Europa League: Trends point towards a 6/1 semi-final double
Published:At 2-1 up from the first leg of their semi-final in Switzerland, there will be plenty of belief that Chelsea have already secured their spot in the Europa League final in Amsterdam.
Basel will of course have other ideas though, and the Swiss can breach their hosts in the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have failed to keep a clean sheet in all of their six home matches in Europe this season, shipping a first half goal in all but one of them.
The only visiting team to fail to net in the opening 45 minutes – Denmark’s FC Nordsjaelland in the Champions League – did so a minute into the second period, and so there is sure to be some support for Basel to do the majority of their scoring at the Bridge in the opening half, a prospect priced at 29/10.
Chelsea – who won four of those six European home games in which they conceded – should still have enough to progress though, and are 2/1 to win in 90 minutes with both teams scoring.
In the other semi-final, Fenerbahce will know that if they can keep things as tight as they have so far in Europe this season, then Amsterdam will be calling.
There have been under 2.5 goals in each of the Turkish side’s last seven Europa League games, whilst all of their last five on the road in Europe have also featured just two goals or fewer.
At 1-0 up from the first leg of their tie against Benfica, Aykut Kocaman’s side are unlikely to go on the attack in the Portuguese capital, and so the 10/11 for under 2.5 goals is sure to attract punters.
Coupled with Basel breaching Chelsea in the first half of their tie that pays well over 6/1 in a double, a price which is likely to find support.
