The front legs of the Europa League Round of 16 begin on March 9, as the battle for the quarterfinals features an excited field of competitors. Eight matches will take place and are scattered around Europe, as 16 clubs look to advance to the Europa League quarterfinals.
The goal is, of course, to reach the final game, which will be played in Sweden this year. Friends Arena in Solna will play host to the finals on May 24, 2017.
For now, escaping the Round of 16 to the quarterfinals is the intermediate goal for everyone left in the tournament.
If there is one thing we do know it is that Sevilla will not be winning Europa League this year again, after taking each of the last three competitions.
So who are the favorites to take the trophy out of the 16 clubs remaining? Well why don’t I just put the lines on the board then.
Odds To Win UEFA Europa League 2016/2017
Manchester United +200
Roma +650
Schalke +1200
Moenchengladbach +1400
Rostov +5000
Lyon +1000
Celta Vigo +1100
Besiktas +2000
Ajax +2000
Anderlecht +2800
Olympiakos +4000
FC Copenhagen +2500
Kuban Krasnodar +4000
Field – Any Other Team Not Listed Above +2000
Obviously the remaining teams listed under ‘Field’ are Genk, Gent and APOEL if you needed clarity on that. Ironically, Genk and Gent are facing each other in the round of 16, so that naturally knocks one of them out right there.
Eight matches fill the docket on March 9, and the return legs will be played on March 16.
At 1 p.m ET, three matches start the day, while with the other five contests kick off at 3 p.m.
We can’t do much without lines to discuss, so here are the lines for the matches. I will do my normal routine, with 3-Way Lines, Spread, and Totals.
1 PM Start – 3 Matches
APOEL vs Anderlecht
3-Way 1×2 Lines:
APOEL +175
Anderlecht +175
Draw +220
Spread/Handicap:
APOEL 0/Pk -110
Anderlecht 0/Pk -110
Total 2.5:
Over +125
Under -145
Copenhagen vs Ajax
Copenhagen +150
Ajax +205
Draw +215
Copenhagen 0/Pk -125
Ajax 0/Pk +105
Total 2:
Over -135
Under +115
Rostov vs Manchester United
Rostov +400
Man U -130
Draw +260
Rostov +0.5 +110
Man U -0.5 -130
Total 2:
Over -145
Under +125
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3 PM Start – 5 Matches
Lyon vs AS Roma
Lyon +155
Roma +175
Draw +250
Lyon 0/Pk -115
Roma 0/Pk -105
Total 3:
Over +100
Under -120
Celta Vigo vs Krasnodar
Celta Vigo -160
Krasnodar +525
Draw +280
Celta Vigo -0.5 -160
Krasnodar +0.5 +135
Total 2:
Over -145
Under +125
Gent vs Genk
Gent -115
Genk +360
Draw +245
Gent -0.5 -115
Genk +0.5 -105
Total 2.5:
Over +120
Under -140
Olympiakos vs Besiktas
Olympiakos +145
Besiktas +215
Draw +215
Olympiakos 0/Pk -140
Besiktas 0/PK +120
Total 2:
Over -135
Under +115
Schalke vs Moenchengladbach
Schalke +120
Gladbach +240
Draw +240
Schalke -0.5 +120
Gladbach +0.5 -140
Total 2.5:
Over +100
Under -120
There are, undoubtedly, some user-friendly lines to take advantage of when you look over all of that.
Isn’t it amazing to think back to June 20, 2016? The first draw took place for the opening qualifying round of the tournament, and off we went. And what a process Europa League essentially is too, because so many clubs end up competing here.
How about 188 clubs in all, when all is said and done. I mean, think about that. I know that there are plenty of pundits, experts and purists who don’t regard Europa League as anything special. There has certainly been plenty of controversy over the years about what countries take this competition seriously. For me, I don’t even listen to any of that, because you see the emotion on the pitch, no matter the competition. For the clubs who get deep in this competition, there is an investment to fight for the trophy. Call it the secondary club competition if you like, it is football, and hardware is on the line.
I do, however, feel like in the earlier rounds the investment from some clubs can be questioned. Of course that can be relevant to many outside influences, but that is all just stuff that goes on when you have so many teams competing.
Okay, so we have eight games on the board, and speaking of investment, there are a few of those we need to make ourselves.
I am not going to cover all eight matches, but I will pick out a handful of betting options.
First of all, I started with the lines to win the trophy, so I will use the crystal ball. I call it that in reference to making a call on a futures prop. Get it, crystal ball, future… come on now, work with me! 
