EUROPA LEAGUE BETTING TIPS

PUNTERS can double their money by backing Spurs and Benfica to win their Europa League ties tonight.

Spurs are 2-5 at bet365 to see off Basel at White Hart Lane and Benfica 1-2 (various) against Newcastle in Lisbon.

I played my hand early yesterday by tipping Gareth Bale to score first after successfully picking Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

Spurs were superb in beating Inter Milan 3-0 at home in the last round before losing 3-0 in San Siro without Bale and needing an Emmanuel Adebayor strike to progress after extra time.

Another 3-0 triumph is perhaps asking too much but a win to nil against a side who have netted just two goals in five Europa League away games this season is possible at 13-10 with Coral.

Alan Pardew’s Newcastle visit a Benfica side who have won 15 of their last 16 games at home. The Portuguese are a biggest 1-2 at Ladbrokes and others although Newcastle have shown resilience to go this far I'll be on the home win.

Chelsea, boosted by Monday's FA Cup defeat of Man United, should also carve out a first-leg advantage at home to Rubin Kazan but I want to see starting line-ups before being sure.

The Blues haven’t always been convincing in this tournament and are no bigger than 8-15 at William Hill and it's a price that doesn't attract especially if Rafael Benitez rings the changes for his side's third game in six days.

Chelsea struggled past Sparta Prague and Steaua Bucharest and need to keep something in reserve in the fight for a Champions League place. I can't back the Blues at that price and after seeing the line-ups might try Rubin draw no bet at 8-5 with bet365.

The Russians are a biggest 6-1 with the likes of bet365 and Coral to win at Stamford Bridge.

In the only tie not involving an English side it's difficult to see Fenerbahce knocking out Lazio. However, the Turks are likely to give as good as they've got in the home tie as they try to reach a European semi-final for the first time.

Fenerbahce's only chance of progressing will be to win the home leg because on six previous trips to Italy they've lost every time.

But in Lazio they're facing the only side not to lose in the tournament this season and they should maintain that record even though they may have to settle for a draw.

I'm on Lazio at 13-20 with bet365 to qualify but tonight they may have to settle for a draw (23-10, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power). Milesey's posted a separate piece on this game and I agree with him that Lazio will attract backing at 5-2 with bet365 and BetVictor having been rated underdogs by the bookies.

Recommendations

Bale to score first
(3-1, various))

Spurs/Benfica double
Pays a best £21 to a £10 stake at Paddy Power

Rubin Kazan to qualify
(9-4, Coral, Ladbrokes)

Lazio to qualify
(13-20, bet365)

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