Europa League and Europa Conference League predictions and football betting tips

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for the Europa League and Europa Conference League play-offs on Thursday including FC Zurich v Hearts.

Where to watch

Ferencvaros v Shamrock Rovers
RTE2, 5.30pm Thursday

FC Zurich v Hearts
BBC Scotland, 6pm Thursday

Rigas FS v Linfield
Premier Sports 1, 6pm Thursday

Best bet

Draw or Hearts double chance
1pts 11-10 Betfair

Malmo -1
1pts 9-4 Coral, Ladbrokes

Match preview

There is a place in the group stages of the Europa League and Europa Conference League up for grabs in the playoff round, and there is a significant British and Irish contingent aiming to reach the next point of their European adventure.

Hearts have the opportunity to go beyond the qualifying rounds of a European competition for the first time since 2006-07 when they take on FC Zurich across two legs of their Europa League play-off.

The Swiss side won their league at a canter last season but have started poorly this time and sit bottom after taking just two points from their five Super League games.

The only two wins of Zurich’s nine competitive games came in their 5-0 aggregate victory over Linfield in the previous round.

Hearts on the other hand have picked up where they left off last year with a solid start, and a late equaliser in the Edinburgh derby was the only thing stopping them winning their first three games after their third-place finish last season.

Given the polarising form figures of the two it may be worth siding with Hearts to take at least a draw back to Scotland.

Malmo found themselves whipping boys in their Champions League group last season but their rock-solid home form makes them a decent bet when they host Sivasspor in the first leg of their Europa League playoff.

The Swedes have won six of their last seven on home soil, and their only loss came against Zalgiris in a game in which they were reduced to ten men.

Sivasspor finished tenth in last year’s Turkish Super Lig and qualified for Europe thanks to their cup win. Malmo should claim a comfortable victory.

Shamrock Rovers have upset the odds every step of the way of their European journey and will be hoping to do so again when they visit Ferencvaros in their Europa League playoff, aiming to reach the group stages for just the second time in their history.

Elsewhere, Linfield have a Conference League playoff against Latvian side Rigas FS.

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