Honestly, I think whoever takes the Roma vs Lyon Round of 16 encounter will go on to win the title. I know Manchester United is the clear favorite at +200, but Roma and Lyon make up two of the top-six favored clubs left in the dance.
Roma’s Edin Džeko leads all active goal scorers remaining in the tournament with eight. Anderlecht’s Łukasz Teodorczyk and Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimović have five tallies to their credit, three goals behind.
Call me a homer, but it is time for my club to take home another piece of hardware.
At +650, that is plenty valuable enough for me to chase a futures bet on Roma to win Europa League!
Rainmaker’s Future Prop to win Europa League
AS ROMA @ +650
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Okay, to the matches we go, and I actually can’t wait to get to that Roma/Lyon matchup. I’ll get there, but let me start with the early matches.
The Anderlecht match with APOEL is interesting, because Anderlecht has one game remaining in their Jupiler League campaign on Sunday. Club Brugge and Anderlecht are tied at the top of the table with 58 points, and both clubs have winnable matches against clubs near the bottom of the table. Anderlecht will finish the campaign with the best offense in the league. With 64 goals, they are 10 clear of Club Brugge, but if both teams win this weekend, Club Brugge will take the league title.
APOEL wrapped up their Cypriot First Division campaign this past weekend, and it concluded with their fourth straight league trophy. They, too, led their league in scoring, ending the campaign with 62 goals. APOEL finished the year with a 15 – 2 – 0 home record in league play. They’ve been just as dominant in club competition this year as well. Remember APOEL started in Champions League, and got sent down to Europa League after their 2 – 1 aggregate loss to Copenhagen in the playoff round. In their seven home contests from both competitions, APOEL has six wins and a draw to show for their efforts.
I think the line setters showed up to work drunk, and just slapped a number on the total. At +125, that is more than value to me to expect no less than a 2 – 1 type of match in Cyprus.
Suggested Play:
APOEL vs Anderlecht ~ Over 2.5 @ +125
The match in the capital of Denmark between Copenhagen and Ajax might be more entertaining than the line setters are trying to reveal. I was surprised to see a straight two on the total, because I think they will both score. The line on that prop is where I would have expected also, because I see +100 at most sites that offer it.
Ajax have been outrageous away from home. Since August when the summer break ended, Ajax has played 22 matches away from home in all competitions. They have scored at least one goal in 20 of those contests, and have outscored their opponents 42 – 20 over that span. Those are some decent numbers no matter the competition.
What Copenhagen has done at home might be more impressive. SinCe that same point to begin August, Copenhagen has outscored their opponents 32 – 2, and have 12 straight clean sheets entering Thursday’s Europa League front leg. Let’s go on a limb, and say that might be why the line setters offer the straight two on the total.
Even though the -125 is on the cusp of my comfort zone as far as juice goes, I am going to put Copenhagen on the board, but with the 0/Pk handicap. If a draw comes, I will not mind simply getting my money back, so that works for me.
Suggested Play:
Copenhagen vs Ajax
Copenhagen 0/PK DNB AH @ -125
I don’t think I can wait anymore. I am going to pass on the Manchester United match with Rostov so I can get to the Lyon/Roma tie.
Oh my goodness, this should be fun, and I know you can never take manager’s words too seriously. Roma’s Luciano Spalletti has been quoted as saying he has no interest in being listed among the favorites. As the lone representative from Italy left in the competition, Spalletti knows the importance of any trophy.
We all saw what Lyon did to Alkmaar in the previous stage, and 11 goals surely looks good on paper. Since I expect Roma to go the distance, I am going to back them in the front leg of the round of 16 in France. As I said, I expect one of these two clubs to win this tournament. If Lyon somehow blows up my plan and upsets Roma, then they will win this trophy in my opinion. Until then, I back La Maggica in this contest.
Suggested Play:
Lyon vs AS Roma
AS Roma 0/Pk DNB AH @ -105
For anyone who follows Bundesliga, of course you are noticing the Schalke vs Gladbach tie.
The cool thing about this matchup is that they just played this past weekend in Bundesliga action.
That obviously means three meetings in 13 days for these two clubs.
I have no idea who would be intimidated by this total, because I see it as a gift. We saw six goals this weekend, and I hope these two have similar fun on Thursday. We don’t even need another 4 – 2 game to go down here, we just need three to cash that ticket!
Suggested Play:
Schalke / Gladbach Over 2.5 @ +100
The Genk and Gent tie I will probably stay away from, and I think this article has enough covered.
Remember that whether you are betting on Europa League, Champions League, or any other action around the globe, check out DSI for all of your needs.
Enjoy the mid-week Europa League action, and never forget to Make It Rain!
