Mourinho era to start slowly but goals expected at Rangers, plus five other Thursday night acca bets
- Lee Bassin
- 19 August 2021
Rangers and Roma top the bill on a busy night of Europa League and Europa Conference League play-off action.
Rangers, Aberdeen and St Johnstone are all in action on a typically busy night of European soccer, along with the small matter of Jose Mourinho's first competitive game in charge of Roma.
Planet Sport have compiled a list of seven bets from all the major competitions which you can select from for your latest accumulator.
We also have a fantastic new ACCA INSURANCE offer to help you out placing your Wednesday night wagers. This promotion is available to new and existing Planet Sport Bet customers, and full T&Cs apply.
Rangers vs Alashkert
After a pair of losses to Malmo and a shock defeat at Dundee United, Rangers' 5-0 League Cup demolition of Dunfermline last time out will have been a welcome boost to the confidence of the men from Ibrox.
And Steven Gerrard's men should find similar success against an Alashkert outfit who have yet to win in normal time in six games this season, needing an extra-time strike to secure their passage against Kairat Almaty in the previous round.
Rangers to win to nil is 4/6, but we like the look of a home win and over 2.5 goals, which also covers us in case of any consolation goals from the visitors.
Trabzonspor vs Roma
Given the amount of smaller teams in the Europa Conference League, Jose Mourinho may have been slightly miffed that his Roma side were paired with a Trabzonspor outfit who are well-versed in European competition.
The Black Sea Storm will also be high on confidence after a thumping 5-1 away win on the opening day of the season, and a typically Turkish welcome should await the Giallorossi at a packed Senol Gunes Stadium.
The visitors will have to hit the ground running in their first competitive match of the campaign after a patchy pre-season that saw them win just two of their five games, but the Mourinho factor means that they are 17/20 favourites.
Mourinho is also a master of keeping things tight and frustrating his opponents, so we reckon goals will be at a premium in Turkey, with under 2.5 a 17/20 shot.
FK Qarabag vs Aberdeen
Aberdeen's away form is cause for concern ahead of their trip to Azerbaijan, as the Dons have lost two of their four matches away from Pittodrie this season, including a shock defeat at Championship side Raith in the League Cup last time out.
Qarabag are 11/8 favourites for this game, having made an unbeaten start to the season with two wins and three draws in all competitions, but they have failed to score more than once in any of those matches and have averaged less than a goal a game.
And with Aberdeen looking to keep it tight away from home, we reckon under 2.5 goals is the way to go.
LASK vs St Johnstone
St Johnstone's season has yet to ignite after four draws from five in all competitions, but that did include a 1-1 scoreline in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier at Galatasaray and even in a 4-2 defeat in the second leg the Saints held their own for large portions of the game.
Their next European test is a trip to Austria to face a LASK side who have lost just one out of six games in all competitions this season, and the hosts are 40/85 favourites.
However, with the home side having netted in every game they have played this season, and the visitors having scored in their last five games, another profitable play could be backing both teams to score.
Randers FC vs Galatasaray
Galatasaray are in for a tougher challenge than may first appear against little-known Randers FC, as the hosts currently top the Danish Superliga after four wins and a draw from their first five games.
However, the visitors are in decent form themselves after a comfortable win at St Johnstone to seal their play-off passage and a 2-0 win at Giresunspor in their opening league game of the season.
Galatasaray are 21/20 to add another away win against a side who have not played European soccer for five years and have never reached the Europa League group stage.
However, we have a sneaky feeling that in-form Randers will give a good account of themselves in front of their own fans, and both teams to score is 3/4.
Fenerbahce vs HJK Helsinki
Ahead of a tricky trip to Turkey, Helsinki have history against them as they have qualified for the Europa League group stage just once in their last 12 appearances in the competition.
And a poor record of winning just two of the 10 games they have played in the Europa League play-offs is a worrying sign that when they reach this level of competition it usually spells curtains for the Finns.
They may be unbeaten in seven games but none of their opponents were anywhere approaching the level of one of Turkey's 'big three', and the hosts will also be in good spirits after a win in their opening league game of the season.
Fenerbahce to win to nil is sure to be popular at 10/11, but with bigger-priced picks already in the bank, we're happy to take 4/11 on the home win as one of our acca bankers.
Riga FC vs Lincoln Red Imps
Gibraltan champions Lincoln Red Imps face an uphill battle at Riga FC, but there's enough evidence to suggest they can at least get on the scoresheet in the Latvian capital.
Despite being eliminated from the Europa League by Slovan Bratislava, the Imps found the net in both legs, while they also managed to score in one of their Champions League qualifying clashes with CFR Cluj.
And while we expect the more experienced side to prevail, Riga did concede in both games against Maltese minnows Hibernians in the last round, so a home win and both teams to score could be a profitable play.
