Europa League Matchday 2: Top Betting Games & Expert Picks

It’s another busy week of soccer, with multiple tournaments going on at the same time, as well as the domestic leagues continuing their business.

The Champions League games were all played over the last couple of days, so Thursday means turning our attention to the Europa League.

My Europa League Betting Analysis

While this is certainly not the most glamorous of the European competitions, you can bet that every team taking part will be doing all they can to hoist this silverware.

The new format for the Europa League has each team playing 8 times, with all of them in a single league.

The top 8 automatically move on, while teams 9 through 24 go into a playoff to determine the other 8 knockout spots. Let’s look at the best games coming up on Matchday 2.

Lazio -104 vs Nice +280

When: Thursday, October 3, 2024, 12:45 PM
Where: Stadio Olimpico, Roma, Italy

It was a tricky start to the competition for Lazio, who had to go on the road to face Dynamo Kyiv, but they made it look pretty easy, coming away with a big 3-0 win.

Nice also had a tough opener, going against Real Sociedad, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home, and now they need to go on the road for a game that is probably going to be tougher still.

Lazio is coming off a league win this past weekend, while Nice had another draw in league play. I like Lazio at home in this one.

UEL Pick: Lazio 2-0 Nice

Ferencvaros +410 vs Tottenham -179

When: Thursday, October 3, 2024, 12:45 PM
Where: Groupama Arena, Budapest, Hungary

Speaking of tough road trips, no team every finds it easy to go into the hostile environment that tends to come against Turkish clubs.

Ferencvaros will be hoping to use home field to their advantage in what is a very difficult matchup against EPL opposition.

The Turkish side lost their opening game on the road against Anderlecht, going down 2-1 in that game.

Tottenham made it look easy with a 3-0 win in their opener against Qarabag, even while playing with 10 men for a portion of the game.

Spurs have now won each of their last 4 games.

UEL Pick: Ferencvaros 1-3 Tottenham

Slavia Prague -128 vs Ajax +320

When: Thursday, October 3, 2024, 12:45 PM
Where: Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czechia

Both of these teams had very winnable fixtures in their opening games, so this will be the first real test for both.

Slavia Prague had to go on the road in Matchday 1, but they were able to pick up a comfortable 2-0 win over Ludogrets in that one.

Ajax opened at home and cruised to a 4-0 win over Besiktas. Both teams have been in great form over their last 5 games, with Prague going perfect in that run, while Ajax has 4 wins and a draw during that stretch.

UEL Pick: Slavia Prague 1-2 Ajax

Porto +137 vs Manchester United +184

When: Thursday, October 3, 2024, 3:00 PM
Where: Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal

Depending on which reports you choose to believe, this could be the final week in charge of Manchester United for Erik Ten Hag, assuming results don’t go well.

United are coming off a disappointing opening game in this tournament, drawing 1-1 with FC Twente, thanks in large part to some wasteful finishing.

Porto are still reeling after losing 3-2 to Bodo/Glimt in their opener, so this is something of a must win game for both teams.

🗓️ In case you missed it: our 2024/25 #UEL schedule has been confirmed…

Which fixture are you most excited for? 💭#MUFC pic.twitter.com/lhFJROdDek
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 31, 2024

UEL Pick: Porto 0-1 Manchester United

Europa League Matchday 2, Thursday, October 3

RFS +740 vs Galatasaray -319 (12:45 pm ET)
Maccabi Tel-Aviv +212 vs Midtjylland +113 (12:45 pm ET)
Olympiacos +113 vs Braga +220 (12:45 pm ET)
Qarabag -103 vs Malmo +248 (12:45 pm ET)
Hoffenheim +111 vs Dynamo Kyiv +208 (12:45 pm ET)
Besiktas +172 vs Eintracht Frankfurt +137 (3:00 pm ET)
Twente +189 vs Fenerbahce +130 (3:00 pm ET)
Viktoria Plzen -129 vs Ludogrets +340 (3:00 pm ET)
Elfsborg +340 vs AS Roma -134 (3:00 pm ET)
PAOK -165 vs FCSB +410 (3:00 pm ET)
Union SG -108 vs Bodo/Glimt +260 (3:00 pm ET)
Rangers +147 vs Lyon +162 (3:00 pm ET)

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UEL Matchday 2 Odds to Win Today

Top 10 Teams’ Odds to Win the Europa League 2024/25

Tottenham +420
Manchester United +540
Roma +870
Athletic +940
Real Sociedad +1125
Lazio +1200
Porto +1575
Galatasaray +1575
Fenerbahce +1800
Olympique +2000

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2023 UEFA Europa League Matchday 2

The UEFA Europa League Group Stage continues on Thursday when top UEFA league squads that didn’t qualify for the Champions League throw down. Ajax heads to AEK Athens a big time underdog. Marseille hosts Brighton a slight home dog, and Freiburg battles Premier squad West Ham in what should be the day’s most competitive matchup. Check out odds, analysis, and free picks for six of Thursday’s top Europa League games.

Check out lines for UEFA Europa League, plus the betting analysis and free picks for six of Thursday’s best games.

