The UEFA Europa League group phase continues this Thursday, so take a look at our tips and predictions for the Group C matches. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and enter the action at Get More Sports.
Hoffenheim (Ger) vs. Basaksehir (Tur)
Three-Way: 1: Hoffenheim -145; X: +354 Draw; 2: Basaksehir +520
Spread -1: Hoffenheim +102; Basaksehir -106
Total +3: Over -111; Under +100
HOFFENHEIM
Hoffenheim are in big trouble in the Europa League at the moment as they are without points from the first two matches, following disappointing defeats to Braga and Ludogorets. Julian Nagelsmann’s team is not in good form; after a loss in Bulgaria against Ludogorets, Hoffenheim lost to Freiburg and took just a point against Augsburg at home. Basaksehir is in a bad position as well, so this game is a must-win for the Germans if they want to keep their UEFA Europa League dreams alive.
Hoffenheim played 13 games so far in the 2017/18, recording five victories, three draws, and five losses, with a goal difference of 21:20, which is 3.15 goals per contest on average. They scored at least one goal in each of the previous seven matches at Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena, and I have no doubts Hoffenheim will find the net on this one, but whether they’ll win remains to be seen.
The striker Mark Uth is the team’s top scorer with seven goals to his name; Sandro Wagner scored four, while Andrej Kramaric and Nadiem Amire added a couple of goals. Kramaric and Wagner played significant roles on international duty with Croatia and Germany, respectively, and Kramaric even took his nation to the WC playoffs with a brace in Ukraine. The pair of forwards is also the leading assist-makers with three dishes thus far, and the Turks must be aware of the damage they could create. A Hungarian forward Adam Szalai is out with a tear in his muscle, the centre-back Ermin Bicakcic is sidelined with a cruciate ligament strain, Serge Gnabry is suffering from a thigh strain, while Robert Zulj is unavailable due to osteitis pubis.
BASAKSEHIR
The Turkish vice-champions are in a slightly better position than Hoffenheim, but one point from the first two Europa League matches is below expectations for Basaksehir. They are well aware that only victory in Germany could keep them in the contention for the knockout phase, so I am sure Istanbul will play attacking football. After a poor run of results, Basaksehir won two consecutive games in the Turkish Super Lig over Goztepe and Alanyaspor, and now are sitting in the 4th position in the standings, with six points behind the leaders Galatasaray.
Basaksehir played 14 games in this season, recording six victories, four draws, and four defeats, with a goal difference of 22:20, which is exactly three goals per contest on average. The away form is a bit concerning for Basaksehir as they won just two matches, conceding in all seven outings in the process, so I am far from convinced that they will keep their net intact here.
Eljero Elia and Emmanuel Adebayor are currently the team’s leading scorers with four goals each, while the captain Emre Belozoglu and the Bosnian international Edin Visca found the net three times. Additionally, Emre and Visca combined for six assists, and it’s clear that this quartet of players will represent the biggest danger to Oliver Baumann. Mevlut Erdinc, Kerim Frei, Gokhan Inler, and Gael Clichy could all be match-winners as well, so Hoffenheim must be aware of the Turks’ quality. Abdullah Avci cannot count on the centre-back Aurelien Chedjou who has yet to make a debut for Basaksehir, while the fellow defenders Manuel da Costa and Egemen Korkmaz are also sidelined and will not feature on Thursday.
Hoffenheim (Ger) vs. Basaksehir (Tur) – Match Prediction
Considering the goal-scoring record of both teams and the fact that they need a victory and will play open, attacking football, I opted for goals on both ends in a duel that could be the most entertaining fixture of the night.
MY PICK: Over 3 goals (-111)
Braga (Por) vs. Ludogorets (Bul)
Three-Way: 1: Braga +125; X: +252 Draw; 2: Ludogorets +309
Spread -0.5: Braga +116; Ludogorets -128
Total +2.5: Over +118; Under -118
BRAGA
The Archbishops are in an excellent form of seven matches without a loss, and in a four-game winning streak, during which they scored 13 goals. Braga is in the 5th place in the Primeira Liga with seven points behind Porto but are the leaders of the Europa League group C with six points from the first two games. Their European experience helped them against both Hoffenheim and Basaksehir, and it could be crucial in this encounter as well.
Braga played 17 games so far in the 2017/18 campaign, recording 12 wins, two draws, and three defeats, with a goal difference of 33:21, which is 3.85 goals per contest on average. The high amount of goals in Braga’s matches is entirely uncharacteristic of them when comparing it to previous seasons, while they are scoring almost 2.5 goals per game at Estadio Municipal. The only time the Minho Warriors failed to find a net at home turf was in a 0-1 loss to Porto back in August.
The pair of forwards Paulinho and Dyego Sousa are the team’s leading scorers with five goals to their respective names, while Ahmed Hassan with four, and Raul Silva and Fabio Martins with three each are behind them on a goal-scoring chart. Braga 14 different scorers and that is a quite amazing stat, so the Bulgarians will need to have their eyes wide open as the danger lurks from everywhere. The keeper Marafona is out with a knee injury and will be sidelined until December, while midfielder Mauro is unavailable due to a ruptured knee ligament. Wilson Eduardo will be back in a couple of weeks, but the centre-back Lazar Rosic suffered a collarbone fracture and is a long-term absentee.
LUDOGORETS
The Bulgarian champions have been undefeated in the last 14 games, while they won six consecutive, so their current positive position in the Europa League group C is not surprising at all. Ludogorets beat Hoffenheim at home and avoided defeat in Turkey against Basaksehir, and are in the 2nd place with two points behind Braga. Although I don’t think this match will have a big impact on the winner of the group, if the Eagles get a good result in Portugal, they will have solid chance to qualify for the knockout stage.
Ludogorets have played 22 games in the 2017/18 so far, recording 14 victories, five draws, and three losses, with a goal difference of 43:17, which is a bit over 2.7 goals per contest on average. Two of those three defeats came away from home to Hapoel Beer Sheva and Zalgiris in the UCL qualification phase. Still, they managed to keep their net intact at Basaksehir, and if they repeat it here, Ludogorets can be proud of themselves.
The Bulgarians also have several key players who can all create havoc in opposing boxes, such as Claudiu Keseru with six goals and six assists. The right-winger Jody Lukoki added five goals and three dishes, while the Brazilian duo Wanderson and Marcelinho bagged five goals each. The left-winger Vura is suspended for this clash, while the goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov is out with a patella rupture.
Braga (Por) vs. Ludogorets (Bul) – Match Prediction
There is a lot of Brazilians on both teams, and they are playing similar football, so I cannot separate them at the moment. That’s why I opted for a draw, as I am not sure on the final outcome or number of goals.
MY PICK: Draw (+252)
