The UEFA Europa League is steadily progressing towards the League Phase, and today we have the second legs of the second qualifying round. What should you be betting on in these games? Let’s find out together with tips.gg.
Häcken vs. Anderlecht
Häcken has poor statistics in recent matches; for example, in the last round of the Swedish championship, the hosts lost 1-6. In contrast, Anderlecht hammered Westerlo 5-2 in the first round of the Belgian championship, and overall, it’s worth noting that the Belgians are well-prepared for the season.
I believe the optimal bet in this tie is on an away win. The Belgians look better than their opponents, despite the home advantage for Häcken.
Betting pick: Anderlecht Draw No Bet with odds of 1.79
CFR Cluj vs. Lugano
The Romanians displayed an unconvincing performance both in Switzerland and in their recent league match against Arges (0-2). They now approach the second leg without a win in three consecutive matches and with only one goal scored during that period. However, CFR Cluj has shown they can significantly improve at home: in the first qualifying round, after a 0-0 draw with Paks, they confidently won 3-0.
Statistics favor them: 14 wins in their last 20 home matches and extensive European experience. Lugano, on the other hand, missed the chance to capitalize on their playing advantage in the first leg, and then lost to newcomers Thun in the opening round of their league. The team shows attacking initiative but currently has inconsistent finishing and makes many defensive errors.
Given CFR Cluj’s home advantage, Petrescu’s team’s experience, and the psychological background, a minimal advantage lies with the hosts, but we expect Lugano to respond.
Betting pick: CFR Cluj Double Chance (1X) + Both Teams to Score with odds of 2.50
Utrecht vs. Sheriff
Utrecht traveled with some trepidation to their away game against Sheriff after a long break from European competitions, but even under these circumstances, they managed to secure a 3-1 away victory. At home, Ron Jans’s team has the opportunity to continue their preparation for the start of the Dutch championship while also delighting their fans with a strong performance in their first official home match of the season. Utrecht often has high-scoring games at home, so we expect that trend to continue.
Sheriff is experiencing a mini-crisis, which began with a draw against Petrocub, continued with a frustrating loss to Utrecht where the team played well in spells. The final blow to Viktor Mikhailov’s side was a 3-2 defeat to Zimbru.
I predict that Utrecht will secure a deserved victory.
Betting pick: Utrecht Win + Total Over 2.5 Goals with odds of 1.92
CFR Cluj vs. Lugano
The Romanians displayed an unconvincing performance both in Switzerland and in their recent league match against Arges (0-2). They now approach the second leg without a win in three consecutive matches and with only one goal scored during that period. However, CFR Cluj has shown they can significantly improve at home: in the first qualifying round, after a 0-0 draw with Paks, they confidently won 3-0.
Statistics favor them: 14 wins in their last 20 home matches and extensive European experience. Lugano, on the other hand, missed the chance to capitalize on their playing advantage in the first leg, and then lost to newcomers Thun in the opening round of their league. The team shows attacking initiative but currently has inconsistent finishing and makes many defensive errors.
Given CFR Cluj’s home advantage, Petrescu’s team’s experience, and the psychological background, a minimal advantage lies with the hosts, but we expect Lugano to respond.
Betting pick: CFR Cluj Double Chance (1X) + Both Teams to Score with odds of 2.50
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Beşiktaş
Shakhtar Donetsk deservedly took a comfortable two-goal advantage from Istanbul and look like the clear favorites in this tie before the second leg. The Donetsk club demonstrated maturity and cohesion in their play. The attacking line was particularly impressive – Kevin and Allyson created numerous problems for Beşiktaş’s defense, which looked vulnerable both in positional defense and during quick attacks.
Solsksjaer’s team has individual resources to create pressure – Abraham, João Mário, and Silva are capable of delivering in certain moments, but the level of team organization is still lagging. Even with the high probability that Beşiktaş will score in the second leg, it’s hard to believe that a team with such an unstable defense will manage to keep a clean sheet.
Shakhtar will likely play to protect their lead, and if they adhere to a tactically sound game, their counter-attacking football will pay dividends. Therefore, my choice favors goals from the Donetsk team.
Betting pick: Shakhtar Donetsk Individual Total Goals Over 1.5 with odds of 1.72
Braga vs. Levski
Last Thursday, it was evident that the favorite was just starting their season. Ultimately, it ended in a respectable goalless draw for the hosts. This means everything will be decided in the second leg.
The match in Bulgaria was Braga’s first official game of the season, so a goalless draw can hardly be called a failure. Especially considering the Portuguese side looked significantly stronger in terms of play: 62% possession and seven shots on target. It’s clear that they will only get stronger from here: their key players will gain match fitness, and newcomer Dorgeles will establish connections in midfield.
Initially, Levski’s chances in this tie were considered theoretical. Yes, they are dispatching opponents in the Bulgarian championship, but Braga is a completely different level. If they spared their opponent, who was pushed back into their own box, in the first leg, hoping for that in Portugal is unwise. Levski doesn’t seem to have any other ideas. There’s a colossal difference in class between the clubs. Braga is one of the strongest teams in the qualifying rounds and cannot afford to stumble at such an early stage. At home, they will try to establish a comfortable lead, and I highly doubt Levski will stop the clear favorite.
Betting pick: Braga Asian Handicap -1.5 with odds of 1.72