5 Europa League Tips to Watch This Week - Gameweek 3

In the last Europa League gameweek, Tottenham Hotspur were n the opposite end of an upset as they lost 1-0 to Royal Antwerp after never really threatening throughout the game. This result has put Jose Mourinho’s side in danger of missing out on a qualification spot as they are tied in second on three points with LASK, but in reality, the club should still breeze through.

On the other hand, Ludogorets Razgrad approach this fixture in poor form as they sit bottom of the table on zero points. Although, worryingly for Spurs, they have scored four goals in their two matches which is more than Mourinho’s men.

Unfortunately for the Bulgarian team, they have also conceded six goals and with Gareth Bale now off and running again in Spurs colours, we're backing the Welshman to score again. The Real Madrid loanee has scored once in four matches this season, but with his latest goal being a winner against Brighton & Hove Albion, this could be the start of a goalscoring run.

If the Lilywhites can improve from their lacklustre display against Antwerp, this should be easy work in Bulgaria - odds for Bale to score and Tottenham to win are now priced at 11/8.

Approaching this fixture, Napoli have been in nervous form after suffering a defeat to Sassuolo last weekend in the Serie A as well as a defeat to AZ Alkmaar on the opening gameweek of the Europa League.

In two of their most recent wins, Gennaro Gattuso’s men have been low scoring with both fixtures ending with one goal separating the sides. In their last five games, only once have they scored more than two goals in a match, with that coming against Atalanta.

On the other hand, Rijeka head into this European fixture in poor form, as they have lost their last three games as they conceded seven and scored only once. So far in the European competition, they sit bottom of Group F on a minus four goal difference as they are set to face the top-seeded side.

Now, with Napoli’s form in finding the net being poor recently, this should be a lower scoring fixture and a win for the Italian out. Therefore, we have backed Napoli to win and under 3.5 goals in the match at current odds of 1/1.

In the Europa League this season, 1899 Hoffenheim have been one of the strongest sides so far as they have claimed all six points and looked unbeatable in each fixture. On top of this, the side have scored six goals and only conceded one, which came against Gent in a 4-1 win.

However, this form has not been shown in the Bundesliga, in which they are in 12th after netting just 10 goals and conceding 10 in only six matches.

Slovan Liberec, on the other hand, have been in strong form with three wins in their last four fixtures. Although, their last fixture was a 5-1 humiliation by Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League;this was a side that Sebastian Hoeness’ men beat 2-0 earlier in the competition, however.

This should be a more one-sided goal-fest for the German outfit, which would see them rise to nine points in the Europa League and step one foot into the knockout rounds. Currently, odds of Hoffenheim to win and over 4.5 goals in the match is priced at 13/8.

Both Arsenal and Molde are level on points in Group B in the Europa League and are only separated via goal difference of two, forcing this fixture into great importance.

The Gunners have turned their form around slightly in the Europa League, scoring five and conceding only once in their first two fixtures, despite coming from behind late on against Rapid Vienna.

Mikel Arteta’s men will want to continue their run of two wins after beating Dundalk and Manchester United in the two most recent fixtures. However, twice we have seen the Gunners drawn a blank in the last five games as they suffered two defeats.

Molde are incredible form in their own right having won six of their last six matches in all competitions and the fixture against Ferencvaros in the Champions League qualification match, back in September, was the last time the side has not scored a goal.

However, with the huge difference in quality, Arsenal should take the three points in this one. As a result, odds of Arsenal to win and BTTS is now priced at 6/4.

Arguably the biggest fixture this Europa League weekend is between Leicester City and Braga, who are currently level on points in Group G with both sides scoring five and letting in just the one.

Looking back on the recent Europa League fixtures, Braga striker Paulinho Dias Fernandes, has scored in both games against AEK Athens and Zorya. Although this is the only form he has been in as outside the competition, the Portuguese man has not scored in five games this campaign. Paulinho has only registered two assists in the Primeira Liga.

Harvey Barnes is also in solid form with two goals in his last four matches played, with his last goal coming against Leeds United on Monday in a 4-1 win. The Leicester winger played brilliantly in the first match of the Europa League, but was benched for the second as the new signing, Cengiz Under, started over him.

With the Turkish player yet to register for Brendan Rodgers’ men, it would be hard to see him start over Barnes in this fixture. With this fixture held on a knife-edge, it should be a highly entertaining match and could see a few goals. Odds of Barnes and Paulinho to score in this fixture is now priced at 15/2.