Thursday's Europa League and Europa Conference League predictions

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

Where to watch

Sturm Graz v Lazio
BT Sport 6, 5.45pm Thursday

Best bets

Union Berlin
1pt 21-20 Coral

Ludogorets Razgrad
1pt 11-10general

Lazio
1pt 8-11 general

Match previews

Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin have struggled in the Europa League, losing both of their matches, but they can move back into contention in Group D by defeating Malmo in Sweden.

Union relinquished their unbeaten status in the Bundesliga on Saturday when losing 2-0 away to Eintracht Frankfurt, but they remain top of the division, two points ahead of third-placed Bayern Munich, who have got off to a choppy start.

Urs Fischer's side have been less successful on Europa League nights, suffering 1-0 losses at home to Union Saint-Gilloise and away to Braga, but there is still time to turn their fortunes around.

The Germans might need to win their remaining matches, but the next two – against Swedish champions Malmo – should not pose too many problems.

Malmo are also pointless after defeats at home to Braga (2-0) and away to Union Saint-Gilloise (2-3) and they are fifth in the Swedish top flight, seven points behind leaders Djurgardens.

Malmo qualified for last season's Champions League group stage but they took just one point from six games and they have looked equally uncompetitive in the Europa League and could remain pointless after matchday three.

Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad have been giving a good account of themselves in Group C and they can move on to six points by defeating struggling HJK Helsinki in the Finnish capital.

Ludogorets were drawn in a tough group but they have competed well, winning 2-1 at home to Roma and losing 3-2 away to Betis.

The Bulgarians are seasoned Europa League campaigners – featuring in the group stage for six successive seasons – and their extra experience and quality should give them the edge over HJK, who are yet to register a point.

Lazio were hammered 6-1 at Midtjylland on matchday two but they can reaffirm their status as one of the tournament's heavyweight teams by defeating Sturm Graz in Austria.

There is likely to be a positive reaction from Lazio, who were guilty of taking their trip to Denmark too lightly.

Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri is expected to select a stronger team for matchday three and that could spell bad news for Sturm Graz, who were thumped 6-0 at Feyenoord on their last Europa League outing.

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