Thursday's Europa League predictions including Man United vs. Rangers

AZ vs. Roma (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Separated by one point in the Europa League standings, AZ Alkmaar and Roma will meet on Thursday, both aiming to boost their hopes of a top-eight finish.

With two games to go in this season's league phase, both are occupying a playoff spot, but defeat could take them closer to the elimination places.

We say: AZ Alkmaar 2-2 Roma

Given AZ's glowing home record and Roma's fragility on the road, one point would represent a good return for the Italian side.

Both teams are enjoying some fine form, so an entertaining contest could be on the cards in Alkmaar.

> Europa League preview: AZ vs Roma

Bodo/Glimt vs. M. Tel Aviv (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Looking to push for a top-eight spot in the 36-team league phase, Bodo/Glimt will welcome Israeli giants Maccabi Tel Aviv to Aspmyra Stadion for a Europa League clash on gameweek seven.

Den Gule Horde have suffered defeats in a pair of friendlies since the beginning of the calendar year, whilst the Yellows have endured a mixed spell on the domestic scene.

We say: Bodo/Glimt 2-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Boasting their stellar home record from 2024, Bodo/Glimt should be confident of securing their spot in the knockout stages with victory on Thursday night.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will be desperate for success in Norway with a clash against Porto scheduled next week, although we feel that the Yellows to narrowly lose out here.

> Europa League preview: Bodo/Glimt vs M. Tel Aviv

Porto vs. Olympiacos (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Managerless Porto welcome Olympiacos to the Estadio do Dragao for their penultimate League Phase fixture in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Both teams currently sit mid-table in the 36-team standings, with the Portuguese hosts occupying 18th spot as their Greek counterparts sit one point and three places higher in 15th.

We say: Porto 1-1 Olympiacos

While Porto have scored 12 goals and have conceded 10 across their six Europa League matches, only eight times has the net rippled in six games involving Olympiacos (five scored, three conceded), so it is difficult to envisage how this contest will pan out.

A closely-fought encounter could be on the cards, and with both teams determined not to lose their penultimate fixture, they may end up settling for a share of the spoils in Portugal.

> Europa League preview: Porto vs Olympiacos

Fenerbahce vs. Lyon (Thursday, 5.45pm)

The last of three Europa League fixtures taking place in Istanbul this midweek sees Fenerbahce welcome Lyon to the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Thursday night.

Jose Mourinho's side are in a perilous position down in 21st, while Lyon are already secured of a spot in the knockout round, with their goal now to finish in the top eight.

We say: Fenerbahce 2-2 Lyon

Fenerbahce, and Mourinho in particular, are often strong at home in Europe, but this will be a tough challenge against a Lyon side who are unbeaten away from the Groupama Stadium in Europe so far this season.

It has been a challenging week for the visitors with some very poor results and upheaval continuing off the field, but they still have the quality to compete here in the fight for a top-eight spot.

> Europa League preview: Fenerbahce vs Lyon

Malmo vs. FC Twente (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Both desperate for points in order to secure a spot in the knockout stages of the competition, Malmo and FC Twente will clash at Eleda Stadion on Thursday night in the Europa League.

Di Blae are back in competitive action following a month-long hiatus, whilst the Tukkers are taking a continental break from the stresses of the Dutch domestic scene.

We say: Malmo 2-2 FC Twente

Both needing a win to boost their chances of making the knockout stages, we could see attacking approaches from Malmo and Twente on Thursday night.

Di Blae might be a little rusty after over a month without the competitive action, although we still feel that the Tukkers will be forced to share the points at Eleda Stadion.

> Europa League preview: Malmo vs FC Twente

Qarabag vs. FCSB (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Qarabag FK welcome FCSB to the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku for their penultimate League Phase fixture in the Europa League on Thursday night.

These two teams have never previously butted heads, while this contest represents the first-ever meeting between an Azerbaijan team and a Romanian club in European competition.

We say: Qarabag FK 2-2 FCSB

A closely-fought, end-to-end contest could be on the cards on Thursday, and although FCSB may be considered as slight favourites, we are backing Qarabag to claim at least a share of the spoils on home soil.

> Europa League preview: Qarabag vs FCSB

Hoffenheim vs. Spurs (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Two clubs surprisingly facing potential domestic relegation struggles meet in Sinsheim on Thursday in the Europa League, when Hoffenheim host Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs fell to another dismal defeat at the weekend, losing away to Everton, meaning they have won just one of their last 10 Premier League games, and form in Europe also took a turn for the worse at the end of 2024.

