Weekly Accumulator: Avoid English giants for Europa League payout
Published:The Europa League resumes on Thursday night, and with a host of clubs entering following elimination from the Champions League, we think we have selected four winners that accumulate to odds of more than 17/1.
All eyes will be on Manchester United and Manchester City, but with United at 5/6 away at Ajax, and City 8/5 shots at Porto, these prices look too skinny to get behind considering that we cannot be sure what kind of team either will play as they look to prioritise the league, and face stern opposition here.
Stoke, on the other hand, are taking this competition very seriously, and although they have been handed a tough tie in the form of Valencia, Tony Pulis’ men can win in front of a rocking Britannia Stadium at 9/5, welcoming the distraction from a faltering Premier League campaign.
Elsewhere, something has to give when AZ Alkmaar, unbeaten in six European home ties, meet an Anderlecht side who have top-scored in the tournament with 18 goals so far.
AZ look too big at 4/5 to secure the victory that would keep that home run going, and they can inflict Anderlecht’s first defeat here.
Udinese are the third home selection of the accumulator, and the blistering form of forward Antonio Di Natale should help them on their way to success over PAOK at 3/5.
The Italians have a 100 per cent record against Greek opposition at home, failing to concede a single goal in their encounters as of yet.
Sporting Lisbon meanwhile, are the sole away pick of the accumulator, as the Portuguese side travel to Legia Warsaw hoping to justify a generous 13/10 price tag.
Sporting easily topped a strong group on their way to the last 32, and proved the Eastern European climate will not hinder them to a great extent when beating Zurich in the group stage.
Europa League accumulator
Udinese to beat PAOK @ 3/5
AZ Alkmaar to beat Anderlecht @ 4/5
Sporting Lisbon to beat Legia Warsaw @ 13/10
Stoke to beat Valencia @ 9/5
