Europa League Preview – Last 16

By Scott Balaam

                                                                                                                                                       Last week was a bad one for the two remaining English sides, but Rangers shocked their Dutch opponents with a drew. The odds are on City to go out, whilst Liverpool should turn things around the blue side of Glasgow could go through.                                                                                                                                                                                                    Man City v Dynamo Kiev, (agg 0-2), 16R, L2, 17/03 – 18:00

                                                                                                                                                       City know they are going to have to come out and attack from the first minute, they are likely to start with their talented trio of Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko and skipper Carlos Tevez.

                                                                                                                                                       The Ukrainian side are likely to play very defensively, they will look to hit the Sky Blues on the counter attack – The English club are 1/2 to win, a draw has attractive odds of 10/3. 

                                                                                                                                                       Kiev are clear favourites to qualify at 4/11, City will have their work cut out, if you think they can do it then the best odds on the market are 9/4. The most likely player to open the scoring on the night is City’s Mr Reliable – Tevez is 7/2 to get the goals started.

                                                                                                                                                       Liverpool v Braga, (agg 0-1), 16R, L2, 20:05

                                                                                                                                                       The Reds are 1-0 down from the first leg, after Alan scored a penalty after Sotirios Kyrgiakos fouled Mossoro. 

                                                                                                                                                       If they are to overturn the first leg then it will be without captain Steven Gerrard who is still out injured. Andy Carroll came on in the 57th minute last week and is likely to start this time out.

                                                                                                                                                       The ex-Geordie is 4s to score first, which could be a good bet as Liverpool are likely to make the most of the big forward’s height. Liverpool are 2/5 to win on the night but better value is 5/6 for the Reds to qualify.

                                                                                                                                                       Rangers v PSV Eindhoven, (agg 0-0), 16R, L2, 20:05

                                                                                                                                                       A huge game for Rangers, they are still in the hunt for the SPL and struggled past Kilmarnock on Sunday thanks to an own goal. Their next game in domestic football is the League Cup final against Celtic but first they have Dutch giants PSV.

                                                                                                                                                       The Gers are likely to take a defensive approach, making odds of 4/6 for under 2.5 goals interesting. Whilst Rangers are at home, PSV are still favourites to qualify with odds of 4/7 whereas the home side are 13/8.

                                                                                                                                                       Best of the Rest

                                                                                                                                                       After City’s poor first leg Porto are now the favourites, they are 7/2 to lift the trophy in Dublin – followed by Villarreal and Liverpool are 7s.

                                                                                                                                                       The favourites have a 1-0 lead against CSKA Moscow and should make it through as they have comfort of home soil – 4/7 for the Portuguese side to win is very good value. Villarreal have two away goals against high flying German side Bayer Leverkusen after the first leg and at evens are good value to win on the night.

                                                                                                                                                       One tie that looks dead is Zenit St Petersburg against FC Twente where the Dutch side have a three goal lead, mind you on Russian soil that could change quickly if they get an early goal.