Football Tips Today

What jumps out with this bet is that it's 2.50, not evens. Midnite are saying there's a 40% chance it happens; with the implied probability of those odds, I certainly don't see it that way.

This is as short as 1.50 elsewhere, so this'd return £10 extra from a £10 stake (£25 instead of £15), in comparison.

Kane is very short, around the 1.20 mark for a shot on target, the man is odds-on everywhere to win the Ballon d'Or, so that half of the bet is obvious.

Saka is as short as 1.30 in places to register a shot on target; he had one against them in the league phase last season and has landed this bet in each of his twoChampions League appearances this season.

Saka posted 1.97 shots on target per 90 in last season's competition, as Arsenal won 8/8 in the league phase, and since the Premier League started this season, he's hit the target in 10 of 12 (83%) games for club and country.

Viking have shown real courage in their opening two Champions League fixtures this season, which have produced a total of ten goals. That includes a six-goal thriller against Bayern last time out, with the goals shared three apiece. The Norwegian side have shown that they can threaten stronger sides, and they will be confident of at least finding the back of the net. 

However, their main challenge will be keeping Villa at bay. Unai Emery’s men ran riot in their last European outing against Fenerbahce. The hosts racked up 20 shots worth 3.11 xG - Ederson finished the game with five saves in addition to conceding six goals, which shows just how effective Villa were going forward.

This selection has landed in all but one of Bayern Munich’s matches this season, with the exception of a 0-0 draw on the road against Schalke - where they generated an xG of 1.94 and had 52 touches in the opposition box without scoring.

Vincent Kompany’s side are also posting some really impressive underlying numbers, generating an xG of 20.9 in the Bundesliga across just six matches which has translated to 22 goals (3.66 per game). The next highest tally in the Bundesliga, is an xG of 14.0. 

Furthermore, this angle covers Bayern if they have a scenario like they did against Viking last time out in the Champions League where Bayern scored three goals but still failed to come away with all three points. 

The obvious concern here is Arsenal’s defensive record, but I’m willing to take that on at a ground where Bayern have won all four of their matches across the Bundesliga and the Champions League this term by an aggregate scoreline of 23-2. 

Betis have seen BTTS in both of their Champions League matches, with both games ending in Manuel Pellegrini’s side coming away 3-2 winners over Lille and Porto.

Their win over Porto last time out saw Betis register an xG of 1.68 from 17 shots. They’ve seen BTTS in each of their last four matches, including seeing seven goals in a 5-2 defeat to Barcelona over the weekend - where they still managed to record an xG of 1.24.

Feyenoord have also seen BTTS in both of their Champions League matches this season, losing 5-1 to Barcelona in their opening game before securing their first three points of the competition against Como with a 3-2 victory.

Feyenoord followed that 3-2 win with a seven goal thriller against Telstar over the weekend, coming out on the right side of the result in a game where they registered an xG of 3.81.

Real Madrid put on a classy performance over the weekend as they beat Sevilla 4-1 at home, which was notable for a superb goal from Kylian Mbappe who scored twice in the contest.

Madrid have had some small issues at the start of this campaign, but that’s mainly in comparison to Barcelona - who are the best team in Europe right now. 

They’ve won each of their last three matches ahead of this clash, and should have too much quality for a Leipzig that lost 6-1 to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena over the weekend. 

That result shows that while Leipzig are an entertaining and promising side, they still struggle against the elite teams on the continent and we should see that play out again here.

This goes without saying really, this game stinks of goals.

Bayern are one of the best attacking teams in Europe, averaging 3.67 goals per game in the Bundesliga this season. At home, that rises to 6.0.

They’ve been just as prolific in the Champions League, averaging four goals per game. They can be vulnerable at the back, though, as we saw last week when Viking stuck three past them.

Arsenal have looked just as strong, scoring three against high-flying Lille last week, as well as finding the net away to Napoli in Matchday 1.

The last meeting between these sides finished 3-1 to Arsenal, with BTTS and Over 2.5 Goals landing. I’d be very surprised if tonight’s game didn’t end in a similar fashion.

Both Arsenal and Bayern’s games have produced decent card numbers in the Champions League this season.

Both of Arsenal’s games have seen three cards, with the Gunners picking up two against Lille last week.

Bayern and Viking both received two cards last week, while Bayern also drew two cards from Bodo/Glimt in Matchday 1.

Both teams also received 2+ cards in their meeting last year which only adds to the appeal.

Both sides have landed 4+ corners in every Champions League game this season. Their stats read:

Arsenal

• 6 Corners v Napoli

• 7 Corners v Lille

Bayern Munich

• 6 Corners v Bodo

• 15 Corners v Viking

In the league this season, Bayern’s home matches are averaging 12.34 total corners, while Arsenal’s away fixtures average 9.25.