UEFA Europa League Odds for Group Stage Final Games of Matchday 2 | MyBookie Soccer Preview

2023–24 UEFA Europa League | 53rd season of Europe’s premier club football tournament
Matchday 2: Thursday, October 5th, 2023

AEK Athens vs Ajax Amsterdam

UEL Odds: AEK Athens +118; Ajax Amsterdam +210
Thursday, October 5th at 12:45 pm ET
OPAP Arena, Athens, Greece

The road underdog is in awful form. Ajax has lost 3-of-5 with a couple of draws. The last match was a disaster as Feyenoord dropped Ajax 4-1.

Athens has won 4-of-5. The lone loss came in the last match, though. Losing to OFI Crete via a 2-0 score is a sign Athens’s form could be heading south. Backing Ajax makes sense.

Europa League Pick: Ajax Amsterdam | Bet West Ham United vs Backa Topola
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Games

Marseille vs Brighton & Hove Albion

UEL Odds: Marseille +184; Brighton & Hove Albion +139
Thursday, October 5th at 12:45 pm ET
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France

Brighton is a quality squad that plays in a much better league, the EPL compared to Ligue 1, but the odds make the road team unplayable.

Both these teams head into this off 2 straight losses. Brighton’s 2 straight losses came versus Chelsea and via a 6-1 pasting handed down by Aston Villa.

Marseille fell to Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco. The Ligue 1 squad has home pitch advantage, which will mean something in this.

Europa League Pick: Marseille | Bet West Ham United vs Backa Topola
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Games

SC Freiburg vs West Ham United

UEL Odds: SC Freiburg +162; West Ham United +155
Thursday, October 5th at 12:45 pm ET
Europa-Park Stadion, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Bundesliga squad Freiburg hosts West Ham United in what should be an excellent matchup. Freiburg shows 2 wins and a draw in their last 3. West Ham shows 3 wins and a loss to Liverpool in their last 4.

Freiburg has the edge because this happens on their pitch. Not only that, but the Bundesliga squad offers a slightly better payout and in a close match, going with the team offering the better payout is the wise play.

Europa League Pick: SC Freiburg | Bet West Ham United vs Backa Topola
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Games

Sporting CP vs Atalanta

UEL Odds: Sporting CP +124; Atalanta +214
Thursday, October 5th at 12:45 pm ET
Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal

Both squads are playing excellent soccer. In their last, Atalanta drew 0-0 versus Serie A rival Juventus. The draw came on the heels of 4 straight wins.

Sporting CP has won 5 straight. The Portuguese Liga team gets home pitch advantage and based on rosters, should be better than Atalanta. Sporting gets the nod.

Europa League Pick: Sporting CP | Bet West Ham United vs Backa Topola
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Games

Liverpool vs Union St-Gilloise

UEL Odds: Liverpool -1.5 -170; Union St-Gilloise +1.5 +132
Thursday, October 5th at 3:00 pm ET
Anfield, Liverpool, England

Liverpool should be playing in the Champions League, not the Europa League. Since the season started, Pool has designated themselves a legit contender to unseat Manchester City as the English Premier League’s top squad.

The 2-1 loss to Tottenham in London in the last shouldn’t bother soccer handicappers. Union St-Gilloise won’t touch the Reds. Pool covers the handicap spread.

Europa League Pick: Liverpool -1.5 | Bet West Ham United vs Backa Topola
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Games

Villarreal vs Stade Rennais

UEL Odds: Villarreal +104; Stade Rennais +246
Thursday, October 5th at 3:00 pm ET
Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal, Spain

Based on recent form, the home team is the loser. Villarreal’s last win came against Almeria on Sep 17.

Since then the home squad has lost 2 and drawn twice. Stade Rennais has won 2-of-3. We’d go for the draw but the odds on the road squad entice.

Europa League Pick: Stade Rennais | Bet West Ham United vs Backa Topola
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Games

2023 UEFA Europa League Matchday 2 Schedule

Date	Time	Round	Home		Away
October 5	12:45 p.m.	Matchday 2	AEK Athens	vs.	Ajax Amsterdam
October 5	12:45 p.m.	Matchday 2	Aris Limassol	vs.	Rangers
October 5	12:45 p.m.	Matchday 2	Marseille	vs.	Brighton & Hove Albion
October 5	12:45 p.m.	Matchday 2	Raków Czestochowa	vs.	SK Sturm Graz
October 5	12:45 p.m.	Matchday 2	Real Betis	vs.	Sparta Prague
October 5	12:45 p.m.	Matchday 2	SC Freiburg	vs.	West Ham United
October 5	12:45 p.m.	Matchday 2	Sporting CP	vs.	Atalanta
October 5	12:45 p.m.	Matchday 2	TSC Backa Topola	vs.	Olympiacos
October 5	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 2	AS Roma	vs.	Servette
October 5	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 2	BK Hacken	vs.	FK Qarabag
October 5	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 2	Liverpool	vs.	Union St.-Gilloise
October 5	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 2	Maccabi Haifa	vs.	Panathinaikos
October 5	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 2	Molde	vs.	Bayer Leverkusen
October 5	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 2	Slavia Prague	vs.	Sheriff Tiraspol
October 5	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 2	Toulouse	vs.	LASK Linz
October 5	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 2	Villarreal	vs.	Stade Rennais

Bet 2023 UEFA Europa League Matchday 2 Lines