Round 4 of the Europa League Group Stage is upon us and there are plenty of teams looking to make moves towards qualification for the next round. Here is a look at some of the games on Thursday.
Brondby IF VS Glasgow Rangers
Rangers had an awful start to Group A but their win at Ibrox two weeks ago – y a 2-0 score – against Brondby has Steven Gerrard’s side looking to make a late run at qualification out of the group. Brondby has played well since that defeat with a couple of wins in the Danish Superliga and a Danish Cup victory, but their chances will be hindered here if No. 1 goalkeeper Mads Hermansen is out – as is expected – with a foot issue. Ryan Kent could be back to add his pace and skill to the Rangers attack on the wing and I like the Scottish team to have enough away from home here to win at 9/10 with BetXchange.
AS Monaco VS PSV Eindhoven
Monaco beat PSV in the Netherlands on Matchday 3 and they will be looking to extend their lead in the group with a win at home here. Three points would see the French team qualify for the knockout stages and that would be a welcome relief seeing that their form has them only tenth in Ligue 1. PSV are enjoying a much better time on the domestic front and sits second behind Ajax in the Dutch league. I think this one will be tight and low-scoring and I can see the draw at 26/10 being a solid play.
Leicester City VS Spartak Moscow
It was the Patson Daka show last time out as the Foxes summer signing became their leading all-time European goalscorer as he hit all four goals in their 4-3 comeback win in Russia. Now, at the King Power, Daka and his teammates will be looking for a win to reverse what was a poor start to group play. Marc Albrighton is out for Leicester, while playmakers James Maddison and Harvey Barnes are doubts due to illness. They might be supplemented if unavailable through Ayoze Perez as he looks to make a comeback after his own illness. I like Leicester to make home advantage count here and fancy them for a comfortable win.
KRC Genk VS West Ham United
West Ham dominated Genk at home two weeks ago in a 3-0 win that was over quickly and that saw both teams play out the 90 minutes happy to settle for that result. The Belgians will look to be a more formidable opponent at home, but that will be tough against a Hammers side that is playing their best football – and which is in their best form – for a generation or more under David Moyes. West Ham is three from three in the competition and at 1/1 with BetXchange look to be great value to win and secure their knockout round spot here. Expect some rotation, with the likes of Issa Diop, Craig Dawson, and Andriy Yarmolneko starting, but expect no letdown from the way that West Ham has attacked the start of the 2021-2022 campaign.
