Europa and Conference League Betting Tips: How will the English teams get on tonight?

The final stages of European Football are approaching, and we have five tips from the Europa League and Europa Conference League quarter-finals. 

Benfica host Marseille, hoping to pile more misery on the stuttering French side, while two Italian juggernauts clash at the San Siro. Europa League favourites Liverpool host free-flowing Atalanta and West Ham face Bayer Leverkusen. Finally, Aston Villa hosts Lille in the Europa Conference League. 

Benfica vs Marseille

Kick Off: 20:00

After defeating Rangers in the last round, Benfica have drawn French powerhouses Marseille in the quarterfinals. 

Roger Schmidt’s side currently sit second in the Primeira Liga after defeat to bitter rivals Sporting CP last weekend. Not only did this defeat put Sporting firmly in the ascendancy for the title, but it also halted a six-game unbeaten run for the Eagles.

That win made it 14/14 at home for Lisbon, bettering Benfica’s home league record by just four points. Schmidt’s side have been one of the most in-form home teams in the world, winning 12/14 in the league at the Estadio da Luz. They also defeated Toulouse 2-1 at home in the last leg of the Europa League. 

They host a Marseille side who were on course to top the ‘group of death’ before a late Joao Pedro goal saw Brighton leapfrog them. 

It has been a topsy-turvy season for Les Phoceens who are currently eighth in Ligue 1. Jean-Louis Gasset is the current manager after being appointed in January, mere days after famously being sacked by Ivory Coast mid-Afcon. 

His side are on a four-game losing streak, including a damaging 0-2 home loss to bitter rivals PSG - a game the visitors played with ten men for the whole second half. 

The iconic Stade Velodrome is a cauldron of noise and is a ground where Marseille have conceded just nine league goals. However, away from home, Marseille are the worst away side in the league, picking up just 10 points on their travels. They also lost to Villareal 3-1 away from home in the last round. 

With Benfica’s strong home form and Marseille’s away struggles, Benfica presents a nice price to win on Thursday. 

Prediction: Benfica win @ 1.86

Liverpool vs Atalanta

Kick Off: 20:00

Europa League favourites Liverpool host Italian side Atalanta, hoping to make it 11 wins from 12 at Anfield in 2024.

Liverpool are currently in the midst of an encapsulating three-way title tussle with Manchester City and Arsenal, so Jurgen Klopp could be forgiven if he was to not prioritise the Europa League. However, the German is ambitious and wants to win every trophy available before he leaves the club. 

The Reds sailed into the quarterfinals, defeating Sparta Prague 11-2 on aggregate after topping their group. However, Liverpool conceded in both wins, a theme that has started to become a familiar tail for Klopp’s side. 

Liverpool have conceded in their last seven games, despite winning four of these. This includes home wins against Sparta Prague, Brighton and Sheffield United. They also conceded in wins against Luton, Norwich, Brentford, Burnley, Leicester and Bournemouth to name a few. 

Their dominant mentality sees them want to win by as many goals as possible, often leading to them being exposed in transition. 

They host an Atalanta side who have become renowned for their entertaining football. Gian Piero Gasparini’s side are currently sixth in Serie A, having scored 55 goals in 30 games. In their 17 games in 2024, they’ve only failed to score on two occasions. Le Dea have also scored in all eight Europa League games this campaign. 

Atalanta will be expected to lose against a strong Liverpool side but can take solace in their host’s recent defensive struggles. 

Prediction: Liverpool win and Both Teams To Score @ 2.56

AC Milan vs Roma

Kick Off: 20:00

Two Italian juggernauts AC Milan and Roma meet at the world-famous San Siro in a mouth-watering clash. 

After breezing past French side Rennes in the playoffs, Milan avoided a potential banana skin in the next round as they defeated Slavia Prague 3-7 on aggregate. Rome also had a comfortable win, beating Premier League’s Brighton and Hove Albion 4-1, thanks massively to a dominant 4-0 home win. 