Given how high-scoring I expect this game to be, I can see corners coming naturally. With both sides consistently landing this, I think this leg looks particularly solid.

Getting this Boosted to 20/1, up from 13/1, feels huge.

If you look at last Wednesday’s UCL 8pm fixtures, they did not disappoint. 13/14 teams landed 3+ Shots on Target, as well as 12/14 teams picking up at least one card.

If we look more specifically at the teams playing today, the stats look even stronger.

All 14 teams playing at 8pm tonight landed 3+ shots on target in Matchday 2, and we only need 2+ from each tonight.

In terms of cards, 12/14 teams also picked up at least one, with Sporting and Aston Villa the only exceptions after both recorded comfortable wins.

If last week is anything to go by, we could be in for another treat tonight. It might look like a bit of a punt on paper, but the stats behind it are seriously strong.

This is about as generous as you’ll get for Kane to have a few shots on target, he’s incredibly consistent with this metric and has started the season really well for Bayern Munich.

Kane has netted four goals across his five starts in the Bundesliga this season, taking 29 shots across these matches (5.87 per 90) and seeing nine of them find the target (1.82 per 90). 

That shot volume is what pulls me into this selection, there aren’t many strikers you’d back to hit the target at least twice from that sample size so regularly - or even get that many chances in a game. 

Kane also seems to go up an extra level in the Champions League, netting three goals across the two games so far from six shots on target (3.00 per 90). He maintained a similar record in the Champions League last season, averaging 2.17 shots on target per 90 across his 12 starts.

This selection has landed in all but one of Bayern Munich’s matches this season, with the exception of a 0-0 draw on the road against Schalke - where they generated an xG of 1.94 and had 52 touches in the opposition box without scoring.

Vincent Kompany’s side are also posting some really impressive underlying numbers, generating an xG of 20.9 in the Bundesliga across just six matches which has translated to 22 goals (3.66 per game). The next highest tally in the Bundesliga, is an xG of 14.0. 

Furthermore, this angle covers Bayern if they have a scenario like they did against Viking last time out in the Champions League where Bayern scored three goals but still failed to come away with all three points. 

The obvious concern here is Arsenal’s defensive record, but I’m willing to take that on at a ground where Bayern have won all four of their matches across the Bundesliga and the Champions League this term by an aggregate scoreline of 23-2. 

Ezri Konsa has had to fill in for William Saliba this season with the Frenchman picking up an injury at the start of the campaign. I was interested to see how this played out, with Saliba being such a crucial part of Arsenal’s defensive set up over the last few years - but Konsa has slotted in really well.

One of his best attributes is winning fouls. He’s a really intelligent player, and knows how to manage opposition strikers really well. He’s won 10 fouls across his five starts in the Premier League this season (1.95 per 90), a record that ranks Konsa within the 94th percentile for foul won when compared to other Premier League centre backs.

Furthermore, Konsa was fouled twice in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Napoli on Matchday 1 of the Champions League final where he was in a real scrap with Rasmus Hojlund. Kane won’t be as clumsy as the Napoli forward, but he’s certainly capable of falling foul to Konsa’s intelligent movement. 

I do think we’ll see Arsenal have some joy in this game, and they may have to tap into a route that worked for them consistently last season in set pieces.

Arsenal won six corners in Naples on Matchday 1, and followed that tally with seven against Lille at the Emirates on Matchday 2. Bayern is obviously a step up in quality from those sides, but this is a really low line for Arsenal to cover.

Arteta’s side are averaging 5.00 corners per game in the Premier League this term, winning at least three corners in every competitive game this season.

Bayern conceded seven corners against Viking last time out, and even allowed Bodo Glimt to cover this line when they welcomed the Norwegian side to the Allianz Arena on Matchday 1.

This is about as generous as you’ll get for Kane to have a few shots on target, he’s incredibly consistent with this metric and has started the season really well for Bayern Munich.

Kane has netted four goals across his five starts in the Bundesliga this season, taking 29 shots across these matches (5.87 per 90) and seeing nine of them find the target (1.82 per 90). 

That shot volume is what pulls me into this selection, there aren’t many strikers you’d back to hit the target at least twice from that sample size so regularly - or even get that many chances in a game. 

Kane also seems to go up an extra level in the Champions League, netting three goals across the two games so far from six shots on target (3.00 per 90). He maintained a similar record in the Champions League last season, averaging 2.17 shots on target per 90 across his 12 starts.

Joshua Kimmich has had a shot in both of his Champions League appearances so far this season and is a good option to test an Arsenal backline that will naturally drop quite deep at times here.

Kimmich is more known for his creative abilities, but all four of his shots in the Bundesliga have come from outside of the box this term (0.76 per 90).

Kimmich has had four shots in total in the Champions League (2.12 per 90), and will line up in midfield here alongside Aleksandar Pavlovic.

