Thursday's football tips: Europa League battle begins to heat up

Racing Post Sport followers were in clover on Wednesday as our acca won at odds of over 16-1 thanks to victories for Sporting Lisbon, Ajax, QPR and Barnsley.

We move on to Thursday aiming to bank more profits.

West Ham are guaranteed European football in the new year after sealing their place in the Europa League knockout stage but there is work still to do for Leicester and Rangers, while Celtic need to confirm third-place in their group in a bid to join Tottenham in the Europa Conference League.

Spurs can extend their stay in the new competition with a win over Slovenian whipping boys Mura.

Today's best accumulator bets

Bets to be placed by 5.45pm

Rangers to beat Sparta Prague

Tottenham to beat Mura

Real Sociedad to beat Monaco

Braga to beat Midtjylland

Rangers will be keen to start life under new boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst with a home win and could be too strong for injury-hit Sparta Prague, while Tottenham should have little trouble seeing off Mura.

Sociedad are unbeaten in 17 matches since their opening-day defeat in La Liga to Barcelona and could leapfrog group leaders Monaco with a win, while Midtjylland's desperation for a victory may leave them open to attack from Braga, who beat them 3-1 in the reverse fixture. The four-fold pays just under 14-1 with Hills.

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Rapid Vienna v West Ham

BT Sport 1, 5.45pm

The Hammers are already through to the group stage of the Europa League and could make changes, while Rapid will be buoyed by a 2-1 victory over Dynamo Zagreb.

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Best bet
Both teams to score

Bayer Leverkusen v Celtic

BT Sport 3, 5.45pm

Bayer won the reverse fixture 4-0 in September but Celtic have won eight of their last nine and this could be an open affair.

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Best bet
Over 2.5 goals

Bet of the day

Rangers to beat Sparta Prague, BT Sport 3, 8pm

New Rangers boss Giovanni van Brockhorst will be desperate to win his first home game and can succeed against injury-hit Sparta, who are fourth in the Czech top flight after a 4-0 weekend loss away to Slovacko.

Click here to read our full betting preview

Cards bet of the day

Mura v Tottenham, BT Sport 2, 5.45pm

Mura have lost all four matches in their Europa Conference League campaign and their frustrations may get the better of them if Tottenham turn the screw in their Matchday Five encounter.

Click here to read our full betting preview

Best bet
Red card to be shown

Stat of the day

Rangers v Sparta Prague, BT Sport 3, 8pm

Rangers have won six of their last nine home games in Europe.

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