Thursday's Europa League predictions including Man United vs. Bodo/Glimt

Athletic Bilbao vs. Elfsborg (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Athletic Bilbao will look to maintain their unbeaten start to their Europa League campaign when they welcome Elfsborg to San Mames on Thursday.

The hosts are sitting in sixth position at the halfway point of the league phase, while the visitors are in 24th spot after the first four matchdays.

We say: Athletic Bilbao 3-1 Elfsborg

Elfsborg have failed to take anything from their previous two European away games, and we think that they could fall to another away defeat when they go up against an Athletic side that have won four of their previous five home matches in all competitions.

AZ vs. Galatasaray (Thursday, 5.45pm)

AZ Alkmaar will host a second Turkish side in back-to-back Europa League matchdays when they welcome Galatasaray to AFAS Stadion on Thursday.

The Cheese Farmers picked up a 3-1 win against Fenerbahce on matchday four, maintaining their unbeaten run against Turkish teams in European competitions.

We say: AZ Alkmaar 2-2 Galatasaray

AZ have been formidable at home in the Europa League this season, and we believe that Thursday will be no exception for the Dutch side.

However, with Galatasaray's quality and form, we expect them to leave the Netherlands with something, which is why we are predicting a stalemate.

Besiktas vs. M. Tel Aviv (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Matchday five of the Europa League gets underway when Besiktas welcome Maccabi Tel Aviv to Istanbul, hoping to extend their winning streak.

The hosts are 18th in the Europa League table with six points from their four games, while the away side are yet to get any points on the board and are second-bottom in 35th place.

We say: Besiktas 2-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Besiktas are in a difficult spot right now, but they appear to have figured things out in the Europa League, and we expect them to make their home support count.

Tel Aviv are one of the Europa League's whipping boys, as their quality is short of what is required, which is why we are predicting a win for the hosts.

Dynamo Kiev vs. Plzen (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Looking to distance themselves from the role of continental whipping boys, Dynamo Kiev will welcome Viktoria Plzen to Volksparkstadion in Germany for a Europa League clash on Thursday night.

The Blue and Whites are yet to collect a point in the League Phase of this competition, whereas Viktoriani are striving to extend their unbeaten run in the section to five matches.

We say: Dynamo Kiev 1-1 Viktoria Plzen

Pointless after four games of the League Phase, Dynamo Kiev will be desperate to earn a positive result in Hamburg on Thursday night.

Consequently, we are expecting a valiant effort from the Blue and Whites, one that should be enough to force Viktoria Plzen to share the spoils.

Lazio vs. Ludogorets (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Aiming to take one step closer to the last 16, Europa League leaders Lazio will welcome Ludogorets Razgrad to Stadio Olimpico on Thursday.

While the Rome club top the table with a flawless record at the halfway stage, their Bulgarian counterparts have yet to win and sit 34th in the 36-team standings.

We say: Lazio 2-0 Ludogorets Razgrad

Not only are Lazio in scintillating form, having won 11 of their last 12 matches, their fellow 'Eagles' rarely fare well on the road.

Ludogorets have won just two of 24 away games in the Europa League over recent years, and that trend will surely continue at Stadio Olimpico.

Qarabag vs. Lyon (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Lyon will seek to ignore off-field concerns and continue their excellent form on the pitch when they make the long trip to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag FK in the Europa League on Thursday.

The French giants were handed a provisional relegation to Ligue 2 just over a week ago, and must pay off their debts by the end of the season to avoid being demoted.

We say: Qarabag FK 0-1 Lyon

It is not easy making such a long trip away in Europe, but even with conditions and the weather set to be challenging, Lyon should be able to continue their fine form here and return to winning ways in this competition.

Qarabag are surprisingly poor at home in the Europa League, with just five wins in Baku in their history, and despite a surprise win on matchday four, this will be a tougher test.

RFS vs. PAOK (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Both striving to earn their first wins of the League Phase in this competition, Rigas Futbola Skola and PAOK will lock horns for a Europa League battle on Thursday evening.

RFS have conquered their domestic scene once again this year but are now looking for success on the continent, whilst the White and Blacks are tussling to retain their Greek Super League crown.

We say: Rigas Futbola Skola 2-2 PAOK

Boasting an impressive home record in 2024, RFS will be confident of earning another positive result against a big club in the Europa League on Thursday night.