Kimmich is not a high volume shooter, but is consistent enough to get at least one shot away here.

He averaged 1.11 shots per 90 across 24 starts in the Bundesliga last season, showing consistency over a larger sample size.

Anis Hadj Moussa is on fire for Feyenoord at the moment, and will be their main threat against this Betis side.

The Algerian has taken 23 shots across just eight starts in the Eredivisie (2.93 per 90), scoring five goals in the process.

He’s been just as shot happy across his two games in the Champions League, taking seven shots across just two starts (3.91 per 90).

This could be a really big season for Hadj Moussa, he already attracted a bit of interest from some of the top clubs in Europe over the summer having registered 20 goal contributions across 40 appearances last season - averaging 2.71 shots per 90 in the Eredivisie and 2.32 shots per 90 in the Europa League. 

Antonio Nusa has long been a player that I’ve been waiting to see more from because of the talent he has, and it looks like a positive World Cup campaign has given him the confidence he needs to be a top winger.

Nusa has taken seven shots across his two starts in the Champions League this season (3.50 per 90), taking three shots against PSV last time out.

He’s also taken 13 shots across his six starts in the Bundesliga this term (2.51 per 90), recording six goal contributions across just six starts - underlining his confidence at the moment.

He’ll line up on the left, putting him up against Trent Alexander-Arnold who will struggle to deal with the pace and positioning of Nusa.

Real Madrid have been far too open in transition in the Champions League this season, conceding 21 shots v Inter and 14 shots v Roma.

Betis have seen BTTS in both of their Champions League matches, with both games ending in Manuel Pellegrini’s side coming away 3-2 winners over Lille and Porto.

Their win over Porto last time out saw Betis register an xG of 1.68 from 17 shots. They’ve seen BTTS in each of their last four matches, including seeing seven goals in a 5-2 defeat to Barcelona over the weekend - where they still managed to record an xG of 1.24.

Feyenoord have also seen BTTS in both of their Champions League matches this season, losing 5-1 to Barcelona in their opening game before securing their first three points of the competition against Como with a 3-2 victory.

Feyenoord followed that 3-2 win with a seven goal thriller against Telstar over the weekend, coming out on the right side of the result in a game where they registered an xG of 3.81.

Real Madrid put on a classy performance over the weekend as they beat Sevilla 4-1 at home, which was notable for a superb goal from Kylian Mbappe who scored twice in the contest.

Madrid have had some small issues at the start of this campaign, but that’s mainly in comparison to Barcelona - who are the best team in Europe right now. 

They’ve won each of their last three matches ahead of this clash, and should have too much quality for a Leipzig that lost 6-1 to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena over the weekend. 

That result shows that while Leipzig are an entertaining and promising side, they still struggle against the elite teams on the continent and we should see that play out again here.

Luis Diaz will come into this high profile Champions League clash with plenty of confidence having scored a hat trick against Leipzig at the weekend as Bayern Munich warmed up with a 6-1 win in the Bundesliga.

Diaz has an opportunity to be the main man again here, especially with Olise being suspended for this game having collected two yellow cards against Viking last time out in the Champions League.

Diaz scored in that 3-3 draw against Viking, and has been posting solid goal contribution numbers since joining Bayern from Liverpool. He registered 45 goal contributions across just 51 appearances for Bayern last season, which is a record that goes a bit under the radar when you have players like Olise and Kane around.

Bayern have scored 2+ goals in all but one of their matches this season, scoring 3+ goals in both of their Champions League games so far. This is an obvious step up in opponent, but it’s hard to make a case for any defence to keep this Bayern frontline quiet. 

Bayern Munich have only kept one clean sheet in their last five matches, despite avoiding defeat across these games.

They conceded three goals on the road against Viking in the last round of the Champions League, as well as shipping goals to the likes of Augsburg and Elversberg in recent weeks. 

Bayern clearly believe in their ability to outscore most teams, and I think they’ll employ a similar strategy here - offering Arsenal chances to get on the scoresheet.

Saka registered a goal and an assist in just 25 minutes against Lille in the Champions League last time out, taking his overall tally for the season to five goal contributions across 10 appearances.

Saka has taken more shots than any other Arsenal player this season, and is only second to Odegaard when it comes to creating chances. He’s a key part of the side, and I think he can hurt Bayern with the issues they’ve had at the back over recent weeks.

Laimer is a really versatile player, he’s expected to line up at left back here but could easily fill in on the opposite side - but both roles are likely to cause him issues against Madueke or Saka.

Madueke has been playing off the left wing quite often this season, notably scoring from that position against Forest last time out. 

It simplifies his game quite a bit, which is good for Madueke - I feel like he often takes too long to make decisions but playing on the same side as his strong foot means that that decision making is taken out a lot of the time for him. It's a smart move by Arteta to get the most out of him while keeping Saka on the pitch.

