The Europa League semifinals reveal four remaining clubs battling for the hardware.
If there is one thing that we know about this year’s competition, a new champion will be crowned. Sevilla FC of Spain’s La Liga had taken the last three Europa League titles, but they are nowhere to be found this time around. The lone representative from Spain in this year’s competition will be Celta Vigo, who face favored Manchester United.
Ajax and Lyon will also face off in the Europa League semifinals, making this competition a wide-open affair. The two sides representing the Netherlands and France, will kick off the Europa League semifinals on May 3.
Manchester United and Celta Vigo will square off on May 4 in Spain, at Estadio Balaídos.
As the Europa League semifinals approaches, the lines have, of course, been adjusted on outright bets.
As it stands early in the week, here is what the line setters are offering to win the tournament:
Manchester United – -110
Lyon – +275
Ajax – +600
Celta Vigo – +750
If you have read one of my previous Europa League articles here on the site, you know Lyon got my nod to win. When Lyon and Roma faced off in the quarterfinals, I mentioned that if Roma doesn’t beat Lyon, then Lyon would win this thing. You can find me mentioning all that in my Europa League quarterfinals article.
Now that we have arrived to the Europa League semifinals, you see Lyon is down to +275. I say down, because I have +350 on Lyon to win Europa League pending, myself. We know Manchester has been favored to win the event since the round of 16. We know this because I have those odds posted right here at Get More Sports, in my round of 16 article.
Manchester United was +200 when that stage kicked off, and they are -110 now, as I showed above.
Obviously, when I invested in Lyon, taking a chance on a French side to win hardware was a risk in itself. Anyone who follows European club competitions knows that Ligue 1 clubs don’t exactly carry a rich history of success. I will just say 1993 and Marseille, because that’s all I got when it comes to European club competition wins for clubs from France.
Naturally, the bulk of the European club titles in major competitions has the ‘big four’ dominating the record books. Europa League is, of course, now the secondary club competition in European football.
What we recognize as Europa League today, started in 1971. There have been 45 previous Europa League tournaments played, and not a croissant or puff pastry can be found as a winner anywhere. That is my verbiage to communicate that no French side has a Europa League trophy in their showcase.
So, being me and all, knowing that fortune favors the bold, I think 45 years is enough baby! I don’t know how many pundits or outlets you follow that had Lyon winning Europa League since the quarterfinals, but at least I can say I had them if they pull it off.
Dig on that, and let me tell you that is weird pulling for a French side to win a trophy. Manchester United and Lyon are apparently on a collision course for the finals in Sweden. That match is set to take place on May 24, at Friends Arena in Solna, Sweden. In fact, the only club left in this Europa League semifinals who has won it before, is Ajax. The Dutch side took down the 1991/92 Europa League title over Torino, back when it was a two-legged affair.
Let’s move on to the matches, and reveal the lines for this week’s Europa League semifinals.
May 3
Ajax vs Lyon
3-Way 1×2 Lines:
Ajax +130
Lyon +200
Draw +260
Handicap/Spread:
Ajax 0/Pk -140
Lyon 0/Pk +120
Total 3:
Over +110
Under -130
Referee:
Gianluca Rocchi (ITA)
May 4
Celta Vigo vs Manchester United
3-Way 1×2 Lines:
Celta Vigo +170
Man United +170
Draw +210
Handicap/Spread:
Celta Vigo 0/Pk -105
Man United 0/Pk -105
Total 2:
Over -125
Under +105
Referee:
(Will Update when available on Tuesday)
____________________________
Excuse me while I get up off the floor! I fell off my chair when I saw that straight 2 on the total in Spain.
I think we have a ‘drunk line setter’ moment happening again. If you listen to our GMS College Football Throwdown Podcast, you know all about those. Ahh baby, some good stuff, and a lot of fun I had with that on that show. What it stood for, was my interpretation of the line setters showing up for work after a long, bombed weekend, and absolutely blowing the mark. My ‘drunk line setter’ plays did pretty well, in fact, and I love catching what I think is just a misplaced line.
What cracks me up even more is the fact that the ‘Both Teams to Score’ prop is -110 on either side. Yes? No?
Is this a coin-flip situation? What I like about it at least, is a 1 – 1 result does us some good with those lines.
I usually get into all the stats, and all the previous history stuff, and there is not much here to be found.
Regarding both Europa League semifinals matchups, Manchester United and Celta Vigo have zero history between them. Ajax and Lyon have only met twice in UEFA club competition, each coming in the 2002/03 and 2011/12 campaigns.
That sums that up, so I think we need some plays here.
I am all over that total in Spain, and I am going to suggest you do take that ‘Both to Score’ Prop.
In fact, I see bet365 offers even money on the the ‘Yes’ side of that offer, so do it, to it!
Suggested Plays:
Celta Vigo vs Manchester United
Total Goals Over 2 @ -120
Both Teams to Score (Yes) @ +100
So you are not losing your mind, by the way, I have not offered anything from the first match on Wednesday yet.
It is hard to not be at least a little impressed with what Lyon has done in the tournament so far. But when you look at the leading goal scorers in the tournament, there are no Lyon players with more than 4 goals. That is also in part because Lyon did not enter Europa league play until the knockout phase.
We have ourselves a completely different situation with this total in the Netherlands. What about that ‘Both to Score’ Prop, set at a whopping -200 at most sites that carry the offer. Although the straight 3 on the total is only set at about even money.
Including me, I do not know who many people who are invested in Ligue 1 or Eredivisie football. I personally only invest in clubs from these leagues when situations call for it, which is where we are now.
Most of you know by now that I am a totals guy, and I have been for as long as I can remember. Predicting outcomes of football contests in Europe, is something I love putting out there. When it comes to Europa League, I have almost never met a total I didn’t like, usually towards goals coming.
How can I suggest an Under to happen in the Netherlands between Ajax and Lyon? We know the line setters expect them both to score, so there are the first two goals we need, essentially. Finding a third goal is the objective to at worst push that action on the Over 3 at +110. Did someone say plus money?
So we will need the fourth goal to cash the ticket outright, but if a 2 – 1 match returns my bet, I will lose zero sleep over it.
So in the first of the two Europa League semifinals contests, I will put that total on the board too.
Suggested Play:
Ajax vs Lyon
Total Goals Over 3 @ +110
It’s just 5 goals from two matches that I ask for, with one or two extras along the way to make it worth it.
The second legs of the Europa League semifinals will take place on May 11, not split like it is this week.
In Bocca Al Lupo! Make it Rain!