PAOK have suffered with inconsistency of late and are still awaiting their maiden League Phase success, and we believe that the Greeks will be frustratingly held in Riga.

Anderlecht vs. Porto (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Still unbeaten in the Europa League this season, Anderlecht will welcome an ailing Porto side to Brussels on Thursday evening.

The Belgian club are six points clear of their Portuguese counterparts in the league table and on course for direct entry to the knockout rounds; meanwhile, Porto are just inside the playoff places.

We say: Anderlecht 2-2 Porto

While the two teams are in contrasting form, Porto still pack a punch and can perhaps steal away from Lotto Park with a point.

Anderlecht would keep their undefeated record intact, also keeping them on track for an automatic place in the last 16.

Midtjylland vs. Frankfurt (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Struggling FC Midtjylland welcome one of the most in-form clubs in Europe to Herning in the Europa League on Thursday, when Eintracht Frankfurt travel to the MCH Arena.

The hosts have only just ended a lengthy losing run, while Frankfurt look set to be Bayern Munich's closest challengers for the Bundesliga title this season.

We say: FC Midtjylland 1-3 Eintracht Frankfurt

Midtjylland have been struggling of late, both offensively and at keeping goals out of their own net, so may struggle against a ruthless Frankfurt side that have been sweeping everybody aside with little fuss recently.

The 1-0 win over Bremen at the weekend was not quite as emphatic as some that have come before it, but with the form of Marmoush especially, there is nothing stopping Frankfurt from blowing their hosts away here.

FC Twente vs. Union SG (Thursday, 8.00pm)

FC Twente will hope to pick up their first win of their Europa League campaign when they host Union SG in their fifth match in the competition on Thursday at De Grolsch Veste.

The Dutch side are 27th in the Europa League table with three points and drew 2-2 with Nice on November 7, while their opponents drew 1-1 with Roma on the same date but are 30th in the table with two points.

We say: FC Twente 1-1 Union SG

FC Twente have so far failed to impress in the Europa League, and they may struggle to hold onto a lead should they score first.

While the visitors managed to earn a valuable point against Roma, they have been poor on the road this season and it would be surprising if they overcame their difficulties on Thursday.

FCSB vs. Olympiacos (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Looking to strengthen their case for a top-eight finish in the League Phase, FCSB will host Olympiacos at Arena Nationala in Bucharest for a Europa League match on Thursday night.

The Red and Blues returned from the international break with a handsome domestic victory on the weekend, whilst Thrylos collected maximum points from their battle against AEK Athens.

We say: FCSB 2-2 Olympiacos

Both competing at the upper end of the Europa League table, we are expecting a competitive match between FCSB and Olympiacos on Thursday night.

It is hard to bet against El Kaabi scoring at least once for the visitors in Bucharest, although we feel that the Red and Blues will be good enough to earn a point.

Ferencvaros vs. Malmo (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Hungarian champions Ferencvaros are set to welcome Swedish champions Malmo to Groupama Arena on Thursday in their fifth Europa League game of the season.

The hosts beat Dynamo Kiev 4-0 on November 7 and are 14th in the Europa League table with six points, double the tally of the Malmo, who are 28th and lost 2-1 against Besiktas on November 6.

We say: Ferencvaros 2-1 Malmo

Given the number of players that are set to miss out for Malmo on Thursday, it is difficult to see how they overcome their hosts.

Additionally, the visitors have been poor away from home for some time and Ferencvaros should come into the clash as favourites.

Man Utd vs. Bodo/Glimt (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Ruben Amorim will make his home debut as Manchester United manager when they welcome Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt to Old Trafford in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Given the difference in stature, history and financial strength between the two clubs, Bodo/Glimt remarkably find themselves above Man United at the halfway stage of the league phase.

We say: Manchester United 3-0 Bodo/Glimt

In a first-ever meeting with Norwegian opponents, Man United will seek to extend a phenomenal run of form in this competition at home, having lost just one of their last 26 here in the Europa League.

Despite not being the best travellers, Bodo/Glimt have stunned Braga already in this campaign, but in arguably the biggest match in their history, it is unlikely they will cause an upset.

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Nice vs. Rangers (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Nice, still in search of their first league phase victory, will welcome Rangers to the Allianz Riviera on Thursday night in matchday five of the 2024-25 Europa League.