EUROPA LEAGUE TOP TREBLE

THERE aren't many mugs left in Europe at this stage – if you discard Silvio Berlusconi.

The opening four last-16 Champions League ties proved that with none of the first-leg favourites winning and Arsenal providing the sole home success despite being battered by Barcelona in the opening 45 minutes at the Emirates.

Arsenal were in fact 16-1 to win the tie at half-time – but not many would have jumped at that.

The Europa League fixtures look just as tight but there is some value to be had.

I've picked out a treble I hope will come up for you.

I'm starting with a side who have almost matched Barcelona for heroics on the domestic front this season.

Benfica have won 13 in a row – Barca's run was ended at 16 last weekend – and been totally dominant in Portugal.

They are much better at home in Europe than on their travels and will fancy their chances of carving out a first-leg lead against Stuttgart.

The Germans are a step up in quality from opponents such as Rio Ave and Nacional but Benfica will be full of confidence and I'm taking them at 4-6 with Coral.

Stuttgart, 5-1 at bet365 and Chandler, have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks but a 4-1 thumping by Nuremburg at the weekend suggests the revival is over and the Europa League could get in the way of a relegation scrap.

My second choice are Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg who look a cut above most sides left in the tournament.

Zenit's season finished some weeks ago but we saw how not playing didn't adversely hit Shakhtar at Roma.

Young Boys of Bern host the Russians and it's case of a side who love to attack facing a side who love to give away goals.

Zenit hit 18 in six group stage games while Young Boys' matches featured 10 goals. Back the Russians at 11-10 with Paddy Power and totesport.

Complete the treble with Bayer Leverkusen who are 11-10 with Paddy Power at Metalist.

Bayer have won eight on the road in the Bundesliga to sit second behind runaway leaders Dortmund while their Ukrainian hosts have lost five out of 10 at home in the league.