The fourth round of matches in the Uefa Europa League take place on Thursday and we take a look at AC Milan vs Ferencvaros, AZ Alkmaar vs Juventus and Sunderland vs Dinamo Zagreb
AC Milan vs Ferencvaros
With 1 win and 2 defeats AC Milana re right down in 24th position and with work to do to put themselves back in contention for a top 8 finish and automatic qualification for the knockout rounds. They came unstuck at home to Benfica in Round 1, going down 2-0 but put themselves on the board next time out with a more than comfortable 4-0 win at RB Salzburg. Round 3 saw them go down 3-0 at Bournemouth but they picked up a timely boost at the weekend with a 3-1 derby win over Inter in Serie A
Ferencvaros had to come through qualifying to reach the League Phase and they are having a ball as 1 of 5 teams with 3 wins from 3. A 3-1 win at Glasgow Celtic was backed up by home wins over Plzen (2-1) and Torreense (4-1) although in Hungary’s top division they are only third with 5 wins, 5 draws and 1 defeat.
The Verdict
AC Milan need to pick up their feet and although they come up against a side with a 100% record Ferencvaros may have bumped some of the weaker sides in the competition. I’m with Milan to score 3 or more.
Bets: AC Milan total goals over 2.5 at 23/20 with Sportingbet
AZ Alkmaar vs Juventus
AZ have bounced back from a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland in the opening round of matches to win their next 2. They made pretty hard work of seeing off H Beer Sheva (2-1) in a home fixture before a much more clear cut 4-0 win away to Ararat Armenia. In the Eredivisie AZ started with 5 straight wins but they haven’t been able to maintain that form and are currently fifth with a record of 6 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats.
Juve are unbeaten with 2 wins and 1 draw and they finished round 3 in seventh spot. They opened up with a 5-0 home win over Nijmegen and then won 2-1 away to Celta Vigo. Juve dropped points in Round 2 when they played out a 2-2 draw at home to Rennes. In Serie A Juve are also seventh with 5 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats to their name.
The Verdict
AZ have gone off the boil after starting the season so well but they have some talented youngsters and Juve have injury problems. I’m hoping Kees Smit will be available for the hists but that is unconfirmed, nonetheless I’ll take my chances they can score 2 or more in what should be a decent contest.
Bets: AZ total goals over 1.5 at 37/20 with Sportingbet
Sunderland vs Dinamo Zagreb
Sunderland are really struggling in the EPL with just 1 win and 1 draw from their first 9 games and after a 3-1 loss at Coventry last weekend they remain at the foot of the table. However in their first European campaign for more than 50 years they have 2 wins and 1 draw to show for their 3 outings. They edged out AZ Alkmaar 1-0 at the Stadium of Light with an Enzo Le Fee second half penalty in a Round 1 home fixture before a much changed side made hard work of overcoming Torreense in Portugal, recovering from a goal down to pinch it 2-1 with the winner arriving in injury time. In Round 3 they again fielded an understrength side and they played out a 1-1 draw away to Lech Poznan.
Dinamo Zagreb have 4 points to show from their first 3 matches. They started with a 0-0 draw away to H Beer Sheva before a 1-0 home win over Anderlecht. In Round 3 they were firm favourites at home to Nijmegen but they crashed and burned 4-2. Dinamo are currently second in Croatia’s top league where they have a record of 7 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats.
The Verdict
Regis Le Bris has reportedly been given a vote of confidence by the Sunderland board. The fringe players they have used in this competition have by and large done really well whilst the seniors haven’t performed to anything like the level of last season in any competition.
I think Malick Fofana starts for Sunderland, he hit the post at Poznan and then got his first goal against Brentford in the EFL Cup and looks to be finding his feet on Wearside.
Bets: Anytime goalscorer Malick Fofana at 24/10 with Sportingbet
Note, prices are subject to change