Odds On: Europa League - Semi-Finals - Football Betting Tips, Odds, Picks & Predictions

The Odds On Podcast

This is an audio version of our YouTube video.

“Thursday Night, Channel 5” was the insults from the terrace over in the UK when teams qualified for the Europa League, but nowadays it's a much more prestigious competition, especially when the winner qualifies for next year’s Champions League.

Manchester United's historical triumphs will mean little when they go head to head with Roma in the first semi-final on Thursday night. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Reds will host the first leg at the Theatre of Dreams in Manchester, knowing that they'll need a positive result to give themselves that upper hand. Their Premier League title tilt didn’t last the distance this season with their rivals Manchester City running away with the trophy. Champions League qualification for next season seems assured, however, a European title will certainly look nice in the Old Trafford trophy cabinet.

Their opponents, Roma, have not enjoyed the best season over in Italy. They currently sit 7th in the standings and don't look likely to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition for next year. The Giallorossi will know that winning this competition will give them that boost and secure a place in the Champions League for next term. Paulo Fonseca's side have certainly taken their eye off the ball domestically, having won just one of their previous seven Serie A games. A victory over the Red Devils would certainly be an upset.

Our second Europa League semi-final sees Villarreal take on Arsenal. The yellow submarine are managed by former Gunners boss Unai Emery. How he would love to get one over his former club, after being sacked and replaced by Mikel Arteta. Villarreal have suffered for form at the top end of the table this season and currently sit 7th in the standings, in the last place for European qualification. Additionally, their league form has also stuttered having won just two of their last five games. In contrast, they have actually won 13 of their last 14 Europa League fixtures, drawing the other.

For some reason, sitting 10th in the Premier League was deemed worthy enough of joining the European Super League. How wrong they were. Arsenal, now firmly a mid-table side, have the unique situation of being able to qualify for a competition to take on Europe's best teams, despite finishing outside England top four places. Miguel Arteta will know that this would do his managerial career the world of good following a fairly shambolic showing domestically this season. The Gunners arrive to this clash with just one win in their last five games and that victory coming against the bottom club, Sheffield United.

Our resident host Eduardo Siles is back to preview all the best action across Europe’s secondary-club competition.

Alvaro Romeo and Daniele Fisichella are our experts in football and betting, they’re here each and every week to preview, discuss, analyse and dissect every fixture of this season’s Europa League. They’re also on hand to provide betting tips, odds, picks and predictions.

For all the latest Europa League, head to http://oddspedia.com/football where you’ll find everything you need to secure your best bet.

And don’t forget to check our betting tools to discover Sure Bets, Dropping Odds, Value Bets, Blocked Odds and Blocked Matches to give you the upper hand this weekend.

Here’s what on this week’s show:

00:00 Intro

00:50 Man Utd vs Roma betting tips and predictions

12:15 Villarreal vs Arsenal betting tips and predictions