Europa League predictions, free tips & analysis

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Thursday's Europa League matches

When to bet

Kick-offs from 5.45pm Thursday

Best bets

Marseille
1pt 5-4 bet365, BoyleSports, Hills

Antwerp
1pt 13-8Betfair

Verdict

Draw specialists Marseille have shared the points in each of their Europa League Group E fixtures – leaving them in third place – but they can pick up a much-needed victory against second-placed Lazio at the Stade Velodrome.

Luck has not been on the side of Marseille, who have won the shot count in each of their three fixtures.

The French side's cumulative shot statistics in the section stand at 44 for and 21 against, although they had a nervy moment midway through the second half of last month's 0-0 draw away to Lazio when opposing striker Ciro Immobile fired a fierce shot against the woodwork.

Two of Marseille's remaining fixtures are at home and they approach the Lazio rematch in good spirits after a five-match unbeaten run which included a 0-0 draw at home to domestic heavyweights Paris St-Germain.

Finding a regular source of goals would solve a lot of Marseille's problems and matchday four could be the moment for Arkadiusz Milik to show his worth.

The injury-prone Pole missed the early part of the season but he has started four of the last five games and his quality could give Marseille the edge in a tight encounter.

Group D basement boys Antwerp stopped the rot by drawing 1-1 away to Fenerbahce on matchday three and they can enhance their slim qualification hopes by defeating the Turks at Bosuilstadion.

Antwerp are third in the Belgian top flight and have been a little unlucky on Europa League nights, losing tight matches away to Olympiakos and at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.

They can pick up their first win at the expense of third-placed Fenerbahce, who have slipped to seventh in Turkey after three successive domestic defeats.

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