He’ll be confident going against Laimer, who has been cautioned in his last two matches for Bayern and collected four yellow cards across 10 starts in the Champions League last season. 

It’s even better if Laimer is tasked with handling Saka on the opposite flank, the winger has won 21 fouls across his seven starts in the Premier League this season (3.16 per 90).

I’m really interested in the battle between Kai Havertz and Tah, with Upamecano also being a direct opponent of Havertz here.

Havertz is such a clever player, he uses his body well to hold up the ball, but isn’t afraid to be overly physical. He picked up a card inside just 29 minutes of action against Lille last time out in the Champions League, and he can be the antagonist against Tah here again.

Havertz didn’t play that often in the Champions League last season, but did pick up one caution across his two starts. He also collected one yellow card across similarly limited minutes in the Premier League last season, with much of his campaign disrupted by injury and the arrival of Gyokeres.

Johan Manzambi scored the winning goal in Villa’s 1-0 victory at Newcastle, before being replaced after 70 minutes with a knock. The 20-year-old has downplayed the severity of his injury though, so there is a strong likelihood that he will be fit and available to start midweek. 

If there is even a chance he is ready, Unai Emery is likely to deploy Manzambi in his regular advanced midfield position. Since completing his move from Freiburg, Manzambi has hit the ground running for the Premier League side, scoring in three of his four starts. He is averaging 4.3 shots per 90 across all competitions for Villa, which shows just how involved he has been in the final third, and this is a favourable matchup for him against Viking.

Nicolas Jackson is another summer signing who has made a real difference at Villa Park. The former Chelsea man scored twice during Villa’s 6-0 victory over Fenerbahce in their last European outing. He has now scored five goals in eight starts for his new club.

Jackson has spoken highly of Unai Emery, as the two were both at Villarreal together, and the Spanish manager really knows how to get the most out of Jackson. The striker is playing with confidence again, and he looks a constant danger in the final third. After Ollie Watkins left Villa Park, there were concerns over where goals would come from, but Jackson has filled that void and he will hope to maintain his solid form against Viking here.

Joe Bell is the defensive midfielder for Viking, and this upcoming clash at Villa Park could be one of the toughest of his career. The New Zealand international was carded against Fredrikstad at the weekend, making it five bookings in his last eleven appearances across all competitions.

He is averaging 1.88 fouls per 90 in that time, which shows how willing he is to jump into tackles, and Bell will have plenty to do on Wednesday night. 

The 27-year-old had a difficult night on his Champions League debut, committing two fouls against Stuttgart before being replaced after 62 minutes. He also recorded three tackles in that match.

On the opposite side, Boubacar Kamara is one to keep an eye on defensively. He committed four fouls against Newcastle last time out, taking his averaging to 1.72 fouls per 90 across all competitions for Villa this season. In his ten appearances this season, Kamara has registered a total of 16 infringements, but he has so far been fortunate to escape a booking. 

Last season, Kamara made 18 Premier League appearances, and he was carded in five of those. He can be guilty of committing cynical fouls, and they could come into play against a side like Viking. The Norwegian side drew three yellows and a red from Bayern Munich last week, so they can be a frustrating side to face

Nicolo Tresoldi has scored four goals in his first two Champions League games, including a hat-trick away to Inter Milan, and it's not just the goals. He also leads Brugge in both shots and shots on target, averaging four attempts per 90 minutes.

Brugge have been creating plenty of chances too, with 18 shots against Inter and another 14 against Aston Villa in their opening game.

Lens have conceded in every Champions League and Ligue 1 game this season, allowing an average of five shots on target per match.

Tresoldi is also Brugge's first-choice penalty taker, giving him another chance to get on the scoresheet, especially as the Belgian side have had four penalties in their last six games.

With that being said, Viking benefit massively from their artificial home surface, which they won’t have midweek. The Norwegian side were comprehensively beaten in round one by Stuttgart. The German side recorded 17 shots and four big chances worth 2.18 xG, while the visitors managed just nine shots worth 0.63 xG in return. 

Viking are battling at near the summit of the Norway Eliteserien, but there is a significant gulf in quality between that level of football and the Premier League, and Aston Villa just seem to be finding their feet. They come into this match having beaten Newcastle 1-0 at St James’ Park at the weekend, after winning 6-0 against Fenerbahce in the Champions League.

Viking have shown real courage in their opening two Champions League fixtures this season, which have produced a total of ten goals. That includes a six-goal thriller against Bayern last time out, with the goals shared three apiece. The Norwegian side have shown that they can threaten stronger sides, and they will be confident of at least finding the back of the net. 

