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Bologna won three of their four away league phase games and can seize a first leg advantage in their play-off with Brann. The Norwegian outfit failed to win any of their final five league phase games and have only been playing in this competition since their domestic season ended in November, and that lack of regular competitive action may work against them as they face a Bologna side who only narrowly missed out om a top eight finish.

Celta Vigo beat PAOK 3-1 in the league phase in what was a convincing win, that saw them generate an xg of 2.7 and having 63% possession. They outclassed them that day, and look great value to do so again here.

Plzen arrive unbeaten in their last ten matches. They faced the Greek side in the league phase and held them to a 0-0 draw, despite going down to ten men in the first half. This should be a cagey match with few goals, but Plzen can grind out a victory if they can keep their full complement on the pitch this time. 

Ferencvaros beat Ludogorets 3-1 in the league phase of the Europa League in November. It was a pretty convincing win with them more than doubling their XG. They will have the belief to repeat that type of performance away from home.

Genk are on a four-game winning run and have won their last three away games. The Belgian side also won three of their four league phase trips, picking up victories at Rangers and Braga, and they look capable of claiming a victory in Croatia against a Dinamo Zagreb side who lost four of their final five league phase games.

Zrinjski have been blanked in three of their last five Conference League games and look set to suffer a similar fate against a Crystal Palace side who may be too strong for the Bosnians, take the Eagles to win to nil.

Turkey’s Samsunspor are a level above their hosts and they scored in five of their six league phase games. The visitors were contenders to top the standings at the halfway stage of the league phase but one point from their final three games saw them finish in the play-offs. Shkendija did score in all their home games and have scored in five of their last six games across all competitions, so the Macedonian side should at least be able to get on the scoresheet on Thursday.

Bologna won three of their four away league phase games and can seize a first leg advantage in their play-off with Brann. The Norwegian outfit failed to win any of their final five league phase games and have only been playing in this competition since their domestic season ended in November, and that lack of regular competitive action may work against them as they face a Bologna side who only narrowly missed out om a top eight finish. Bologna have managed just one clean sheet in their last 21 games across all competitions so Brann can at least get on the scoresheet. 

Celta Vigo beat PAOK 3-1 in the league phase in what was a convincing win, that saw them generate an xg of 2.7 and having 63% possession. A similar level of performance on Thursday would probably result in two or more goals for Celta.

Both teams have scored in three of Lille’s last four home games and they have just one clean sheet in their last five at this venue. Crvena Zvezda are in red-hot form in front of goal with 17 goals across their last seven games, while Les Dogues have failed to score in just two home games all season across all comps. Both teams to score looks a solid option and, with home advantage, Lille may be able to take a lead into the return fixture in Serbia.

Stuttgart have won five of their last seven away games and should be too strong for a Celtic team who are lacking the quality to get involved at this level against a team who are fourth in the Bundesliga. Both teams have scored in six of Celtic’s last seven games and a repeat of that looks likely between them and Stuttgart. 

FEBRUARY –  The Texans’ suffocating defence has been the key to their eight-game winning run and with the AFC looking the less competitive conference this season after the demise of the Kansas City Chiefs, they have the talent to go a long way. Quarterback CJ Stroud is fully fit again and can look for an elite wide receiver in Nico Collins while former first-round picks Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr. are just two of their many defensive stars.

JULY – Elena Rybakina looks a bet in her bid to repeat her 2022 triumph at the All England Club. The Kazakhstani has had a tough couple of years, due in the main to off-court issues, but she finished last year on a high with victory at the WTA Finals. She’s a superb grass-court player who is as good as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek when she’s on her game.

JULY – Alex Noren enjoyed a resurgence in his career in 2025, winning twice on the DP World Tour, and 2026 could finally be the year he ends his long wait for a maiden Major. The Swede has an affinity for links golf, evidenced by his victory at the 2016 Scottish Open and his two top-10 Open finishes, he could go all the way and land the Claret Jug in 2026.

DECEMBER – Mercedes may have botched the ground-effect era, but the Silver Arrows have a strong record of responding well to rule changes, and the sweeping regulation shift coming in 2026 should bring the title back into play. Their power unit has already come under, and been cleared, of scrutiny, suggesting it is likely to be among the strongest engines on the grid, and they have the driver lineup to win the consistent points necessary to land the constructor crown.

Bologna have managed just one clean sheet in their last 21 games across all competitions so Brann can keep this tie fairly close by getting on the scoresheet. Over 2.5 goals has landed in four of Brann’s last six games across all comps and in seven of Bologna’s last nine, these teams can combine for at least three goals.

Over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in each of Fenerbahce’s last three games and they have gone four games without a clean sheet at home. Forest produced a limp attacking display in a bore draw with Wolves but they should be looking for improvements in the final third and they can at least get on the scoresheet, so both teams look capable of contributing and we should see at least three goals.

Celta Vigo beat PAOK 3-1 in the league phase in what was a convincing win, that saw them generate an xg of 2.7 and having 63% possession. A similar level of performance on Thursday would probably result in two or more goals for Celta.

There is a gulf in class here and Palace look capable of grabbing a couple of goals. The Eagles scored at least two goals in four of their six league phase games, while Zrinjski were beaten 3-0 at Borac Banja Luka over the weekend.

With home advantage, Lille may be able to take a slender lead into the return fixture in Serbia and a 2-1 win for the hosts has a chance. Red Star scored exactly one goal in three of their four league phase trips, while two of Lille’s three home wins came by one goal margins in this competition.