The sides are separated by 13 points in the league, with AC Milan comfortably in second, while Roma have a battle on their hands to dislodge Bologna in fourth and finish in the Champions League places. 

For many, the San Siro is a bucket-list stadium. This, however, cannot be said for other Serie A teams, with AC Milan boasting 35 points from 15 games at home, conceding just eight goals. One of these wins came in January against Roma, with Stefano Pioli’s side emerging as comfortable 3-1 winners, completing a double over I Giallorossi. 

Roma have struggled on their travels, picking up just nineteen points from their 15 away games. They also only won one of their five Europa League away games – scrapping a 2-1 victory over FC Sheriff. 

AC Milan have won seven games in a row and will be expecting to make it eight against their Italian counterparts on Thursday. 

Prediction: AC Milan win @ 1.83

Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham

Kick Off: 20:00

In West Ham’s third visit to Germany in this season’s Europa League, they head to Bundesliga table-toppers Bayer Leverkusen in a daunting clash for the Hammers.

Xabi Alonso’s side have arguably been the best in the world this season and look on course for an unprecedented invincible treble. They currently sit 16 points clear in the Bundesliga, having dropped just eight points all season.  

As is to be expected from a German side, Vizekusen play an exciting, high-octane style of football, preferring to play football in the opposition’s half. Coming up against a West Ham side renowned for their conservative style of play, we should see Leverkusen dominate from the start. 

With Alonso’s side still competing on all three fronts, squad management is imperative. Therefore, the Spaniard will be hoping to wrap up the tie in the first leg so he can rotate in the second. 

The 2-2 draw with Qarabag in the away tie in the last round was one of two games Leverkusen have failed to win in their last nine, showcasing just how dominant they’ve been. In the group stages, Alonso’s side won all six games, scoring 19 and conceding just three. 

Of their 21 home games all season, they’ve won 19, winning by at least two in twelve of these. Against a West Ham side that can be inconsistent, Leverkusen look good value to extend this record to 13. 

Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen -1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.16

Aston Villa vs Lille

Kick Off: 20:00

Aston Villa and Lille are both engulfed in a battle for the top four in their respective leagues, so will be relieved to have the distraction of the Europa Conference League on Thursday. 

After just one win in their last five league games, the top four is out of Aston Villa’s hands, with Unai Emery’s side having to rely on Tottenham slipping up. The Villans prided themselves on their form at Villa Park, boasting a flawless record earlier in the season. However, the 3-3 draw with Brentford and the 0-4 loss to Tottenham suggest cracks are starting to appear. 

Lille are currently unbeaten in their last seven games as they make a late charge for the top four. After defeating bitter rivals Lens 2-1, Paulo Fonseca’s side also beat Marseille 3-1, so confidence is high for LOSC.  Lille have scored in their last 12, with Jonathan David showcasing his fine attacking prowess. 

While Aston Villa didn’t concede against Ajax, the group stages saw them keep just one clean sheet – at home to Bosnian minnows Zrinjski Mostar. Both teams to score has landed in 22/32 of Villa’s Premier League games. 

Lille were handed a relatively weak group, being pitted against Klaksvik (Faroe Islands), Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia). While they kept clean sheets against the low-scoring Klaksvik and Ljubljana, Lille saw both teams score in both games against Bratislava. This was also the case in the qualifiers against Croatian side Rijeka. 

Both teams to score has landed in 8/14 Lille away games in Ligue 1, as well as their last five in all competitions. 

Prediction: Both Teams To Score @ 1.81

Recommended Bets:

Back Benfica to beat Marseille @ 1.86
Back Liverpool to beat Atalanta and Both Teams To Score @ 2.56
Back AC Milan to beat AS Roma @ 1.83
Back Bayer Leverkusen to beat West Ham with a -1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.16
Back Both Teams To Score in Aston Villa vs Lille @ 1.81