Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Chelsea favourites for Europa League - Sportal.com.au


Chelsea are the new favourites to win the Europa League with holders Atletico Madrid facing the possibility of an embarrassing early exit when the second-leg matches in the round-of-32 are played on Friday morning (AEDT).


Atletico Madrid, who sit second behind all-conquering Barcelona in La Liga and have also won this competition in two of the past three seasons, suffered a shock 2-0 first-leg defeat at home against Russia's Rubin Kazan.


The punters don't fancy Atletico's chances of turning things around, with Rubin the $2.74 favourites at home in the second leg with Betfair with Atletico priced at $2.90 and the draw paying $3.35.



And after starting the round as the equal $7.60 favourites to win this season's competition with Chelsea, Atletico Madrid have now blown out to $25 with Betfair in overall betting.


Chelsea, winners of the Champions League last season, are now the clear $5.90 favourites to win.


That comes after their comfortable 1-0 win on the road at Sparta Prague, with the Blues the shortest-priced favourites of the night at $1.35 with Betfair to win the second leg, with the Czech side at $12.50 and the draw at $5.40.


The pick of the second-leg ties is once again Ligue 1 outfit Lyon at home to fourth-placed English Premier League side Tottenham, with Spurs leading 2-1 from the first leg in London thanks to two incredible free-kicks from their superstar Welshman Gareth Bale.


That means a 1-0 win for the French side will be enough to see them through and they are the $2.34 favourites at Betfair, with Spurs priced at $3.40.


Spurs have only lost one of their past 13 matches in all competitions and given they should be fresh after not playing on the weekend - thanks to their early FA Cup exit - are capable of getting the draw they need to progress to the round of 16 at odds of $3.50.


But the other two English clubs in action on Thursday night are facing a difficult task to progress to the round of 16.


Newcastle could only manage a 0-0 draw at home against Metalist Kharkiv in the first leg and are now the $4.50 outsiders to win the second leg in Ukraine - with the home side favourites at $1.92 and the draw paying $3.60.


A score draw away from home would be enough to see the Magpies qualify for the next round and they are good value at odds of $2.24 at Betfair to do that considering they had scored in their previous four EPL matches prior to last week's first leg.


Liverpool are facing a tougher task given they are 2-0 down to Russian side Zenit St Petersburg, ahead of the second leg at Anfield.


The Reds, the last English club to win this competition back in 2001, should win the second leg - where they are the $1.68 favourites with Betfair with Zenit paying $5.60 and the draw $4.20.


But the question is whether they can win by enough to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit and qualify for the next round.


If they can bring the same kind of form they showed in Sunday's 5-0 home demolition of Swansea in the EPL into the game, then they are still good value at odds of $3.70 at Betfair to qualify for the round of 16.


*Note prices subject to change


Bet of the day: Back Chelsea to win.


Value bet of the day: Go for the draw in the Lyon-Spurs and Metalist-Newcastle fixtures and back Newcastle and Liverpool at odds to qualify for the next round.



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