We’ve got several crucial European play-off second leg ties to look forward to in midweek, as Celtic and Liverpool are in UEFA Champions League action. Meanwhile, Ronald Koeman’s Everton make the trip to Croatia to play Hajduk Split in their UEFA Europa League play-off second leg.
There’s also Carabao Cup action, as Sheffield United host Leicester City on Tuesday night. The following day, Slaven Bilic’s West Ham United will be looking to avoid an upset, as the Hammers travel to Sky Bet League Two side Cheltenham Town.
- Astana v Celtic – Celtic to Win to Nil (15/4 at BetVictor)
- Nice v Napoli – Napoli to Win (5/6 at BetVictor)
- Liverpool v Hoffenheim – Liverpool to Win and Both Teams to Score (15/8 at Bet365)
- Hajduk Split v Everton – Everton to Win (10/11 at Sky Bet)
- Sheffield United v Leicester City – Leicester City to Win (5/4 at Betfred)
- Cheltenham Town v West Ham United – West Ham United to Win -2 (3/1 at Coral)
Champions League
Celtic and Liverpool both have first leg leads in their Champions League play-off ties, with the pair both clear favourites to make it through to this year’s group stage. Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops were outstanding against Astana in Glasgow, winning 5-0 on Wednesday. As for Liverpool, they did an excellent job out in Germany, beating Hoffenheim 2-1 in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena. Celtic travel to Kazakhstan on Tuesday, while Liverpool host Hoffenheim on Wednesday. We’ll also be taking a look at Tuesday’s game between Nice and Napoli, with the French looking to mount a big comeback.
Astana v Celtic – 22nd August
Celtic head to the Astana Arena in Kazakhstan with a huge 5-0 lead. With the job all but done, can the Hoops also win the away leg? As for Stanimir Stoilov’s men, they will be playing for little more than pride on their own patch.
This looked a tricky tie for Celtic before a ball was kicked in this play-off. However, two own goals, a Scott Sinclair brace and a smart finish by James Forrest has given the Bhoys a massive advantage in this tie.
Brendan Rodgers will now want his side to complete the task in style on Tuesday. We fancy the Scottish champions to beat Astana without conceding again, so have a punt on BetVictor’s 15/4 for the away team to win to nil. That’s a big price and great value given how dominant the Scottish outfit were in the first leg.
Celtic to Win to Nil – 15/4 at BetVictor
Nice v Napoli – 22nd August
One of the standout fixtures of the round is the Nice v Napoli tie. After a routine 2-0 win at home in the first leg, Maurizio Sarri’s Light Blues are the strong favourites to progress to the Champions League group stage.
Despite a fine season in Ligue 1 last term, when Lucien Favre’s side finished third, things have not quite gone to plan for the Eagles time around thus far. Despite overcoming Ajax on away goals in the previous round, Nice have yet to win a game this season, drawing two and losing three.
Napoli are expected to push Juventus close in Serie A this season, as their new campaign kicks off at Verona this weekend. After an easy win on home turf in the first leg, we’re backing the team from Naples to win on the road, too. BetVictor are offering 5/6 for a Napoli triumph.
Napoli to Win – 5/6 at BetVictor
Liverpool v Hoffenheim – 23rd August
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool welcome Julian Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim to Anfield on Wednesday for their Champions League play-off second leg. Having won 2-1 in Germany, the Reds are in the driving seat in this tie and should complete the job in front of a packed Anfield.
However, this is not all done and dusted just yet for Hoffenheim, thanks to Mark Uth’s late goal in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena. Still, the Premier League outfit are the strong favourites to progress.
Although the visitors will come to England and try to take the game to their hosts, Liverpool should have enough to see the job through on Wednesday. Given Liverpool’s highly questionable defence, we think there’s good value in Bet365’s 15/8 for the Reds to win and both teams to score at Anfield.
Liverpool to Win and Both Teams to Score – 15/8 at Bet365
Europa League
After battling past Ruzomberok in the third qualifying round, Everton face Hajduk Split in the play-off round for a place in this season’s Europa League group stage. The Toffees are in pole position after a 2-0 first leg win. However, they still have a little bit of work to do before the real stuff begins in September.
Hajduk Split v Everton – 24th August
Everton have a firm grip on this tie, as they sealed a relatively comfortable 2-0 home win over Hajduk Split on Thursday. Next week, the Toffees travel to the Stadion Polijud in Croatia for the second leg.
It was a pretty easy night for Ronald Koeman’s men on Thursday, with Michael Keane and Idrissa Gueye getting the goals in a 2-0 win at Goodison Park. However, Hajduk had moments in Merseyside, and the Toffees must be wary of their threat on Thursday.
After also beating Ruzomberok 1-0 both home and away in the third qualifying round, Everton’s defence has yet to be breached in the Europa League. We can see them chalking up another win, with Sky Bet pricing the visitors at 10/11. Jordan Pickford looks an assured presence in goals and the Toffees don’t need to attack so we fancy them to pick off the home side here.
Everton to Win – 10/11 at Sky Bet
Carabao Cup
Several Premier League clubs enter at the second round stage of the Carabao Cup next week. The Championship teams were very successful in the first round, as Alex Neil’s Preston North End were the only team from the second tier to be knocked out at the first hurdle. We’ve got several tasty League Cup fixtures to get stuck into next week. On Tuesday, Sheffield United host Leicester City. Meanwhile, West Ham United travel to Cheltenham Town on Wednesday.
Sheffield United v Leicester City – 22nd August
Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United welcome Craig Shakespeare’s Leicester City to Bramall Lane for a second round Carabao Cup tie on Tuesday. The 2015-16 Premier League champions are fancied to progress but the home side will feel they can cause an upset.
Sheff Utd have had a testing start to life back in the Championship, taking just three points from their opening three games. As for Leicester, they were on the wrong end of a thriller at the Emirates Stadium last Friday night, losing their opening Premier League fixture 4-3 to Arsenal.
The Foxes will no doubt be looking for a decent run in the cup this year, and we think they will be too sharp for the Blades on Tuesday. Check out Betfred’s tempting price of 5/4 for a Leicester win.
Leicester City to Win – 5/4 at Betfred
Cheltenham Town v West Ham United – 23rd August
On Wednesday, Gary Johnson’s Cheltenham Town welcome Slaven Bilic’s West Ham United to Whaddon Road. They may be at the bottom end of the EFL pyramid, but Cheltenham will fancy their chances of causing a big upset in this one.
The Robins survived by the skin of their teeth last season, finishing 21st in League Two. As for the Hammers, they ended a tough first season in the London Stadium with a respectable 11th place finish in the Premier League.
In reality, whichever XI Bilic chooses to field should have too much for their fourth-tier opponents on Wednesday. We can’t see a shock here, so have a look at Coral’s 3/1 for West Ham to win -2 in Gloucestershire.
West Ham United to Win -2 – 3/1 at Coral