I'VE posted my thoughts on the English teams in Europa League action tonight elsewhere but here are my best bets in the other ties.
My double is Zenit and Rubin at home and remember Fenerbahce and Lazio will both play behind closed doors.
Zenit St Petersburg v FC Basel (5pm)
Zenit coach Luciano Spalletti is under pressure after suffering three successive defeats for the first. The Russians trail Basel 2-0 after the first leg and on current form wil struggle to overturn the deficit – but we said that about Barcelona and Arsenal.
On factor in Zenit's favour is they have won all six of their home games in the Europa League by two-goal margins and that's an impressive stat that must give the Italian boss some hope.
The big-spending Russians will be looking at Hulk and co to do the business and an early goal could change things as we saw with Barca and Arsenal. Basel are unbeaten in the Swiss league but this is a big test for them.
I reckons Zenit (1-2, Ladbrokes, BetVictor) will win on the night but I'm not sure if they'll do enough to qualify (12-5, Stan James).
Recommendation
Zenit -1 (13-10, BetVictor)
Fenerbahce v Viktoria Plzen (8.05pm)
Viktoria Plzen were fancied to win their first leg at home after hammering Napoli 5-0 but their victory added to Galatasaray's progression to the Champions League last eight shows up Turkish football in a good light.
Fenerbahce are full of confidence after following up last week's victory in the Czech Republic with a 4-1 home win over Bursaspor and should make it through.
Bayern didn't whether to twist or stick against Arsenal and that caused them problems and Fenerbahce also have no fans to roar them on. They are 20-23 at BetVictor but it could be a draw.
Plzen know they have to go for goals though and best bet could be both to score at 1-1 with Stan James. They have netted in six of their last seven Euro trips.
Recommendation
Both teams to score (1-1, Stan James)
Rubin Kazan v Levante (5pm)
Russian side Rubin Kazan are eyeing a second successive Spanish scalp as they host Levante after knokcing out holders Atletico Madrid in the previous round.
Rubin were happy to draw 0-0 in Valencia last week and host the mid-table Spaniards in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.
Forward Jose Rondon netted as Kazan claimed a fine 1-0 win over Zenit at the weekend and he could be the man to strike first at 5-1 with Paddy and unibet.
Rubin are 1-1 at BetVictor to win tonight and should do so against an outfit whose only goals in their last four have come against Valencia and who have lost striker Obafemi Martins to the USA.
Levante have drawn 0-0 back to back and this should be under 2.5 goals but that pays just 4-6 with Skybet.
Recommendation
Rubin (1-1, BetVictor)
Bordeaux v Benfica (8.05pm)
Bordeaux did well to hold Benfica to one goal in Lisbon considering the form they were in and they halted a run of four straight league defeats by edging out Bastia 1-0 at the weekend.
An OG from keeper Cedric Carasso was the difference between the sides in a poor match and this could be another low scorer with Benfica not the best travellers. Under 2.25 goals pays 17-20 at Ladbrokes.
Benfica will be minus first-choice centre-backs Luisao and Ezequiel Garay but did rout Gil Vicente 5-0 at the weekend. I think the Portuguese will qualify but that's short price.
Recommendation
Under 2.5 goals (17-20, Ladbrokes)
Lazio v Stuttgart (8.05pm)
Stuttgart crashed 2-0 at home in the first leg but that wasn't a real surprise as Bruno Labbadia's side have performed much better away from home in this tournament.
Lazio coach Vladimir Petkovic is set to rest some players but surely the Germans, 10-1 at bet365 to qualify, have left themselves with too much to do.
There will be no fans inside the Olympic Stadium as Lazio play the first of two games behind closed doors following crowd disturbances and that will help Stuttgart who are 13-5 at Paddy Power to win on the night. But draw no bet at 13-10 with William Hill is the safer option.
