Thursday night promises a real treat for betting fans, as three cracking Europa League clashes are on the card, offering plenty of sporting drama and betting value. We have picked out our top tips and predictions for Matchday 2, along with the best available odds.
Olympique Lyon host RB Salzburg, FC Porto take on Red Star Belgrade and Feyenoord face Aston Villa. Three fixtures, three selections and one Europa League accumulator. Combined at bet365, the treble pays out at odds of 4.08/1. A £10 stake would return £50.88 if successful.
| Match | Market | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Olympique Lyon v RB Salzburg | Lyon to win | 8/13 |
| FC Porto v Red Star Belgrade | Porto to win | 1/2 |
| Feyenoord v Aston Villa | Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 goals | 11/10 |
| Total Odds | 4.08/1 |
*Odds correct as of 10:39 BST on 02/10/2025. Odds subject to change.
No Expiry Date
Olympique Lyon to Beat RB Salzburg at 8/13
Lyon have hit the ground running this season. In Ligue 1, they have won five of their opening six matches and kept a clean sheet in each of those wins. They've also got off to a perfect start in the Europa League, beating Utrecht 1-0 away from home.
It is a very different story for Salzburg. The Austrians have managed just one win in their last five competitive fixtures, a narrow 2-1 at WSG Tirol. That ended a three-match losing streak, including their 1-0 home defeat against Porto in the Europa League opener.
The numbers do not bode well for Salzburg either:
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Lyon have lost only 3 of their last 29 home matches in European competition
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Salzburg have lost their last five away games in the Europa League
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Salzburg are on a 3-match losing streak against French opposition
Prediction: Home win looks nailed on
Lyon’s home strength, current form and superior quality should be too much for Salzburg. Our Lyon v Salzburg prediction is a comfortable home win, making it a low-risk selection for the Europa League betting acca.
FC Porto to Win at Home Against Red Star Belgrade at 1/2
If Lyon look strong, Porto look unstoppable. The Portuguese giants have won all eight of their competitive matches this season, boasting a remarkable 20:1 goal difference. In short, they are in top gear and showing no weaknesses and should have no trouble extending their run.
Red Star, on the other hand, continue to dominate domestically with eight wins from eight in the Serbian SuperLiga. However, on the international stage, they have struggled. They were knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by Pafos and could only manage a 1-1 home draw against Celtic on Matchday 1 of the Europa League.
Key stats:
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Porto have won all eight matches this season, conceding only once
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Red Star have lost each of their last five away matches in the Europa League
Prediction: FC Porto to win comfortably
This one looks straightforward. A Porto win is the banker of the acca. For those looking to boost the odds with a touch more risk, backing Porto to win to nil at 11/10 is also worth a look.
Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals in Feyenoord v Aston Villa at 11/10
Feyenoord are flying high in the Eredivisie, sitting at the top of the table after seven matches, unbeaten and with six wins under their belt. In Europe, however, they started with a 1-0 defeat away at Braga and will be keen to bounce back at De Kuip.
Aston Villa finally picked up their first Premier League win of the season at the weekend with a 3-1 victory over Fulham, following three draws and two defeats—a much-needed confidence boost. In the Europa League, they edged Bologna 1-0 on the opening matchday.
Bookmakers have Villa as slight favourites, but the outright market feels too tight to call. Instead, we see value in the goals market.
Reasons to expect goals:
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Feyenoord are formidable at home and should create plenty of chances
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Aston Villa are improving, with two wins on the bounce
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Both sides possess quality attacking options, such as Ollie Watkins for Villa and Ayase Ueda for Feyenoord.
Prediction: Expect goals at both ends
This has all the makings of a lively contest. With Feyenoord’s attacking intent and Villa’s forward threats, a high-scoring game is very much on the cards. Our pick is BTTS and Over 2.5 Goals for an entertaining Europa League clash.
