Thursday's Europa Conference League predictions: Marseille should bag victory

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Thursday's matches in the Europa Conference League knockout round playoffs.

Best bets

Marseille to win & over 2.5 goals v Qarabag 8pm Thursday
1pt Evs bet365

Slavia Prague draw no bet v Fenerbahce 5.45pm Thursday
1pt 31-20 Betfair, Paddy Power

Match previews

A lack of killer instinct in the final third cost Marseille in the group stage of the Europa League as they finished third in their section but they can show their attacking play has since improved in the knockout round playoffs of the Europa Conference League.

On course to finish second in Ligue 1 this term, Marseille have been drawn against Qarabag in Thursday's batch of knockout fixtures and should record a win at their Stade Velodrome home.

The January arrival of veteran forward Cedric Bakambu, who is now partnering Arkadiusz Milik up top, has helped them score ten times in their last four league contests.

And, among the outright favourites in this tournament, Jorge Sampaoli's men can be expected to operate on the front foot against Qarabag, who won their last match 6-0 against Inter Baku in the Azerbaijan Cup last Friday.

This could well be a high-scoring contest and Marseille look the most likely to take the spoils. Back a home win and over 2.5 goals.

Slavia Prague are not blessed with the same attacking quality as many of the teams in the Europa Conference League knockout playoffs but they dug deep to secure second spot in Group E ahead of Bundesliga highflyers Union Berlin.

They also look the team to beat in the Czech First League this term, winning 16 of their 21 matches, and they could be worth chancing in the draw-no-bet market in their clash with Fenerbahce.

Their Turkish Super Lig opponents were toothless in the Europa League, dropping into the Conference League after only one win from six group games, and are worth opposing.

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