Swansea spearhead 14/1 handicap Europa League treble
Published:The 62 teams in the play-off round are only a single round away from competing in the group stages of the Europa League and a good first-leg result will be useful to their chances of progression.
Swansea and Besiktas are both fancied to overcome handicaps to claim first-leg initiatives, while Karabakh can either win or draw to remain in their tie with Eintracht Frankfurt. Our treble pays out at 14/1.
Karabakh have not only won all of their five home games in all competitions this season, they have only been beaten once on their own patch in Europe since 2006, which includes positive results with the likes of Rosenburg, FC Twente and Club Brugge.
This sole loss was only a 1-0 reverse to Borussia Dortmund and this was in a year where they went on to take the Bundesliga title.
Frankfurt have already lost 6-1 away this season to Hertha Berlin and although they will almost certainly progress to the group stages, a victory in Azerbaijan is no foregone conclusion.
Swansea will surely want to go for the jugular here so that players can be rested for the second leg and their passing in Wales could be too hot for their Romanian opponents, despite the fact they have won their last four away games in all competitions.
The Swans swatted aside Malmo at home 4-0 in the last round and there is every reason to believe that the current Swedish league leaders are no worse than Petrolul.
Tromso may have progressed through three qualifying rounds already, but they have yet to win a tie by more than a single-goal margin and needed penalties to see off Luxembourg minnows Differdange in the last.
Under Slaven Bilic, Besiktas’ patience was rewarded in their season opener with Trabzonspor when winning 2-0 and they should comfortably come through this away leg.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
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