We say: Hoffenheim 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur

Hoffenheim were given the perfect fixture at the weekend, facing one of the few clubs in the Bundesliga in worse shape than them, and this will be a much tougher assignment despite Spurs' struggles.

Postecoglou will be desperate for a win, not only to ease the pressure on him for now, but to ensure that they avoid the playoffs and further fixture congestion with the club still fighting on four fronts, and they may just have enough to edge a potentially entertaining encounter.

> Europa League preview: Hoffenheim vs Spurs

> Four teenagers to start in Sinsheim? Spurs predicted lineup vs. Hoffenheim

> A full team of absentees? Tottenham injury list for Hoffenheim clash

Plzen vs. Anderlecht (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Viktoria Plzen are set to host the undefeated Anderlecht at the Stadion Lucni ulice on Thursday evening in the penultimate matchday of the 2024-25 Europa League league phase.

The hosts are 17th in the table with nine points from their six outings, while the visitors are third in the table with 14 points from their six fixtures.

We say: Viktoria Plzen 1-2 Anderlecht

The hosts will be hoping to secure a much-needed victory at their home ground to help strengthen their chance of qualification, but the visitors are undefeated in the Europa League and we expect them to secure a win here.

> Europa League preview: Plzen vs Anderlecht

Frankfurt vs. Ferencvaros (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Eintracht Frankfurt will look to return to winning ways in the Europa League after seeing their record-breaking unbeaten run come to an end last time out when they welcome Ferencvaros to Deutsche Bank Park on Thursday night.

The hosts are assured of a place in the knockout round, and will now aim to finish in the top eight, while Ferencvaros are hoping they can hold onto their place in the top 24.

We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 Ferencvaros

This upcoming fixture is certainly more winnable on paper than their trip to Roma on matchday eight will be, so there is no doubt that Toppmoller will give it the attention it deserves, and the hosts should return to winning ways on the continent.

This will be a baptism of fire for Keane in charge of Ferencvaros, and they may have to rely on getting a result against AZ next week if they are to advance.

> Europa League preview: Frankfurt vs Ferencvaros

Elfsborg vs. Nice (Thursday, 8.00pm)

The Europa League's biggest underperformers Nice travel to Sweden to face Elfsborg in Boras on Thursday night.

Franck Haise's men are all but eliminated after a dreadful start on the continent, while Elfsborg have an outside chance of making the knockouts against the odds.

We say: Elfsborg 1-1 Nice

Nice have lost both of their previous games away in Sweden, and Elfsborg lost 5-3 on aggregate to Strasbourg in their only prior meeting with a club from France almost five decades ago, and neither are in the best shape to improve on those records.

Elfsborg have been tricky to play against here though, taking seven points from their three home games, and while Nice are much stronger on paper, they may already be checked out with progression to the knockouts almost impossible from this position.

> Europa League preview: Elfsborg vs Nice

Lazio vs. Real Sociedad (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Their knockout place confirmed with two rounds remaining, Europa League leaders Lazio welcome fellow top-eight contenders Real Sociedad to Stadio Olimpico on Thursday.

Still unbeaten, the Biancocelesti top the table on goal difference, while their Spanish counterparts are just one point shy of the automatic qualifying places.

We say: Lazio 1-1 Real Sociedad

After their scintillating run through November, Lazio have been a little more vulnerable since suffering a six-goal Serie A thrashing by Inter last month.

While the home side still pose plenty of threat, Real Sociedad should be capable of scoring and perhaps claiming a point.

> Europa League preview: Lazio vs Real Sociedad

Ludogorets vs. Midtjylland (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Looking to record their first win of the league phase at the seventh attempt, Ludogorets Razgrad will welcome FC Midtjylland to Huvepharma Arena on Thursday night in the Europa League.

The Eagles have collected just three points from their opening six matches in the competition, whilst the Wolves are also at risk of being eliminated prior to the knockout stages.

We say: Ludogorets Razgrad 2-0 FC Midtjylland

Formidable on their own patch domestically and following a good point against AZ Alkmaar last time out, Ludogorets Razgrad should be confident of recording a much-needed win on Thursday night.

Midtjylland's performances and results drop off a cliff on their travels, and we cannot envisage the Wolves earning anything from a trip to Bulgaria this week.