The stage for the Champions League is already set and similar will follow suit in the Europa League today. Barring a miracle, Manchester United are all but in the Europa League final but Arsenal still have a lot to play for. It promises to be an exciting night of football and we have compiled the betting tips and predictions to go with from today’s action.
Arsenal vs Villarreal
Preview
Arsenal host Villarreal on Thursday in their biggest match of the season as they look to overturn a 2-1 deficit and reach a second Europa League final in three years. The first leg in Spain was a dramatic one, Villarreal going two goals up before Dani Ceballos was sent off for the Gunners. Nicolas Pepe then scored what could be a vital away goal for Arsenal, and former Spurs midfielder Etienne Capoue was also shown a red card. Villarreal will be confident after their first-leg display, but there’s still all to play for and a 1-0 victory would be enough for Mikel Arteta’s men to go through.
Form Guide: Arsenal
The Gunners have not won at home in their last five attempts. The aroma at the Emirates will not be positive given the fact Mikel Arteta’s men can finish outside the top half in the Premier League. Arsenal’s saving grace this year is success in UEFA Europa League, and they let themselves down in the first leg. However, with Pierre Emerick Aubameyang getting on the scoreboard against Newcastle, the Gunners will be optimistic about their chances in the competition.
Form Guide: Villarreal
Unai Emery guided his men to a crunch win over Getafe in La Liga, essentially securing Europa League participation next season. He will now turn his attention to the competition itself, where he has pedigree. He won the competition for three successive years while with Sevilla and would be gunning to make it four with Villarreal. The Yellow Submarine showed they were better than their rivals at El Madrigal and will be looking to finish the job at the home of their rivals. Gerard Moreno fired a blank against Arsenal last time around and will be looking to right that wrong in North London.
How the match could go
The home side are also going into this game as the clear favourites to win on the night, but a slight underdog to advance to the final after that Pepe’s away goal. We do, however, fear for Arsenal. Their home form all season long as been embarrassing, and in truth, their entire 2020/21 campaign has been arguably the worst in the club’s modern history, and Arteta has looked like he’s been on borrowed time since around October 2020. It’s simple: one goal for Villarreal and it’s probably game over for Arsenal. That goal from Emery’s men will be like liquid gold to him after he was sacked by the club and it will surely mean he enters another European cup final. With this away goal such a possibility, Villarreal will fancy their chances to progress, but the result on the night is tough to call.
Betting Tip: Arsenal to win
Villarreal have a fine run in the Europa League and they head to this game unbeaten in this season’s competition. Away from home, they haven’t conceded a goal in the last four matches in the competition. Arsenal haven’t done well at home this season, and especially as they head to this clash. Their run should worry manager Mikel Arteta, but then they are used to performing when not expected to. Arsenal will push Villarreal and we’re backing the Gunners to do just enough to qualify. Top four discussions are out of the way for Arsenal so they know too well this fixture is their end-game. Bet365 have 1.85 odds, Bet9ja have 1.87 and 1xbet have 1.91.
Both teams to score: Yes
In their last five matches at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal have managed a paltry two goals. On the contrary, the Yellow Submarine have an away record to awe at, scoring 13 goals and only conceding four goals in five away trips. Their last two matches on the road have seen their rivals get on the scoreboard, a probability given Arsenal’s pedigree in the attack. Expect both sides to get on the scoreboard with European silverware on the line. Bet9ja have 1.65 odds, Bet365 have 1.66 and 1xbet have 1.77.
Over 2.5 Goals
Given their poor Premier League season, the Gunners will be desperate to make it to the final and have a chance at Champions League qualification. They trail by a goal but have the luxury of the all-important away strike with them. Villarreal will not be bystanders in Mikel Arteta’s plans and Unai Emery will be looking to pile on the misery for his previous employers. With both sides aiming for early goals to swing the tie in their favour, we expect a similar result to the first leg with at least three goals. Bet9ja have 1.76 odds, Bet365 have 1.80 and 1xbet have 1.83.
Anytime Goal-scorer (Arsenal)
Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got back on the score-sheet on Sunday with a fine acrobatic finish to secure Arsenal’s victory at St James’ Park. He has scored 10 league goals this season – a poor goal-scoring return by his standards – but found the net twice against Benfica in the round of 32. Aubameyang has suffered with malaria of late and missed matches in April, but judging by his strong performance against Newcastle, he looks fit and ready to go. We’re backing the Arsenal captain to step up when called upon and help fire them into the final of the Europa League. Bet365 have 1.90 odds for him to score while Bet9ja have 2.00.
Pepe
Nicolas Pepe is enjoying an excellent season in the Europa League. No player has had more goal involvements in the Europa League this campaign. The Ivorian has scored six and assisted four for the Gunners. He scored the crucial away-goal for the Gunners last time out and he’ll be looking to bail his side out from trouble once again. Bet365 have 2.20 while Bet9ja have 2.85.
Anytime Goal-scorer (Villareal)
Gerard Moreno
Gerard Moreno has either scored or assisted in all six of his UEFA Europa League starts this season, netting six goals while assisting another two. He’s scored 10 times in his last nine starts for Villarreal and he’s notched five times in his last three home Europa League games. Back him to add to that form here. Bet9ja and Bet365 have 3.00 odds for him to score.
