Back Napoli, Lazio and Ajax for Europa League treble
Coral are offering superb value on the Europa League treble of Napoli, Lazio and Ajax all winning their last 32 first leg matches. Punters can get an enhanced price of 7/1 on victories for these illustrious clubs.
Napoli travel to Swansea City, while fellow Serie A side Lazio host Bulgarian upstarts Ludogorets Razgrad and Eredivisie leaders Ajax entertain Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg.
Swansea v Napoli
Rafa Benitez’s Napoli start 6/5 favourites to get their first win on British soil here. The Spaniard began coaching in 1986 and meets Swans boss Garry Monk, who has had a job in management for just 16 days.
Napoli have lost just one of their last five away games in Serie A, netting six and conceding twice. That suggests betting on a 3-1 victory for them at 18/1 may be worth a punt.
There are doubts over the fitness of Benitez’s leading marksman Gonzalo Higuain as he has struggled with a recent back problem. If he is fine to play, you can get 11/10 on the Argentine scoring anytime.
Goals may also come from the supporting cast on the flanks. Jose Callejon and Lorenzo Insigne are both 7/4 shots to net throughout this match.
Odds of 6/1 on Napoli winning both halves are also tempting. Do not let their record of never winning against a Premier League side away put you off.
Lazio v Ludogorets Razgrad
Ludogorets who? Don’t be fooled by this unknown opposition. On their day they have won at PSV Eindhoven’s Philips Arena and in the Maksimir where Dinamo Zagreb play.
Roman club Lazio should have more than enough to end the run of these Bulgarian minnows though. Odds-on at 8/13 to win their home leg and 1/4 to qualify, Edy Reja’s men are unbeaten in their last six outings at the Stadio Olimpico in all competitions.
Polish-born Germany warhorse Miroslav Klose is 3/1 to open the scoring here. Italy midfielder Antonio Candreva has more goals this term though, and you can back him at 13/8 to net anytime.
Chelsea loanee Gael Kakuta is eligible to play too. He is a 15/8 shot to get a goal against Razgrad. Lazio may be level on points with AC Milan in Serie A, but expect them to fare better than the Rossoneri did in Champions League action against Atletico Madrid here.
Ajax v Red Bull Salzburg
Frank de Boer’s boys have a four-point lead at the top of the Eredivisie and boast nine wins in their last 10 home matches, including victories over Barcelona, Celtic, Feyenoord and PSV.
Ajax start as clear 6/5 favourites to win this leg in Amsterdam and odds-on at 4/5 to qualify for the last 16. They last played Salzburg in the 1994/95 Champions League group stage earning two draws, but went on to lift the European Cup that season.
De Boer has seen the goal burden shared throughout his front four. Skipper Siem de Jong is back from injury, but not scoring, so look to Iceland international Kolbeinn Sigthorsson instead. He is 11/8 to net against Salzburg.
Supporting cast Viktor Fischer and Davy Klaassen are both 2/1 shots, but the best value in the scoring markets is surely Lasse Schone, who has 11 in all competitions. Back him at 9/4 to net anytime or 8/1 to get the first goal.
