There's a chance for midweek accumulator success, but expect the favourites to live up to expectations with group-stage places up for grabs
2/7 – Southampton to beat Midtjylland
Ronald Koeman’s side fell 3-0 at home to Everton in their Premier League home opener on Saturday, but an immediate response can be expected in Thursday’s Europa League play-off.
The Saints worked so hard for a place in Europe last term and need to ensure they make the group stages of the competition.
Having beaten Vitesse 5-0 on aggregate in the last qualifying round, there is no doubt Koeman is taking the tournament seriously.
Danish champions Midtjylland are unbeaten this season – winning four games from five – but have lost four of their last five Europa League games and will struggle to hurt the Saints here.
1/2 – Ajax to beat FK Jablonec
Ajax will be fully focused on making the Europa League group stages after their elimination from the Champions League qualifiers and look in a strong position to do so.
The Dutch giants have started the new Eredivisie campaign with two straight 3-0 victories and the 1992 UEFA Cup winners should prove too strong for their Czech opponents in this one.
Jablonec have started their new campaign with just one win in four, and that came on the opening day more than three weeks ago.
A run of two draws and a defeat has followed and they will struggle to produce anything special in Amsterdam here.
1/5 – Borussia Dortmund to beat Odds BK
This seems the easiest selection of the week – the odds are short but it would be difficult to overlook Dortmund here.
The 2013 Champions League runners-up will have both eyes firmly fixed on making the group stages and their Norwegian opponents will struggle to contain them.
The German side started the new Bundesliga season with a convincing 4-0 win at the weekend and have not lost in Norway in two previous European visits.
Odds BK are well into their domestic campaign, but have won just one of their last three in all competitions and will be too weak for Dortmund.
8/11 – Athletic Bilbao to beat MSK Zilina
Few saw Bilbao lifting the Spanish Super Cup ahead of their two-legged tie with FC Barcelona over the weekend, but the underdogs stunned the nation by winning 5-1 on aggregate to lift the trophy for the first time since 1984.
Now attentions immediately turn to their trip to Slovakia as they look to beat Zilina away.
The hosts are unbeaten in all four league games so far but have only managed draws in each of their last two games.
Expect Athletic to be too strong, buoyed by their Super Cup success.
2/5 – Bordeaux to beat FK Kairat
FK Kairat beat Scotland’s Aberdeen to reach the play-off round but their 5,947km trip to Bordeaux on Thursday will be the furthest distance ever travelled for a UEFA club competition.
That only boosts the French side’s chances and a home win is to be expected.
Bordeaux have started their domestic campaign poorly, but beat AEK Larnaka 4-0 on aggregate in the last round of the competition.
Kairat’s 1-1 draw against Aberdeen saw them advance 3-2 on aggregate. They drew 0-0 in the league on Friday, however, and their long-distance travels could be taking their toll.
£10 on the five-fold accumulator returns £55.96.
Money back special: Place a five-fold accumulator (or higher) on any football matches and, if one pick lets you down, Betway will refund you with a free bet up to £25.
*Odds and amounts correct at time of publication but subject to change. See site for latest.