Samuel Chukwueze
Samuel Chukwueze tormented the Gunners in the first leg down that right flank. He was unlucky not to get a goal but laid a crucial assist last time out. He is on top form at the moment and could be one of the names to kill off the tie for Villarreal. Bet365 have a whopping 4.25 odds for him to score while Bet9ja have it even better at 5.20.
Roma vs Manchester United Betting Tips and Prediction
Preview
A brilliant second-half display from Manchester United at Old Trafford last week turned the first leg of this tie on its head, as United scored five times in the second period to take a 6-2 lead into the return fixture in Rome.
That result means that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have all but booked their place in this season’s Europa League final, making this game somewhat uninteresting from a neutral point of view. However, that does not mean it holds no betting value, on the contrary, in fact.
Form Guide: Roma
Stadio Olimpico will not be a happy place on Friday. Paulo Fonseca’s men impressed in the first half of the campaign but have seen their performances tail off in the second and more crucial half. They are winless in six competitive outings. With Sassuolo breathing down their necks in Serie A, the season is unfolding for them at a rapid pace. The Gialarossi will have to give a better account of their abilities at home. Lorenzo Pellegrini will have to be wary of United’s midfield as he was the only player for Roma to return with his head held high.
Form Guide: Manchester United
There was talk about the Red Devils choking at the semi-final stage but they proved their doubters wrong last Thursday evening. A sensation five-goal salvo in the second half saw them come from behind to earn a memorable victory. The young lads will have their sights set at the final but the experienced trio of Edinson Cavani, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba will know better. The aforementioned trio got on the scoreboard and must be well versed with the fickle nature of the first leg leads melting at the home of their rivals.
How the match could go
An interesting storyline for this Europa League game is that Roma and Manchester United have met in Europe for at least eight competitive games in the last 2 decades – and United are actually unbeaten in the last seven of them. With the 6-2 aggregate score-line from the first leg, it’s more or less over for Roma. More misery for the Italian giants comes in their recent form. Roma have not won a single game in their last five occasions, with the first leg ending in a defeat. Playing a seven-game unbeaten United, Roma’s chances are really bleak. Nevertheless, we expect Roma to give 200% in this game in anticipation of a miracle, and United won’t bow down either.
Betting Tip: Manchester United to Win
If there were question marks about this Manchester United squad unsure about silverware success, those fears were alleviated. After going five without a reply in the second half, progression to the finals is a formality. However, the Red Devils will not take anything for granted after AS Roma’s heroics to dump Barcelona out of the Champions League a couple of seasons ago. Bet365 have 1.85 odds, Bet9ja have 1.92 and 1xbet have 1.96.
Both teams to score: Yes
United have been involved in competitive engagements since March and got a rare weekend off. It would have given them time to regroup and make plans to shackle Roma’s attackers, who rightly gave them a scare in the first half. Without much changes and the BTTS coming true in the first half, expect the events to unfold with a similar result. Bet9ja have 1.43 odds, Bet365 have 1.44 and 1xbet have 1.49.
Over 2.5 Goals
Akin to the previous fixture, it will be a goal bonanza but probably not of the same magnitude. Roma are winless in six matches across all competitions but have shown proficiency in front of goal. They will be taking on a United side built to withstand pressure and hit rivals on the counter. If the first leg is our guide, there will be goals on the night. Bet365 have 1.44 odds, Bet9ja have 1.47 and 1xbet have 1.49.
Anytime Goal-scorer (Roma)
Mayoral
Roma might be winless in their last five games but the Spaniard has somehow maintained his impressive performances. He has scored 15 goals for his team across all competitions this term and he could find a goal today to help Roma maintain some ‘pride’. Bet365 have 2.37 odds for him to score while Bet9ja have 3.00.
Edin Dzeko
He has experience playing against English sides in the past and this would once again. He scored last time out but it only turned out to be a consolation goal. We’re backing him to complete the double against United although his goal might mean little to nothing this time around. Bet365 have 2.20 while Bet9ja have 2.60.
Anytime Goal-scorer (Manchester United)
Greenwood
Okay, it’s admittedly getting boring predicting Fernandes to score, especially because he usually does. Let’s look at other likely goal-scorers as well. The youngster saw a slow start to his season but has been revitalized of late. He has made eight goal contributions in his last six games and also got in on the goals against Roma last time out. He is another value option to score once again today. Bet365 have 2.20 odds while Bet9ja have 3.00.
Cavani
Edinson Cavani has 12 goals in 33 games for Manchester United. The former Paris Saint-Germain striker maybe 34, but is arguably the only true striker Manchester United have in the team. He could get another start following his two-goal performance in the first leg. Bet365 have 2.20 odds while Bet9ja have it slightly better at 2.25.
Football Lover. All-round junkie of the beautiful game. Could be found watching football most of the time. If not he’s writing about them or making some punditry you don’t agree with. A certain bias for Arsenal and Santos FC.