Recommendation
Stuttgart draw no bet (13-10, William Hill)
In December 2020 we sadly 
Milesey’s tips for today (via Cheltenham!)…
TODAYS FOUR FOLD
1 Under 2.5 Rubin Kazan v Levante
(Total Goals) 14/03/2013 None 8/15 To Run
2 Fenerbahce Fenerbahce v Viktoria Plzen
(Full Time Result) 14/03/2013 None 10/11 To Run
3 Yes Newcastle v Anzhi Makhachkala
(Both Teams to Score) 14/03/2013 None 10/11 To Run
4 Chelsea -1.5 Chelsea v Steaua Bucharest
(Asian Handicap) 14/03/2013 None 1.80 To Run
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HOME and AWAY DOUBLE
Bet 1: Fenerbahce (HOME) @ 1.95
Bet 2: Benfica (AWAY) @ 2.84
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One team has failed to score in each of Fenerbahce’s last seven Europa League games and in 10/14 of Viktoria Plzen’s most recent outings in the competition.
Recommended Bet: Say ‘No’ to Both Teams to Score? @ 2.01/1 in Fenerbahce v Viktoria Plzen
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Newcastle United vs Anzhi Makhachkala
Thu 20:05 BST, Live on ESPN
Match Odds: Newcastle 2.56, Anzhi 3.18, the draw 3.41
Back Over 2.5 Goals at 2.36
Back Yes in the Both Teams to Score market at 1.96 20/21
Chelsea vs Steaua Bucharest
Thu 20:05 BST, Live on ITV1
Match Odds: Chelsea 1.38, Steaua 10.5, the draw 5.24/1
Back Chelsea -1.5 on the Asian Handicap at 2.11
Back Chelsea To Qualify at 1.77 4/5
Rubin Kazan vs Levante
Thu 17:00 BST
Match Odds: Rubin 1.91, Levante 5.0, the draw 3.55
Back Rubin Kazan to win at 1.91
Back Rubin Kazan to keep a clean sheet at 2.22 6/5
LAY OF THE DAY
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Lazio were sent off at a tasty price in Germany last week and they duly delivered with a 2-0 victory to put them within touching distance of the quarter-finals. They were beaten in Serie A on Sunday though, conceding two goals at home to Fiorentina and that must be a slight concern for Vladimir Petković.
In fairness to Lazio though, they have a fantastic record at Stadio Olimpico usually. That defeat at the weekend was only their second in front of their own fans since September. They are usually good for a couple of goals as well and while they have racked up a fair few clean sheets, tonight’s opponents will have to throw caution to the wind.
Stuttgart have faltered since the winter break; seven losses from a dozen matches and just three wins. They’ve lost their last three on the bounce and the 1-0 home defeat to Hamburg on Sunday was not a good way to prepare for their trip to Rome.
Bruno Labbadia will take a bit of hope from the fact that they’ve won two from their last three on the road. The Reds need at least two goals to have any chance of progress so the manager will no doubt set up an attacking team. An early goal is absolutely vital but given the necessity to push forward, they will be susceptible to the Italians on the counter attack.
This could possibly turn out to be a damp squib, especially if Lazio get a goal up, but I think there is definite value in taking on under 2.5 goals. That’s why, at around the 1.83 mark, I have to make it my lay of the day.
Lay Under 2.5 goals in Lazio v Stuttgart @ 1.83 4/5
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Copa Libertadores
CLUB NACIONAL V BOCA JUNIORS 10.15 K/O
Boca Juniors face Nacional in Montevideo tonight having lost four of their last seven games. They lost to Nacional last week, despite playing the final 19 minutes against 10 men.
Riquelme has played just twice so far this season – in the 3-1 home defeat to Union and against Nacional. In theory, if he were fit, if he were the player of even three years ago, a forward line of him behind Lucas Viatri, all honest endeavour and aerial strength, and Juan Martinez, with his intelligent running, should work, particularly with Walter Erviti adding his creative powers from midfield.
But Riquelme is not the player he was and Boca, not for the first time, seem to have thrown out a style that worked in order to pursue an ideal that doesn’t. Before Falcioni they had gone three years without a trophy.
Nacional, meanwhile, followed up their victory over Boca with a 2-1 home win over struggling Central Espanol – their first success in their third game of the Uruguayan season. Although they won 3-2 away to Toluca in the Libertadores, their form is unconvincing, and it took a late equaliser to avoid defeat to Barcelona.
