Europa League fixtures: 5 matches you should watch this week

The Europa League, often overlooked by fans of clubs not in the competition, has a tendency to be eclipsed for more blockbuster ties in the Champions League and is often dismissed by those in the daddy competition as a continental consolation prize.

How wrong they are. It’s European football regardless, and what is more glamorous than playing under the Thursday night lights against the Belarusian National Champions? Many things, but a match is a match and there are some very exciting ties coming this Thursday night.

You will likely have to pick between fixtures, given Uefa has elected to schedule 24 matches across two time slots on Thursday night. So we are here to help you decide.

Here are some of the most tantalising matches on show this week.

AC Milan vs Real Betis

Kick off: 5.55pm, 25 October 2018

Standings in Group F: AC Milan, 1st (6 points, GD +3), Real Betis, 2nd (4 points, GD +3)

Form: AC Milan (DWWWL), Real Betis (WWWLL)

Odds: AC Milan 21/20, Draw 5/2, Real Betis (3/1)

A top of the group clash between two undefeated sides, and while this features no British sides there is, hopefully, some exceptional football to be played. The Rossoneri reached the final of the Coppa Italia last season, and were sixth in the league. This year, things have started pretty poorly for Gennaro Gattuso’s side domestically. With three wins, three draws and two losses (the latest a harrowing lastminute Mauro Icardi 1-0 in the Milan derby), they lie in the bottom half of Serie A. In Europe, they hope to make it three wins from three with Real Betis’ arrival at the San Siro.

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Betis find themselves in a similar situation. With three wins, draws and losses, they sit midtable in La Liga, but have a win and a draw in Group F. Playing expansive football with Marc Bartra the anchor in the middle of a back three, the club got off to a good start this season, but have recently suffered back to back 1-0 losses to Atletico Madrid and Real Valladolid.

It could be a very tasty game indeed, especially if Gonzalo Higuain continues his goalscoring form (six goals from eight matches).

Sporting vs Arsenal

Kick off: 5.55pm, 25 October 2018

Standings in Group C: Sporting, 2nd (6 points, GD +3), Arsenal 1st (6 points, GD +5)

Form: Sporting (WLWWL), Arsenal (WWWWW)

Odds: Sporting 3/1, Draw 13/5, Arsenal 1/1

Arsenal fly to Lisbon bolstered with confidence provided by a scintillating Leicester comeback and will fancy their odds of extending their 10-match winning streak in all competitions.

Read more: Unai Emery tries to play down the hype but who can blame Arsenal fans for dreaming big again?

The Gunners are in exceptional form, with strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in particular enjoying a recent goal glut. The top of the group clash will represent a decent challenge for the North London side however, as Sporting are a strong side not to be sniffed at. Bruno Fernandes, Sebastian Coates and Bas Dost (injured), in particular are good talents in this squad.

However, their form domestically has been patchy, with a draw and two losses among their results from seven league games this season. It makes for a fascinating tie, if only for Arsenal to prove again that their current form is no fluke, but a signal of sustained change under Unai Emery.

Chelsea vs BATE Borisov

Kick off: 8pm, 25 October 2018

Standings in Group L: Chelsea, 1st (6 points, GD +2), BATE Borisov, 3rd (3 points, GD -1)

Form: Chelsea (WDWWD), BATE Borisov (WWLLW)

Odds: Chelsea 1/7, Draw 8/1, BATE Borisov 25/1

Sadly, the reigning Belarusian champions (who have won it the last 12 years running) should pose little threat to Maurizio Sarri’s side.

Read more: Chelsea v Manchester United: Player ratings as Jose Mourinho’s men concede late for a 2-2 draw

Although they are handily placed to make it 13 this autumn, BATE Borisov have not progressed from a European group since 2010/11 season, when they were promptly knocked out in the Round of 32 by Paris Saint-Germain. Look out for Alexander Hleb among their ranks.

In contrast, Chelsea are in excellent form – particularly Eden Hazard. Although Olivier Giroud hasn’t been in the goals of late, he scored for Arsenal in both group games against BATE in last season’s campaign, and could start ahead of the struggling Alvaro Morata. If you want to see goals, Chelsea should rack up a few here.

Rangers vs Spartak Moscow

Kick off: 8pm, 25 October 2018

Standings in Group G: Rangers, 1st (4 points, GD +2), Spartak Moscow, 4th (1 point, GD -2)

Form: Rangers (WLWWW), Spartak Moscow (WLDWL)

Odds: Rangers 5/4, Draw 23/10, Spartak Moscow 13/5

Steven Gerrard’s side, although only fifth in the Scottish Premiership, have been enjoying their European campaign thus far. They also are looking forward to an out-of-sorts Spartak Moscow side who seem to have been struggling since John Terry rejected their advances.

Seventh out of 16 in the Russian Premier League, wins have been hard to come by in recent months with only two from their past nine matches in all competitions. A loss to Rapid Vienna must have particularly hurt. Despite this, they are a strong side who shouldn’t be underestimated, with longtime Russian favourites such as Roman Zobnin, Aleksandr Samedov and Ilya Kutepov as well as international talents Luiz Adriano, Ze Luis and Fernando.

Rangers, meanwhile, crushed Rapid Vienna 3-1 at home and are looking to do a similar job on Spartak. Buoyed by a recent 4-1 away win at Hamilton, where Ryan Kent scored a breakaway screamer, there’s lots to be optimistic about their form going into the tie. With 12 goals scored in four of their last domestic league matches, more are on the menu.

RB Leipzig vs Celtic

Kick off: 5.55pm, 25 October 2018

Standings in Group B: RB Leipzig, 2nd (3 points, GD +1), Celtic, 3rd (3 points, GD -1)

Form: RB Leipzig (WWWWD), Celtic (LWLWW)

Odds: RB Leipzig 4/9, Draw 4/1, Celtic 13/2

RB Leipzig, much like their Bundesliga title rivals Bayern Munich, have stuttered a little at the start of this season. A squad packed with attacking talent, they’ve struggled a little with the transfer of Naby Keita to Liverpool and a little inconsistency from attacking mainstays such as Timo Werner and Marcel Sabitzer. However, they are now on a run of six games without a defeat.

In particular, watch out for centre-back Willi Orban, young right-back Nordi Mukiele, as well as their precocious young midfielder Jean-Kevin Augustin. Yussuf Poulsen has also provided a lot of goals this season so far, and if fit, Emil Forsberg is an exceptional playmaker.

Celtic, meanwhile, have won their last three league games and are enjoying the exceptional form of Odsonne Edouard and James Forrest, who recently scored four at St Johnstone. Forrest, however, is suspended for this tie after a red card at RB Salzburg. Leigh Griffiths’ fitness is also a doubt.

@LouisAlexDore