Europa League betting preview: Best bets and stats for Thursday's Matchday Two action, including Manchester United, Arsenal and Wolves

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Besiktas v Wolves (1755 BST) - George Pitts

Key stats

  • Besiktas have lost their last two games in the Europa League – they haven’t suffered three in a row in the competition since March 2012, with two of the three defeats in that run coming against the 2011-12 champions Atlético Madrid.
  • Wolves have won each of their three away games in European competition in 2019-20 (all qualifiers), scoring 11 goals across these three trips - 4-1 v Crusaders, 4-0 v FC Pyunik and 3-2 v Torino.
  • Adem Ljajic has been directly involved in three goals in his last five Europa League starts for Bestikas, scoring one and providing two assists.

AZ Alkmaar v Manchester United (1755 BST) - Paul Higham

There's no Paul Pogba for Manchester United, but he may well have been rested anyway as Sunday's Premier League game at Newcastle is now far more important - although it's a real problem for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as he can't really afford a slip-up in the Netherlands either.

Making changes, however, has not gone too well for Solskjaer as his side limped to wins against Astana (1-0) and Rochdale (penalties) and more turgid stuff like that will only increase the building pressure on his shoulders. He needs an exciting performance and a few goals to lift the gloom.

Key stats

  • AZ have only won one of their previous six home games in the Europa League (D1 L4), conceding at least two goals in four of those.
  • Manchester United are unbeaten in their last five Europa League away games (W3 D2), after losing five in a row prior to this run.
  • Marcus Rashford has scored in two of his last three away games in European competition for Manchester United (v Valencia in December 2018 and Paris Saint-Germain in March 2019), as many as he had in his previous 13 combined.

Arsenal v Standard Liege (2000 BST) - Paul Higham

Key stats

  • Arsenal have won all four encounters with Standard Liège in European competition, netting 15 goals in the process.
  • Standard Liège have lost seven of their eight trips to England in all European competition, with the only exception being a 2-2 draw with Everton during the 2008-09 UEFA Cup.
  • Arsenal are looking to win six consecutive home European matches (excluding qualifiers) for the first time at the Emirates, and first time since winning seven in a row between March 2001 and February 2002 at Highbury.
  • Only FC Astana (3) and AZ Alkmaar (4) had fewer efforts at goal on MD1 of this season’s Europa League than Standard Liège (5), but the Belgians scored with two of those five shots.

Reports & highlights

Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka shines as Gunners win in Frankfurt, while Celtic draw at Rennes

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka celebrate for Arsenal

Manchester United 1-0 Astana: Mason Greenwood wins Europa League game at Old Trafford with first senior goal

Mason Greenwood celebrates scoring for Manchester United

Lazio v Rennes (2000 BST) - George Pitts

Lazio started their group campaign with a defeat at Cluj and they will fancy their chances against Ligue 1 side Rennes at Stadio Olimpico.

Rennes are in their second successive Europa League campaign, drawing with Celtic last time out, and they are without a win in their last six in all competitions.

Lazio had a poor three-game winless run but have bounced back with two wins from their last three, including a 4-0 thrashing of Genoa at the weekend.

There is a noticeable trend with Lazio starting quickly this season, with goals in the first 10 minutes in their last two home games and three other goals coming in the first 25 minutes.

With this in mind, Lazio have the firepower to get the better of a Rennes side on a poor run and lacking in confidence, with the 19/10 price on the hosts to be winning after half an hour a favourable option.

Best bet:

Key stats

  • Lazio are unbeaten in their last six games against French sides in European competition (W5 D1), since a 3-0 defeat against Marseille in the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup – the Italian side have won four consecutive matches against French opposition.
  • Rennes have lost five of their six away Europa League group stage matches (W1 D0 L5), but did win their most recent one in November 2018 at FK Jablonec.

Odds correct as of 1700 BST on 2/10/19

Thursday's key Europa League fixtures

2000 BST kick-off unless stated

The Europa League trophy - the 2019/20 final will be staged in Gdansk
  • AZ Alkmaar v Manchester United (1755 BST)
  • Besiktas v Wolves (1755 BST)
  • Feyenoord v FC Porto (1755 BST)
  • St Etienne v Wolfsburg (1755 BST)
  • Wolfsberger v AS Roma (1755 BST)
  • Young Boys v Rangers (1755 BST)
  • Arsenal v Standard Liege (2000 BST)
  • Celtic v Cluj (2000 BST)
  • Guimaraes v Eintracht Frankfurt (2000 BST)
  • Lazio v Rennes (2000 BST)
  • Rosenborg v PSV (2000 BST)
  • Sevilla v APOEL (2000 BST)

Check out more Europa League fixtures here

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