After seeing our winning run end at five after falling a goal short in Norway on Wednesday, Thursday’s Football Bet of the Day sees me focus on the European qualifiers, and I’ve highlighted a goals-based selection in one of the fixtures.
⚽️ Shakhtar Donetsk vs Besiktas
🇪🇺 Europa League Qualifying
⏰ Thursday 31 July, 19:00
Shakhtar will look to complete the job and advance to the third qualifying round in the Europa League as they play ‘host’ to Besiktas in neutral Poland in a fixture that appeals to me for goals.
Ukrainian Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk began their European campaign in the round before, as they knocked out Finnish side Ilves 6-0 on aggregate, with all six goals coming in the first leg to set up a tie with the Turkish giants.
In the first leg last week, Shakhtar made a flying start in Istanbul, as Brazilian duo Alisson Santana and Eguinaldo gave The Miners a two-goal lead inside the opening half-hour.
New Besiktas signing Tammy Abraham got his first goal for the Black Eagles, as he pulled one back from the spot before halftime, but another Brazilian, Kevin, restored Shakhtar’s two-goal advantage in the 67th minute.
Ex-Benfica midfielder, Joao Mario, pulled another goal back for Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s side, but Kevin grabbed his second of the game deep in stoppage time, meaning Shakhtar are in the box seat to face Panathinaikos in the next round.
Bet of the Day
Shakhtar’s previous 10 European contests have averaged 3.60 goals per game, with Over 2.5 Goals paying out in seven (70%) of them, whilst five of their last eight have seen goals at both ends.
Since the beginning of last season, Besiktas’s 11 continental clashes have averaged an eye-catching 3.91 goals per game, with nine (82%) of them seeing a minimum of three strikes, whilst eight (73%) have seen goals at both ends.
Given how open the first leg was in Istanbul in the first leg last week, coupled with Besiktas’s need for goals, I’m expecting another high-scoring clash in Poland on Thursday.
- Both Teams to Score, Over 2.5 Goals & Over 0.5 First Half Goals
- Pays 20/23 (Bet365 Bet Builder)
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Hi, I’m Greg MacLean, and I’m a football tipster and betting analyst who has been writing on the Mr Fixit site for 3 years now, as well as having my own Private Telegram Channel. I’m a Rangers season ticket holder and watch plenty of football not only here in the UK but all across Europe and all over the world. To keep up to date on everything, feel free to follow me on Twitter/X (GregMacLean_).
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