However, their main challenge will be keeping Villa at bay. Unai Emery’s men ran riot in their last European outing against Fenerbahce. The hosts racked up 20 shots worth 3.11 xG - Ederson finished the game with five saves in addition to conceding six goals, which shows just how effective Villa were going forward.

It was fitting that Zlatko Tripic was the one who scored Viking’s first Champions League goal - the 33-year-old has spent eight seasons at the club. He had three shots in that round one matchup against Stuttgart, of which one hit the target. He also played an important role in Viking’s draw with Bayern, providing two assists against the German heavyweights. 

Tripic is always involved in the final third, and he will have to play a massive role at Villa Park if his side are to get anything out of it. He is a natural goalscorer, recording double-digit goal counts in his last three full domestic seasons as a Viking player. He will be their primary threat in the final third.

In addition to his output in the final third, Tripic is also averaging 2.54 fouls drawn per 90. He is the main outlet for Viking on that left wing, and Matty Cash is likely to have the tough task of trying to keep him quiet. Tripic usually sees plenty of the ball, which will bring Cash into the game often. 

The Polish international has recently returned from injury, and he has committed multiple infringements in all three starts since then. That includes three fouls against Newcastle last time out. Cash is much more comfortable going forward than he is at defending one-on-one, which bodes well for this selection.

Erik Botheim is another player to target for fouls midweek. The Viking striker is averaging 2.68 fouls per 90 across all competition in the last ten matches for his side, which is the highest figure in the squad. That includes three fouls against Fredrikstad at the weekend, which was enough to earn him a yellow card. 

The striker likes to be aggressive in his duels, and intense in his press up front. He has committed at least one foul in each of his last eleven successive appearances, despite three of those being off the bench. That includes one foul in round one of the Champions League, despite only playing for the final 28 minutes.

Feyenoord averaged 15.5 fouls per game in the first two Champions League rounds, the second-highest figure in the competition, and now they're up against a Betis side that create plenty of chances at home.

Abde Ezzalzouli is Betis' most fouled player, averaging 1.71 fouls won per game, and he's been in great form as the team's top scorer.

Gjivai Zechiël has been playing on the right side of Feyenoord's midfield, which means he could find himself up against Abde.

The Dutch midfielder has committed at least one foul in each of his last four games for Feyenoord and picked up his second yellow card of the season in Feyenoord's last league game.

Referee Simone Sozza is another factor to consider, having shown 13 yellow cards and two reds in his three European club games this season.

Zechiël could be in for a tough night in the Champions League with Ezzalzouli playing so well and a referee who doesn't seem to let much go.

Vinicius Tobias will have the tough job of dealing with Federico Dimarco in the Champions League, and his record in European games is worth a look.

The Brazilian committed one foul and picked up a yellow card against PSV, then committed another two fouls against AEK.

He also picked up four yellow cards in last season's Conference League, so he's got a bit of a history of getting booked in European games.

Dimarco is likely to be playing down Tobias' side, and he's Inter's main man when it comes to crosses, averaging nine per 90 minutes.

Referee Harm Osmers isn't exactly shy about showing cards either, having handed out at least five yellows in each of his last five Europa League games.

With Tobias already picking up cards in European games and a referee who isn't afraid to show them, there's a good chance the Brazilian could get booked again.

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It hasn’t been the best start for Bournemouth in the league so far, but they have fared much better in Europe.

They started with a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad, before securing a 3-0 victory over Sturm Graz last time out.

With six points from their opening two Europa League matches, the Cherries are battling near the top of the standings, and they will hope to maintain that positive record.

However, they face a tough test against a real European heavyweight.

AC Milan beat Atalanta 3-2 at the weekend, and they have only lost one game all season.

There isn’t much to split the two teams, and they both look strong going forward.

Bournemouth have picked up 21 cards in seven Premier League matches - only Hull and Brentford have been shown more bookings this season.

That trend has continued for their midweek matches, as the Cherries were given three yellow cards against Sturm Graz in their last European outing, despite that being quite a comfortable 3-0 win.

Even against Real Sociedad in round one of the Europa League, Bournemouth picked up three yellow cards.

This matchup against AC Milan looks to be their toughest yet, so cards remain a target.

When the Rossoneri came up against Benfica in round one, the Portuguese side were shown five yellow cards.

AC Milan are not short of attacking talent that will cause problems for Bournemouth.

Alphadjo Cisse has adapted seamlessly since completing a move from Catanzo, and he bagged himself a hat-trick during Milan’s 4-0 win over Salzburg in their last European match.

Cisse had four shots in that game before being replaced after 60 minutes, and all of his efforts hit the target.

Cisse has only started five matches this season, but he already has five goals to his name.

He is clinical when chances fall to his feet, and his form at the moment could not be better.

Because of that, he is one to keep an eye on in the final third.

On the opposite side, Evanilson is the danger man for Bournemouth.

