Europa League: Matchday Two Tips & Predictions

The Europa League returns for Matchday 2 on Thursday night and it’s a packed card of continental action.

Tottenham head to Ferencvaros hoping to make it six points from their opening two games, while Rangers welcome Lyon to Ibrox.

Man Utd’s woes continue to deepen and Erik ten Hag is in desperate need of a safe harbour when the Red Devils travel to Porto.

Tip 1 - Porto to beat Man Utd @ 37/20

Erik ten Hag’s time in charge of Man Utd may well come to an end if the Red Devils are beaten in Porto and the Dutchman looks powerless to stop his inevitable dismissal.

United were awful when losing 3-0 to Spurs on Sunday and, while Bruno Fernandes’s red card didn’t help the Red Devils, it’s hard to argue that Ten Hag’s side wouldn’t have been comprehensively beaten even if he had stayed on the pitch.

That 3-0 loss is added to a 3-0 crushing by Liverpool, a 2-1 defeat at Brighton, a 1-1 Old Trafford draw with a poor Twente side and all-round poor and structureless performances.

Porto were beaten 3-2 by Bodo/Glimt in their opening Europa League contest, but the Dragons had 63 per cent possession, 28 shots and nine corners in that defeat and those are numbers which should send shivers down United’s spine.

Porto are a perfect four from four at home domestically this season, the Dragons have conceded only one goal and Vítor Bruno’s men have to be backed to add to United’s troubles.

Tip 2 - Rangers draw no bet v Lyon @ 41/50

Lyon got the better of Olympiakos 2-0 at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Matchday 1 of the Europa League, but it has been a sticky start domestically for Les Gones and they may have more on their plate at Ibrox.

Pierre Sage’s men have lost against Rennes, Monaco and Marseille already this season and the 3-2 defeat to Marseille was partially disappointing given the Phocaeans were shown a fifth-minute red card.

It hasn’t been plain sailing for Rangers either, but the Gers have bounced back from their 3-0 Old Firm defeat to Celtic to win well in Malmo in the Europa League and the Gers look a good draw no bet proposition in Govan.

Lyon were 2-1 winners at Toulouse last time out, but those two strikes came from only one effort on target and they are unlikely to get much change from Rangers with a packed Ibrox on their side.

Tip 3 - [Athletic Bilbao to beat AZ Alkmaar @ 4/6](https://www.betuk.com/betting/football/europa-league#event/1021554901

Athletic Bilbao picked up an excellent 1-1 draw at Roma in their Europa League opener and the Lions look a cracking bet to see off the challenge of AZ Alkmaar.

Ernesto Valverde’s men are an extremely difficult side to beat at Estadio San Mames, losing only two of their last 27 home matches and AZ don’t appear to have the tools to stop the Basques from putting a win on the board.