Genk are on a four-game winning run and have won their last three away games. The Belgian side also won three of their four league phase trips, picking up victories at Rangers and Braga, and they look capable of claiming a victory in Croatia against a Dinamo Zagreb side who lost four of their final five league phase games. Genk claimed two clean sheets in their four away league phase games and Dinamo drew blanks in three of their four Europa League main draw losses. The visitors may be able to win without conceding and a 2-0 away win seems a reasonable prediction.

Genk are on a four-game winning run and have won their last three away games. The Belgian side also won three of their four league phase trips, picking up victories at Rangers and Braga, and they look capable of claiming a victory in Croatia against a Dinamo Zagreb side who lost four of their final five league phase games.

Bologna won three of their four away league phase games and can seize a first leg advantage in their play-off with Brann. The Norwegian outfit failed to win any of their final five league phase games and have only been playing in this competition since their domestic season ended in November, and that lack of regular competitive action may work against them as they face a Bologna side who only narrowly missed out om a top eight finish.

Fener are unbeaten at home in the Super Lig and have impressed at the Sukru Saracoglu in Europe, beating Stuttgart and Nice during the league phase. Forest may be boosted by the arrival of Vitor Pereira as their new manager but the Turkish club’s form – they have won their last four games – suggests they can claim a first leg victory.

KuPS managed to come through the league phase unbeaten at home and they only suffered one defeat overall, a narrow 1-0 loss to Lech’s domestic rivals Jagiellonia in Poland. The Finnish hosts held Crystal Palace to a 2-2 draw in London in their last Conference League outing and can at least avoid defeat against Lech, who lost two of their three league phase trips.

Genk are on a four-game winning run and have won their last three away games. The Belgian side also won three of their four league phase trips, picking up victories at Rangers and Braga, and they look capable of claiming a victory in Croatia against a Dinamo Zagreb side who lost four of their final five league phase games.

Stuttgart have won five of their last seven away games and should be too strong for a Celtic team who are lacking the quality to get involved at this level against a team who are fourth in the Bundesliga.

Ferencvaros beat Ludogorets 3-1 in the league phase of the Europa League in November. It was a pretty convincing win with them more than doubling their XG. They will have the belief to repeat that type of performance away from home

Both teams have scored in three of Lille’s last four home games and they have just one clean sheet in their last five at this venue. Crvena Zvezda are in red-hot form in front of goal with 17 goals across their last seven games, while Les Dogues have failed to score in just two home games all season across all comps. Both teams to score looks a solid option in what appears to be an evenly matched tie.

Plzen arrive unbeaten in their last ten matches. They faced the Greek side in the league phase and held them to a 0-0 draw, despite going down to ten men in the first half.

Stuttgart have won five of their last seven away games and should be too strong for a Celtic team who are lacking the quality to get involved at this level against a team who are fourth in the Bundesliga. Both teams have scored in six of Celtic’s last seven games and a repeat of that looks likely between them and VfB. 

Ferencvaros beat Ludogorets 3-1 in the league phase of the Europa League in November. It was a pretty convincing win with them more than doubling their XG. They will have the belief to repeat that type of performance away from home. Ludogorets are in good form, and did manage to score against Ferencvaros away from home. With a home crowd on their side, they should be able to score in defeat here.

Olivier Giroud should start for injury-hit Lille on Thursday. The veteran forward scored in his side’s final two league phase fixtures and he looks a contender to get on the scoresheet against Red Star.

Both teams have scored in three of Lille’s last four home games and they have just one clean sheet in their last five at this venue. Crvena Zvezda are in red-hot form in front of goal with 17 goals across their last seven games, while Les Dogues have failed to score in just two home games all season across all comps. Both teams to score looks a solid option in what appears to be an evenly matched tie.

Ferencvaros beat Ludogorets 3-1 in the league phase of the Europa League in November. It was a pretty convincing win with them more than doubling their XG. Ludogorets are in good form, and did manage to score against Ferencvaros away from home. With a home crowd on their side, they should be able to at least score so back both teams to score.

Turkey’s Samsunspor are a level above their hosts and they scored in five of their six league phase games. The visitors were contenders to top the standings at the halfway stage of the league phase but one point from their final three games saw them finish in the play-offs. Shkendija did score in all their home games and have scored in five of their last six games across all competitions, so the Macedonian side should at least be able to get on the scoresheet on Thursday.

Athletico Paranaese have won five of their last six games and could have the beating of Corinthians, who lost ten of their 19 Serie A away games last season, including their last three of the campaign.

Adelaide United’s A-League games have averaged 3.2 goals per game this season and five of their last eight have featured at least four goals, and another high-scoring game could be on the cards against a Perth Glory side that have seen over 3.5 goals land in three of their last four away days.

Liverpool look like the best value pick, with the Reds putting their struggles behind them with an eight-game unbeaten run. The Reds have the fourth-best Expected Goals record across the first six Champions League gameweeks, while they’ve recorded back-to-back 1-0 wins over Real Madrid and Inter Milan in Europe. Arne Slot’s side have a kind double-header in January, leaving them primed for a top-eight finish. With the Premier League coasting towards a fifth Champions League berth, the Reds should be in a good position to focus on European success in the spring.

Spain have some incredibly talented individuals, Lamine Yamal being the prime example, but are strong in all areas and don’t have any particular weaknesses. They won Euro 2024 with relative ease and they should be too good for their continental rivals at the World Cup. They also look a level above South American heavyweights Argentina and Brazil, suggesting they will be the team to beat at the World Cup this summer.