The Brazilian was a standout performer at the weekend as his side beat Sunderland 2-0.

Evanilson was brought down by Kevin Danso to get the centre back sent off, before then capitalising on an error to score in the second half.

That was Evanilson’s third goal in as many games - he also scored a wonderful looping header against Sturm Graz in his last European match. 

The Bournemouth striker is averaging 2.81 shots per 90 across all competitions this season, and he has landed this selection in each of his last five starts.

Evanilson has contributed more than just goals for his side this season.

He is the one who leads the press from the front, and he is always looking to get on the ball to make life difficult for opposing centre backs.

In fact, he is averaging 2.32 fouls drawn per 90 this season, which is one of the highest figures in the squad.

He has won multiple fouls in seven of his nine starts overall, and Strahinja Pavlovic will be directly up against him on Wednesday night. 

The Serbian international registered four fouls against Benfica in round one of the league phase, which earned him a booking.

He has landed this selection in five of his nine starts this campaign, but this is an ideal matchup to improve that hit rate.

Celtic have scored in both Europa League matches this season, but that hasn’t been enough to earn them any points, as their defensive structure has let them down.

In fact, the Scottish side have conceded a total of seven goals in their two European outings against Benfica and Ferencvaros.

This is a matchup against another strong opponent, and Celtic are unlikely to keep Celta Vigo at bay.

The Spanish side have also been an entertaining side to watch in recent weeks, and they beat Alaves 2-1 at the weekend.

Prior to that, they suffered a 2-1 loss against Juventus.

Both sides are struggling near the bottom of the Europa League standings, so they will be front-footed and desperate for their first points on the board.

There is very little to split these two teams from pre-match odds, but it’s Celtic who hold home advantage.

They also beat Hearts 7-1 at the weekend in a commanding victory, which might just be the confidence booster they need.

The Scottish side are averaging an eye-catching 7.8 corners per game across all competitions this season, rising to 9.0 when playing at home. 

They have landed this selection in all seven matches at Celtic Park this campaign, including 11 corners against Ferencvaros in the Europa League.

The Scottish side are adept at getting to the byline, and they like to utilise width in their attacks, favouring crosses into the box.

Because of that, corners remain a target.

Camilo Duran has been Celtic’s most in-form player in recent weeks, and he will be crucial if his side are to get anything out of this match.

He scored in that 7-1 win at the weekend, but was unfortunate not to add to his tally.

Duran racked up five shots, all of which came from inside the box, and two hit the target.

The Colombia international also provided two assists, highlighting his influence in the final third. 

Duran bagged in successive matches against Benfica and Motherwell, respectively, and he managed multiple shots on target in both of those games as well.

He has five goals in nine league appearances this term, which is more than any other Celtic player.

In addition to his goalscoring output, Duran is averaging 1.89 fouls drawn per 90 this season across all competitions, and he was fouled five times in his last European outing against Benfica.

Duran often likes to drop deeper to get on the ball, and he carries it well.

The 24-year-old can be such a difficult player to contain, and Yoel Lago will be one of the Celta Vigo defenders responsible for restricting him. 

The Spanish centre back is averaging 1.9 fouls per 90 this season, which is one of the highest among regular starters in the Celta Vigo squad, and he has already picked up four bookings in nine appearances this campaign.

In addition to his goalscoring output, Duran is averaging 1.89 fouls drawn per 90 this season across all competitions, and he was fouled five times in his last European outing against Benfica.

Duran often likes to drop deeper to get on the ball, and he carries it well.

The 24-year-old can be such a difficult player to contain, and Yoel Lago will be one of the Celta Vigo defenders responsible for restricting him. 

The Spanish centre back is averaging 1.9 fouls per 90 this season, which is one of the highest among regular starters in the Celta Vigo squad, and he has already picked up four bookings in nine appearances this campaign.

Besiktas were on the end of a loss at the weekend, but they are a completely different side when playing on home turf.

The Turkish side have won each of their last eight successive games across all competitions at home, with 18 goals scored in their last five matches alone.

That includes a 4-1 win against Marseille in round one of the Europa League.

In round two, Besiktas managed a 3-2 win against Hoffeinheim - another high-scoring encounter.

Palace have been equally as entertaining to watch recently, but defensively they have looked poor.

In fact, the Eagles have conceded eight times in their last two games alone.

Besiktas will hope to exploit that apparent weakness at the back, so they should be front-footed.

They are averaging 6.3 corners per game this season across all competitions, rising to 6.9 when playing at home.

Besiktas are also averaging 20.6 shots per game on home turf, with 6.1 on target, which shows just how attack-minded they tend to be at the Besiktas Stadium. 

Lyon had no issues creating chances against Crystal Palace in their last European outing, and they finished the game with five corners.

The Eagles have conceded at least five corners in four of their last five matches across all competitions, with only Leeds failing to hit this mark.

