There’s an action-packed week of football to look forward to, with UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League qualifiers taking place. We’ll be taking a look at the European games involving Celtic, Rangers, Hibernian and Burnley.
The EFL Cup also kicks off this week, as Aston Villa make the trip to Yeovil Town on Tuesday, while Sunderland entertain Sheffield Wednesday on Thursday night.
Champions League
| Date | Time | Match | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14/08/18 | 19:00 | AEK Athens v Celtic | Celtic Win |
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the second legs of the third round of the Champions League qualifiers take place. Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic, who were beaten in the Scottish Premiership at the weekend, have work to do when they face AEK Athens in Greece on Tuesday after a 1-1 stalemate in Glasgow. Can the Bhoys defy the odds and book their place in the Champions League play-off round?
AEK Athens v Celtic
14th August, 19:00, BT Sport
Celtic have it all do in Athens after failing to beat AEK in Glasgow last week. Nevertheless, Rodgers and his side will fancy their chances of getting the job done at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Despite taking the lead early on at Celtic Park, the Bhoys were pegged back on the stroke of half time. Athens had a player sent off in the 57th-minute, but Rodgers’ side failed to take full advantage.
This will be a tough task for the Scottish champions, but we’re backing the Hoops to book their place in the play-off round. Celtic are available at the generous odds of 17/10 to win in Greece on Tuesday.
Celtic Win – 17/10 at Betfred
Europa League
| Date | Time | Match | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16/08/18 | 18:00 | Molde v Hibernian | Molde to Win 2-0 |
| 16/08/18 | 19:15 | Maribor v Rangers | Draw |
| 16/08/18 | 19:45 | Burnley v Istanbul Basaksehir | Burnley to Win 1-0 |
Burnley, Rangers and Hibernian are all in Europa League qualifying action this week. The Clarets face Istanbul Basaksehir at Turf Moor having earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw in Turkey. Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard’s Gers have a 3-1 lead against Maribor in their tie, while Hibernian head to Molde with the score at 0-0. All three British clubs have a great chance to reach the play-off round in the Europa League.
Molde v Hibernian
16th August, 18:00
Neil Lennon’s Hibernian make the trip to Norway this week to play Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Molde at the Aker Stadion. This tie is delicately poised after the sides played out a 0-0 draw at Easter Road last week.
Hibs certainly created more chances on home soil, but the Norwegian outfit held firm and frustrated Lennon’s men. Solskjaer’s troops are now the strong favourites to do the business on their own patch.
Hibernian put on a brave showing in Leith last week, but their best chance of progressing has surely gone after failing to notch on home turf. Molde should be too strong in this one, so back the hosts to win 2-0 at 15/2 at BetVictor.
Molde to Win 2-0 – 15/2 at BetVictor
Maribor v Rangers
16th August, 19:15, Premier 1
Gerrard’s Rangers have a handsome 3-1 lead to protect in Slovenia on Thursday. However, Maribor are not out of this tie just yet. We should be in for an entertaining night at the Ljudski vrt.
Rangers were well worth their 3-1 win last week, with Alfredo Morelos, James Tavernier and Lassana Coulibaly getting the goals. However, Maribor did manage to score an away goal in Glasgow in the 40th minute.
The job is far from done for the Gers, and you can guarantee that the hosts will have a real go from the very first whistle on Thursday. However, we fancy the Scots to qualify by claiming a draw (21/10 at Betfair) in Slovenia.
Draw – 21/10 at Betfair
Burnley v Istanbul Basaksehir
16th August, 19:45
Sean Dyche’s Burnley welcome Abdullah Avci’s Istanbul Basaksehir to Turf Moor this Thursday night. The Lancashire club are now the favourites in this tie.
The Clarets had 29% possession and no shots on target in Turkey, but they still managed a superb 0-0 draw in the away leg. However, at Turf Moor on Thursday, Burnley will need to be far more adventurous to get past this tricky Turkish team.
Just like the first game, we expect this second leg to be another tight affair. With that in mind, check out Bet365’s 5/1 for Dyche’s boys to secure a narrow 1-0 win.
Burnley to Win 1-0 – 5/1 at Bet365
EFL Cup
| Date | Time | Match | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14/08/18 | 19:45 | Yeovil v Aston Villa | Aston Villa to Win -1 |
| 16/08/18 | 19:45 | Sunderland v Sheff Wed | Sunderland Win & BTTS |
The 2018/19 EFL Cup kicks off on Tuesday night, with a number of fixtures taking place. We’ll be focussing on Tuesday’s tie between Yeovil and Aston Villa. A couple of nights later, Sunderland entertain Sheff Wednesday at the Stadium of Light. Manchester City won this cup last year, defeating Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in the final back in February. Who will reign supreme in 2019?
Yeovil Town v Aston Villa
14th August, 19:45, Sky Sports
Aston Villa travel to Huish Park to play Yeovil on Tuesday to get their EFL Cup campaign up and running. These two clubs have never met in any competition before.
The Villans have made a strong start to their Championship season, winning two out of two so far. As for the Glovers, they have picked up just one point from their opening two League Two fixtures.
Regardless of which XI Bruce plays, the Villans should ease past the fourth-tier side on Tuesday. Put a few quid on Villa to win with a -1 goal handicap at 17/10 with Betfair.
Aston Villa to Win -1 – 17/10 at Betfair
Sunderland v Sheffield Wednesday
16th August, 19:45, Sky Sports
On Thursday night, Jack Ross’s Sunderland entertain Jos Luhukay’s Sheff Wednesday at the Stadium of Light in the EFL Cup. Despite being a league below the Owls, the Black Cats are the slight favourites in this cup clash.
Ross has made a solid start to life at Sunderland, winning one and drawing one of two League One fixtures up until now. Wednesday, meanwhile, have picked up one point from two games in the Championship.
This promises to be an enjoyable fixture in Wearside, and we fancy Sunderland to come out on top. Take advantage of Bet365’s decent price of 15/4 for the hosts to win and both teams to score on Thursday.
Sunderland Win & BTTS