrast, drop points very rarely, are fighting for the lead in the Super Lig, and made a spectacular start in the Europa League, hammering a big name in Marseille 4:1. The Turkish side have their own issue, though — their away form, as they have historically struggled on the road in European competition. On top of that, their results and consistency away from home this season leave plenty to be desired.
Both teams play productive football and have no problems in attack. Defensively Besiktas look more solid, but the away factor works against them. So let us assume a high-scoring game that ends level.
Prediction: Over 2.5 goals & Besiktas to avoid defeat at odds of 2.90
Five of the six selections combine two conditions — a double chance paired with a goal line or both teams to score — which explains why only one price dips below 1.90. Prices run from 1.74 on the Turin side’s trip to Vigo up to 2.90 on the Hoffenheim game, so a free bet calculator is handy for working out potential returns on these picks, whether taken singly or as a multiple.
Read also: Conference League MD1 Betting Tips: 6 Picks — 15 October
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FAQ
How many picks are in this Europa League digest?
There are six selections, one for each of the featured matchday 2 fixtures on 15 October. They are listed in the table above in the same order as the previews below it.
What is the longest price in the digest?
The biggest odds are 2.90 on over 2.5 goals combined with Besiktas to avoid defeat at Hoffenheim, a call from Sports Data Manager Oleksandr Vaskov. The shortest price is 1.74 on Juventus to avoid defeat with under 3.5 goals in Vigo.
Which markets do these expert football predictions use?
The six picks cover double chance combinations, both teams to score, goal totals and a win-by-one-goal-or-draw market. Three of them pair a double chance with a goal line in the same bet.
Who produced the selections for 15 October?
Sports Data Managers Oleksandr Vaskov and Oleksandr Halian each wrote two previews, while TipsGG Sports & Esports Expert Oleksii Svyrydov covered the Bournemouth and Celta Vigo ties.
Are there any both teams to score picks in this round?
Yes. Bournemouth vs Sturm Graz carries a straight both teams to score (Yes) call at 1.91, and the Union Saint-Gilloise tie against Real Sociedad pairs both teams to score with the hosts avoiding defeat at 2.16.