And that, really, is Boca’s hope. This group comprises only teams in inconsistent form; Toluca’s draw away to Barcelona last night means they are only two points clear of Boca. Win tonight (2.87n/a) – with Riquelme almost certainly absent with gastroenteritis – and the last 16 becomes a possibility again. With the league looking a struggle, Bianchi needs it.
Back Boca DRAW NO BET @ 2.1
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CRICKET
Latest Score: England 267/2
Match Odds: England 2.0421/20, Draw 2.02, New Zealand 50.0 49/1
Recommended Bet (Back to Lay)
Back the draw @ 2.02 1/1
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ATP Indian Wells
Rafa Nadal versus Roger Federer at 2am UK time.
Part 29 of this match-up is probably one of the toughest to predict, with both players not at their best physically.
Rafa still has issues with his knees and it’s in the lap of the gods how well he is able to move on any given day. He was hampered last night against Ernests Gulbis, but was still able to edge that one and similarly Federer struggled again with his back and crept past Stan Wawrinka.
Obviously the match-up favours Nadal, who has won 18 of their matches lifetime to Fed’s 10 and we can expect the same tactics again tonight, as Rafa will try and get the ball up high to Roger’s backhand and control the point from there.
That said, Federer won here 12 months ago on a very windy day and Nadal has only played two competitive matches on a hard court since that day, so all things considered it’s far from easy to pick a winner in this one.
If I were going on the outright match odds market I would favour the underdog purely on the match-up at around 2.16, but I can’t see either player winning this comfortably unless injury intervenes and preference is for the over 22.5 total games at 1.86.
Recommended Bet
Back over 22.5 games in Federer vs. Nadal at 1.86 5/6
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PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS
TREBLE
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M V G
BARNEY
THE POWER
Goodluck to everyone today………… Milesey
11/10
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Liking the layout of your tips Mr F.
Chris, hopefully the tips will be even better but it is Europa League and sometimes difficult to call.
AL, OK. Do it now, had forgotten with Cheltenham.
No worries Paul, see its up now, cheers! You getting involved tonight?
AL, no can do. Working on the sports desk tonight.
Paul mate can I ask the point in top tips and Europa league tips its as good as the same thing and with the site going horsey mad for the first time since you and your team launched the site it would be easier tae follow know
Danny, I put up Europa League just covering the English teams yesterday. Then when I had time this morning I looked at the other games. That’s why there are two posts. It’s only horse mad for one week only and I’ll think you’ll agree it’s the biggest week.
I ano wit yer saying Paul its not really a big deal know and plus it will drum up massive interest for the site
had worked out some weekend bets but is the weather not absolute nonsense with postponed games Imminent
Danny, not sure about down south but been cold up here. Ground will be hard but think it’s to be a bit better before the weekend.
aye all see closer the time mate the auld boy will be wae his pals getting on the old jameson and the mawheed wull be losing sickening amounts seterday evening lol a bell him aboot 10pm my time incase of postponed games so all be sound gawny take a wee drive doon the other side ae Perth the mawra an treat masel ae a botto a tonic swine fur seturdays live tv offerings
Friday Mornings Aleague offering Adelaide have let slip there decent form that’s got them in the play offs Newcastle haven’t been to bad so Im going by home and away form Adelaide last 15 home have won 10 drew 2 and lost 2 Newcastle last 15 away lost 8 drew 3 won 4
Prediction Adelaide to win @ 1/1 and Adelaide 2 Score In Both Halves @ 2/1
If anyone wanting to get on Zenit then they are 11/10 in running on 888 sport as opposed to 1/2 everywhere else. I got on them at this price before KO and thought it may have been a mistake but even after kick off it has stayed at this price. Before kick off they were also 4.75 on the handicap. Ive ended up backing them at 11/10 and laying them at same time to gurantee a return
Just gonna keep it simple on tonights Europa league
BET Chelsea -2 15/8 at william hills
Good luck tonight lads
Mata 3-0 33/1 that’s my tip
did tottenham just gave away a 3 goal lead ?
Yep, looks like extra time in the San Siro.