PSV welcomes struggling Sturm Graz for their Group B clash while Sparta Prague are determined to beat Rangers on the road and earn their Europa League knock-out stages spot. Our sportsbook is offering a great range of props for European soccer action.
PSV vs. Sturm Graz: Easy home win
Three teams are separated by three points in Group B with Monaco sitting first with eight points earned in four games followed by Real Sociedad with six points and PSV with five points. This is the perfect chance for PSV to climb the ladder because one or both Monaco and Real Sociedad will drop points on Thursday as they play each other.
Despite having many players out with injuries PSV enter this clash as huge favorites being priced at -525 on the three-way moneyline with the latest soccer odds. They destroyed Sturm Graz on the road in the reverse match beating them 4-1 and we expect them to cover the spread once again.
On the other side, the Austrian team are winless in four Europa League games earning just one point from their 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad. Basically, they have nothing to play for. They need a miracle to finish third and book their Conference League knock-out stage tickets. They must beat both PSV and Monaco, but they also need Real Sociedad to beat PSV in the final match of this group.
Roger Schmidt’s boys have more than enough firepower for their Austrian counterparts, and they are very organized at the back conceding just one goal in their last three games across all competitions. This should be a walk in the park for the hosts and we expect them to cover the spread. There’s no way Sturm Graz will pull off the upset, so we don’t recommend you add them to your soccer picks and parlays.
Pick: PSV -2 at +105
Rangers vs. Sparta Prague: High-Scoring Affair
The former Rangers, Arsenal and Barcelona defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst returned to Ibrox to succeed Steven Gerrard, who left to manage Premier League side Aston Villa. With an important fixture ahead on Thursday against Sparta Prague, there is little time to enforce changes in the team.
Rangers and Sparta Prague are equal on points after four games but in case of a draw Sparta Prague have the upper hand on their opponents because they won the reverse fixture, and the head-to-head matches will be the tiebreaker if points are tied at the end of the group stage. Basically, Rangers must win this game by two goals if they want to leapfrog the Czech team in the standings.
The visitors have lost two of their last three while they have won just one of their last four fixtures across all competitions. They are winless on the road in this year’s Europa League. On the other side, Rangers have only won two of their last 10 European fixtures, but the new manager’s bounce effect might be the key to this fixture.
Sparta Prague have also struggled in the Europa League during the last seasons winning just three of their previous 13 encounters. Both teams have the necessary weapons to win this game so if you’re betting online, you should stay away from the winners’ market. Even a draw is possible, but a draw with goals.
Rangers will be forced to attack and leave many gaps at the back and Sparta Prague are deadly on the break being fully packed with high-paced players from the middle and up. The crowd will definitely act as a 12th man for the hosts, having a new manager will surely offer them more energy and eagerness but there’s no value in the home win. Instead, we are taking the over 2½ as our second pick for this parlay
