UEFA Europa League Betting: Atletico Madrid and Hamburger favoured
By Craig Macleish - San Jose, Costa Rica
Champions League action gives way to UEFA Europa League action, Europe’s second-tier competition that gets underway in the Round of 16 on Thursday. Opening the proceedings will be Atletico Madrid and Hamburger, lining-up against Sporting Lisbon and Anderlecht, respectively. The aforementioned duo are the home favourites and the market favourites in their opening round matches but their opposites could produce some eye-catching moments and with this being only the first-leg of the Europa league last 16, the ties are up for grabs.
Here is a look at the markets trading on these two scintillating matchups, complete with BetUS soccer betting lines and odds.
Soccer Betting Line:
Atletico Madrid -½ -135 -135 2½ O -105 U -125 Draw +240
Sporting Lisbon +½ +105 +340 2½ O -105 U -125 Draw +240
Match Time: 01:00 PM Eastern Time Thursday March 11, 2010
Soccer Betting Verdict: I rather fancy Atletico Madrid in this match, but I will be the first to admit they can be a hit and miss side at times. For instance, their 1:1 draw against lesser opponents Real Zaragoza at the weekend. I mean they really should have taken that match even if it was on the away. Sometimes they just don’t quite live up to expectations but that is the way with them. Fans have learned to deal with it, if a bit reluctantly. Small consolation: the bookies fancy Atletico to win this match, listing them at -135 odds – firm favourites.
By contrast, Sporting Lisbon are significant underdogs at +340. Further contrast is the fact that Sporting Lisbon is enjoying a better season in their domestic league than Atletico Madrid is in the Primera. Fourth in the standings, on a four match undefeated run, Sporting Lisbon is not without merit.
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Of course, the Portuguese Liga is a rung, two, or more down the ladder in European estimation and well, Primera is one of the most coveted leagues to play for in Europe. Sporting’s good form should not be dismissed but should be taken within that context.
Soccer Free Picks: Draw +240 | Under 2 ½ -125 | Sporting Lisbon + ½ +105
Soccer Betting Line:
Hamburger -1 +115 -160 2½ O -110 U -120 Draw +250
Anderlecht +1 -145 +425 2½ O -110 U -120 Draw +250
Match Time: 01:00 PM Eastern Time Thursday March 11, 2010
Soccer Betting Verdict: Hamburger SV are solid -160 favourites to take the first leg of this tie and given they are fourth in the Bundesliga, on good form save for a hiccup against Bayern Munich a fortnight ago (can’t say there is shame in losing 1:0 to the top team in Bundesliga now is there), they seem to be the correct play. Anderlecht are the bookies underdogs at +425 but Belgian soccer fans know Anderlecht have more quality than the bookies would suggest. After all, Anderlecht lead the Belgium Pro-League, with a 12 point edge over their nearest rival Club Brugge. If Anderlecht continue on this form they will certainly cap the season with the Belgium title. Of course, there is a significant gap in quality between Belgium’s Pro-League and Germany’s Bundesliga. Asking Anderlecht to mastermind the considerable upset might be even beyond their lofty Belgian abilities. Asking them to account well isn’t though.
Soccer Expert Picks: Hamburger -160 | Anderlecht +1 -145| Over 2 ½ -110