However, they went close with exactly four corners.

Leandro Trossard is one of the biggest names in this Besiktas squad, and he looks set to start on the left wing.

He has plenty of experience against Premier League opposition, and Crystal Palace, in particular, who he will have fond memories of.

Trossard scored against the Eagles in the 24/25 campaign. 

This season, the Belgian is averaging 3.71 shots per 90 across all competitions, rising to 4.33 at the Besiktas Stadium.

In his last home outing, Trossard recorded a total of five shots, of which three hit the target.

He is adept at picking gaps in opposing defences, and this should be a matchup which the former Arsenal man is looking forward to.

Salih Ozcan landed this selection in his only Europa League start of the season so far, as he committed two fouls against Marseille in round one.

The midfielder is averaging 1.57 fouls per 90 across all competitions this season, rising to 2.3 when playing at home.

There is every reason to expect those figures to rise even further on Thursday night, as Ozcan will be up against Adam Wharton and Quentin Timber in midfield.

Those two have combined for 3.37 fouls drawn per 90 this season. 

Ozcan likes to press intensely in midfield, and he covers plenty of ground.

His fouls don’t tend to be reckless or cynical.

They can often be quite soft, which means he can rack up several infringements before being carded.

On the opposite side, Anan Khalaili is one to target for fouls.

He has been brought in to replace Daniel Munoz at right wingback, so Khalaili is tasked with getting up and down the flank.

However, he is still given a large defensive responsibility, and he is averaging 1.13 fouls drawn per 90.

Khalaili is perhaps more comfortable going forward than he is at the back, meaning he has recorded a foul in six of his seven starts across all competitions. 

Khalaili will be up against Trossard this weekend, and that will be a matchup to keep an eye on.

The winger is averaging 2.6 fouls drawn per 90 at the Besiktas Stadium this season.

Beşiktaş have scored in every home game this season and are averaging an impressive 20 shots per match.

Their two Europa League wins have been pretty entertaining too, beating Marseille 4-1 at home and Hoffenheim 3-2 away, with 37 shots across those two games.

The problem is at the back. They haven't managed a clean sheet in their last five games and have allowed at least 10 shots in each of them.

Crystal Palace have the worst defence in the Premier League and conceded three goals to Lyon in their only Europa League away game so far.

Going forward, though, they've looked much better in Europe, scoring six goals in their first two games. They even managed more shots than Lyon in France.

Dušan Vlahović and Yéremy Pino have been in good form lately, with each scoring three goals in their last five games, and both are available.

That gives us even more reason to expect goals from both sides on Thursday.

It hasn’t been the best start for Bournemouth in the league so far, but they have fared much better in Europe.

They started with a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad, before securing a 3-0 victory over Sturm Graz last time out.

With six points from their opening two Europa League matches, the Cherries are battling near the top of the standings, and they will hope to maintain that positive record.

However, they face a tough test against a real European heavyweight.

AC Milan beat Atalanta 3-2 at the weekend, and they have only lost one game all season.

There isn’t much to split the two teams, and they both look strong going forward.

Hoffenheim just can't seem to keep the goals out. They haven't managed a single clean sheet in the Bundesliga or Europa League this season.

Things get even worse at home, where they've conceded three goals in three of their four games.

The good news is that they've also scored twice in every home game, meaning BTTS has landed in all of them.

Lyon have seen BTTS in four of their last five games and have already shown they can score away from home.

They beat Anderlecht 2-1 in the Europa League and also scored against Fenerbahçe and Sparta Praha in the Champions League qualifiers.

Hoffenheim are averaging 17 shots at home, but they're also allowing 15 per game and have an xGA of 1.93.

With Hoffenheim putting up such strong attacking numbers but struggling so much defensively, we could be in for another entertaining game with goals from both sides.

Brighton come into this clash having won six consecutive matches across all competitions, with 22 goals scored in that time.

They seem to just be getting better and better, and their recent 5-0 demolition of Crystal Palace was perhaps their most impressive victory of the lot.

The Seagulls raced to a 3-0 lead in the first 10 minutes against their rivals, putting them out of sight immediately. 

Meanwhile, Jablonec have been in a real rough patch, with just two wins in their last six across all competitions.

They started their Conference League campaign with a 3-2 defeat against Freiburg, and this looks like an even tougher matchup for the Czech side.

Brighton’s previous Conference League match produced 13 corners against Zalgiris, in what was a completely one-sided game.

The Seagulls recorded 35 shots and nine big chances worth 4.15 xG.

The visitors were penned into their own half for the majority of the match, managing just 22% possession.

This matchup against Jablonec promises to be quite similar, even if Fabian Hurzeler opts to rest some of his key starters.

Brighton are blessed with quality depth in almost every position, so their style of play is unlikely to change.

