The UEFA Europa League group phase continues this Thursday, so take a look at our tips and predictions for the Group I matches. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and enter the action at Get More Sports.
Konyaspor (Tur) vs. Salzburg (Aut)
Three-Way: Konyaspor +425; X: +300 Draw; 2: Salzburg -120
Spread +0.5: Konyaspor +120; Salzburg -132
Total +2.5: Over +104; Under -114
KONYASPOR
The Turkish Cup holders are not in the best form at the moment as they have only three wins from the previous ten matches, but are in a good position to record a respectable result in the Europa League as they are currently just a point behind Salzburg. The most recent home loss to left Konyaspor in the 15th place in the Super Lig, but they have a chance to bounce back here against the Austrians.
Konyaspor have played 11 games so far in the 2017/18, recording four wins, one draw, and six losses, with a goal difference of 12:14, which is a bit over 2.15 goals per contest on average. When it comes to matches at Konya Büyükşehir Stadium, the Anatolian Eagles are playing better and have three victories in five outings.
The attacking midfielder Musa Araz and the right-back Nejc Skubic are the team’s leading scorers with three goals to their respective names, while the forward Patrick Friday Eze added a couple of goals so far. The Ivorian left-winger Moryke Fofana is the top assist-maker with three dishes, and the Bosnian Deni Milosevic recorded two at the moment. Head coach Mustafa Reşit Akçay is happy to have an almost entire team available for the tilt with only Amir Hadziahmetovic and Abdou Toure are injured.
SALZBURG
The Austrian champions are in an excellent run of eight matches without a defeat, and two consecutive wins in the Tipico Bundesliga brought them just a point behind the leaders Sturm Graz. The situation in the Europa League is also good for them as Salzburg is at the top of the group I with four points from the opening two games, and a potential victory here would give them a big chance to qualify for the next phase.
Salzburg played 21 games in this campaign so far, recording 14 wins, six draws, and only one loss, with a goal difference of 49:13, which is 2.95 goals per contest on average. The Red Bulls played 11 matches away from home and failed to score on just two occasions, but scored eight goals in the last three outings, so Konyaspor will have a mountain to climb in order to keep their net intact.
The Israeli forward Munas Dabbur is the team’s top scorer with 12 goals in 20 appearances; Fredrik Gulbrandsen and Hee-Chan Hwang added seven goals each, Valon Berisha has six, while Hannes Wolf scored five goals. Wolf and Dabbur are the most creative individuals in the squad with six assists each at the moment, while Gulbrandsen, Berisha, and the left-back Andreas Ulmer contributed with four dishes. Head coach Marco Rose cannot count on the left-back Stefan Stangl (strain), centre-back Jerome Onguene (muscle tear), striker Hwang (hamstring), Marin Pograncic (muscle tear), and midfielder Reinhold Yabo (cheekbone fracture) as they are all injured and unavailable for this tilt
Konyaspor (Tur) vs. Salzburg (Aut) – Match Prediction
I believe the Austrians are closer to the victory here, but the Turks can be quite intimidating when playing at home, so I am going with goals on both ends instead.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (+100)
Marseille (Fra) vs. Guimaraes (Por)
Three-Way: Marseille -233; X: +450 Draw; 2: Guimaraes +1000
Spread -1.5: Marseille +108; Guimaraes -116
Total +2.5: Over -123; Under +117
MARSEILLE
The Olympians hold the key in their hands, and a win here would give them a solid opportunity to advance to the next phase of the Europa League. Marseille have been in an excellent mood in front of the goal as they scored seven in the last two matches but failed to win at Strasbourg previous weekend as it ended 3-3. Olympique barely avoided defeat thanks to Konstantinos Mitroglou’s first goal for the club in the 88th minute, and that point left them in the 4th place in the Ligue 1 with eight points behind the leaders PSG. Marseille beat Konyaspor but then lost to Salzburg, so a defeat here is not an option for Rudi Garcia’s side.
Marseille played 15 games so far in the 2017/18 season, recording eight victories, four draws, and three losses, with a goal difference of 27:19, which is a bit over three goals per contest on average. When it comes to displays at Stade Vélodrome, the Phocians suffered just one defeat in seven matches, but managed to score in each, while they didn’t allow a single goal in the previous two, so the Portuguese visitors could struggle to beat Yohann Pele.
The former Monaco striker Valere Germain and former Tottenham forward Clinton N’Jie are currently the teams’ leading scorers with five goals; Lucas Ocampos and Morgan Sanson added four goals each, while Florian Thauvin contributed with three goals to his name. The right-winger Thauvin is the best assist-maker with six dishes thus far; Dimitri Payet has four, while Germain and Maxime Lopez recorded three assists each. Head coach Rudi Garcia is delighted to have all of his players available and ready for this encounter, so I am sure he will field his best eleven on Thursday night.
GUIMARAES
The Conquerors are in hot and cold form this year as they are currently in the 9th position in the Primeira Liga, and have just one point from the opening two games in the UEFA Europa League group stage. After a favorable 1:1 draw with Salzburg, Guimaraes suffered a disappointing 1-2 loss to Konyaspor, and now they mustn’t lose this game if they want to stay in the contention for the next phase. Guimaraes scored six past Vasco da Gama in the Portuguese Cup last weekend but Marseille is a much better opponent, and the visitors will have a lot to do to escape the south of France undefeated.
Guimaraes played 13 games in the 2017/18 so far, recording four victories, three draws, and six losses, with a goal difference of 16:23, which is exactly three goals per contest on average. They are disastrous away from home, scoring just three goals prior to that cup tilt with the minnows Vasco da Gama, so I think the visitors will struggle on this one.
The Brazilian left-winger Raphina is the team’s top scorer with five goals to his name, but he lacks support from teammates as only Paolo Hurtado and David Teixeira scored more than one goal so far, which is quite disappointing. The Peruvian midfielder Hurtado leads the team with four assists at the moment, while Heldon and Helder Ferreira added a couple of dishes each. Head coach Pedro Martins will be without the best player Hurtado, keeper Douglas Jesus, and the right-winger Xande Silva, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Marseille (Fra) vs. Guimaraes (Por) – Match Prediction
Marseille is excellent at home this year, while Guimaraes are struggling away from Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, and it seems that they are the weakest team in this Europa League group, so I am backing the hosts to score at least a pair of goals on Thursday night, with a high possibility for the over.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-123)
