5 UEFA Europa League Tips - 15/9/22

The first tip takes us to Group G where Greek champions Olympiakos hosts high-flying Freiburg, in what should be a great match between two teams that are expected to qualify for the knockout stages.

Olympiakos did lose their opening game 2-1 to Nantes however, and they are on a run of poor form – they have just one win out of their last six in all competitions. Thursday’s opponents Freiburg have made a great start to the season, with Christian Streich’s men winning four of their opening six Bundesliga games.

Freiburg’s impressive form sees them sat in 2nd place in the Bundesliga, ahead of the likes of Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig. One reason for their superb form and start to the new season has been the form of Vincenzo Grifo and Michael Gregoritsch, who both have three league goals to their name so far.

The duo are the dangermen for Freiburg, and considering the contrasting form of the two sides, we can see Grifo scoring here and leading his side to a win, on top of this, the Italian has already scored in this competition (against Qarabag on matchday 1).

Our second tip takes us to Group E, where Manchester United travel to Eastern Europe to take on the impressive Sheriff Tiraspol in an early kick-off.

The hosts ran out 3-0 winners against Omonia Nicosia in their opening game of this competition, a result that has them currently sat top of the group. But Sheriff faces a tougher test next in Erik ten Hag’s resurgent Manchester United side, who undeservedly lost their opening group-stage match to Real Sociedad after a contentious penalty decision.

The Red Devils were on an impressive run of form prior to that loss last Thursday, with four wins on the bounce in the Premier League after initially losing their opening two fixtures.

United should not underestimate Sheriff, however, as they have shown in the past that they are capable of causing major upsets (that 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League springs to mind), so this fixture will be a tough one to call. But with both teams desperate for the 3 points here, we can expect to see goals from both sides.

Our third Europa League tip takes us to Group C, where Roma hosts Finnish side HJK Helsinki at the Stadio Olimpico.

Both sides have made bad starts to the group stage, with the hosts conceding a late winner in their clash with Ludogorets, while Real Betis saw off HJK 2-0. Those results leave the sides in third and fourth respectively at the moment, but this match gives Mourinho’s men the chance to get some points on the board and kickstart their Europa League campaign.

The Giallorossi certainly have enough quality to win this game, with the likes of Paulo Dybala, Andrea Belotti and Lorenzo Pellegrini all likely to start once again after all playing in the loss to Ludogorets last time out.

Dybala has made a great start to life in the Italian capital, with three goals and two assists to his name so far. Thursday’s clash against lowly HJK Helsinki provides the Argentine with the opportunity to break his duck for his new side in Europe, and we think that Dybala will get himself on the scoresheet.

The fourth tip involves Monaco, who hosts Hungarian champions Ferencvaros in Group H.

Both sides have made a good start so far in this competition, with the Hungarian side beating Trabzonspor 3-2 and Monaco defeating Red Star Belgrade 1-0. This should, therefore, be an entertaining clash between the group’s early pace-setters, especially considering the recent form of the two sides.

Ferencvaros have won their last four league games, while Monaco have won two of their last five, also picking up a well-earned point against runaway leaders PSG. The form guide doesn’t give us a major indication of who will emerge victorious from this match, but with Monaco’s superior squad, we think they will have just enough to come out of this with the three points.

Our final tip involves French side Rennes and Turkish side Fenerbahce, who meet in an evening kick-off in Group B.

Both of these sides won their opening match of the group stage by a 2-1 scoreline, with Fenerbahce beating Dynamo Kyiv and Rennes beating Cypriot minnows AEK Larnaca. Both of these clubs are expected to qualify for the next phase of the competition due to their superiority, so this clash should give us an indicator as to which of the two will end up topping the group.

Recent form doesn’t imply that there will be a clear winner in this clash, with both sides in good form coming into this match. The hosts have won four of their last six in all competitions, with the visitors having won five of their last six. It is tough to separate these two sides, so we think that the match is likely to end in a draw.