Freiburg managed five corners against Jablonec last week, but Brighton should be able to create much more than the German side.

Georginio Rutter is a prime example of Brighton’s impressive depth. T

he Frenchman was given the nod to start by Hurzeler in the Conference League last week, and he repaid that trust with a brace.

After such a strong performance, Rutter is likely to afford Charalampos Kostoulas another midweek rest.

Chances have been limited for Rutter this season, but he has looked eager to prove himself when he has played.

Rutter managed one shot against Crystal Palace at the weekend, which hit the target, despite only featuring for the final 19 minutes from the bench.

Prior to that, he registered three shots against Tromso in the Conference League, of which one forced a save from the opposing goalkeeper.

Luka Vuskovic maintained his impressive shooting record for Brighton at the weekend, as the centre back recorded three efforts in total.

One of those hit the target, and he was unlucky to be denied right on the goalline, but Jack Hinshelwood was on hand to turn in the rebound.

Vuskovic is averaging 1.74 shots per 90 across all competitions as a Brighton player, and he has landed this selection in 10 out of 11 appearances in total.

Vuskovic only featured for a second half against Zalgiris last week, but he still recorded one shot.

Brighton had 13 corners in that match, which gave their centre backs plenty of opportunities to get into the box, and that should be the case again here on Thursday evening.

Chances are likely to be few and far between for Jablonec here, so they will have to be positive when the space opens up.

Saidou Alioum is one to keep an eye on for the hosts - he is averaging 3.55 shots per 90 across all competitions this season, which shows how he doesn’t lack the confidence to try his luck from range.

He will be Jablonec’s biggest threat on the break, and Alioum recorded two shots against Freiburg last time out in the Conference League before being replaced after 66 minutes.

The Cameroon international also managed three shots against Viktoria Plzen at the weekend, despite only featuring for the second half.

Lech Poznan and Sunderland have been polar opposites this season.

The Polish side have lost both Europa League matches this campaign, and neither were close.

Round one finished 4-0 against Crystal Palace, and round two finished 4-0 against Bayer Leverkusen.

Domestically, Lech have performed better, and they come into this clash following a 6-1 win at the weekend.

Prior to that, they beat Slask Wroclaw 4-1, and Radomiak Radom 5-1.

Goals have been one to target when Lech are playing.

Sunderland haven’t quite been as expansive, but the Black Cats will be desperate to bounce back from their weekend loss.

Defensively, they have been poor, but they should be able to carve out chances against this leaky Lech backline.

Sunderland were massively hindered by an early red card to Kevin Danso in their last game, so they didn’t offer much going forward.

Excluding that game, however, the Black Cats have been effective at getting to the byline and racking up corners.

Regis Le Bris’ men are averaging 5.8 corners per game across all competitions this season, rising to 10.5 when playing in Europe.

They recorded 12 corners against AZ Alkmaar in round one, and nine against Torreense last week.

Meanwhile, Lech conceded six corners against Crystal Palace in their first Europa League match of the season, and this promises to be quite a similar matchup.

Noah Sadiki scored Sunderland’s winning goal against Torreense, firing home in stoppage time after combining with Enzo Le Fee and Granit Xhaka.

After having two off target shots beforehand, the midfielder made the all-important contribution late on.

Sadiki is only averaging 1.17 shots per 90 across all competitions this season, but this is a game which Sunderland should dominate.

That means Sadiki will again be allowed to venture forward more often, and pick up promising positions in the final third.

Based on his performance last week, there is no reason for the midfielder to hesitate when the space opens up, and the Black Cats should be able to carve out plenty of chances in Poland.

Sadiki has also been adept at drawing contact in midfield this season, and his average of 1.63 fouls drawn per 90 is amongst the highest in the Sunderland squad.

Enzo Le Fee ranks higher with 2.33 fouls drawn per 90, with Granit Xhaka is at 1.56 - those three are likely to make up Sunderland’s midfield on Thursday night, and they will occupy a similar zone of the field as Radoslaw Murawski. 

The Lech midfielder is averaging 2.29 fouls per 90 across all competitions this season, and he has landed this selection in eight of his last 10 starts.

He was shown two yellow cards against Crystal Palace in round one of the Europa League, causing him to miss out against Bayer Leverkusen last time out, but Murawski should return here.

That 4-0 scoreline against Crystal Palace doesn’t do Lech much justice - it was far from a one-sided affair.

The Polish side managed 17 shots and four big chances, more than the Eagles on both metrics, but were wasteful in the final third.

Luis Palma accounted for five of those efforts, of which three hit the target.

The Honduras international also started against Bayer Leverkusen, and he landed this selection with exactly two shots. 

Palma is averaging 2.37 shots per 90 across all competitions this season, and he has been regularly able to clear this line.

In fact, he has recorded multiple shots in five of his last six starts.