5 Europa League RO16 Tips - 10/3/22

Atalanta welcome Bayer Leverkusen to the Gewiss Stadium on Thursday night as both sides face-off for a place in the Europa League quarter-finals.

The home side eased by Olympiakos in the round of 32, winning the tie 5-1 on aggregate whereas the visitors last played European football before Christmas, progressing straight to this stage after topping their group.

Atalanta are in poor domestic form, losing three of their past five games including a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Roma at the weekend seeing them slip into fifth. Leverkusen enters this one better off, winning three of their past five and taking a rare point from league leaders Bayern Munich at the weekend.

Both sides have been good value for goals this season, with Atalanta only failing to score twice when playing at home in the league, whilst the German side have scored in all but one of their 25 league games this season, hence our tip for this one is both teams to score priced at 8/15.

Following a superb 4-2 away win against Napoli, Barcelona faces Galatasaray in the Europa League round of 16.

After a difficult start to the campaign which saw them knocked out of their Champions League group, the Blaugrana have finally found some consistency under Xavi, winning four of their past five La Liga games and last tasting defeat to Real Betis in early December.

Visitors Galatasaray are also having a tough season, sitting 12th in the Super Lig and losing 2-0 at the weekend to relegation-threatened Giresunspor. In winning their Europa League group, the Turkish side avoided the knockout round play-offs, however likely won’t have wanted a trip to the Camp Nou this round.

Given the Catalan's excellent recent form, we expect Xavi’s side to ease by their visitors on Thursday, with our tip Barcelona to win 3-0, 3-1, or 3-2 at 3/1.

Rangers welcome Red Star Belgrade to Ibrox as the Glasgow side look to continue their excellent Europa League run.

Giovanni van Bronkhorst's men caused a major shock in eliminating favourites Borussia Dortmund last round, beating the Germans 4-2 away before seeing out a 2-2 draw in Govan to progress.

Domestically, the Bears are unbeaten in five, and have turned Ibrox into a fortress losing just once at home in all competitions this season to Lyon on matchday one of the Europa League. Captain James Tavernier has been outstanding for the Blues, contributing to 17 league goals from right-back and scoring a brace last time out against Dortmund that sealed Rangers' place in the last 16.

Visitors Red Star are also enjoying a fine season, sitting second in the Serbian league and winning a Europa League group with Sporting Braga, Midtjylland, and Ludogorets, however may struggle when they arrive in Glasgow.

Given Ranger's stellar home form this season, we back the Glasgow side to do the job this week, with our tip Rangers to win and Tavernier to score priced at 7/2.

AS Monaco travel to Portugal to face Sporting Braga in the Europa League last 16 this Thursday. Braga are in decent form with two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five league games, however needed a penalty shoot-out to get past Moldovan side Sheriff last time out in the Europa League.

The visitors have struggled this season, as although they topped their Europa League group, they find themselves eighth in Ligue 1 seemingly out of contention for Champions League football. Phillippe Clement’s side has an identical form record to hosts Braga in their last five, with both sides also struggling in front of goal recently.

In the two sides' last 10 combined league fixtures, only three games have seen over 2.5 goals, suggesting a quiet affair when these two meet at the Estadio Municipal de Braga on Thursday. With this considered, our tip is for a low-scoring game between these two, with under 2.5 match goals priced at 8/11.

Despite winning the group in their debut Europa League campaign, David Moyes and West Ham may feel hard done to in facing a trip to serial Europa League winners Sevilla.

Hosts Sevilla have enjoyed a good season, sitting second in La Liga and by conceding just 18 times, boasting the joint best defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues alongside Manchester City and Chelsea.

The Hammers made an excellent start to the campaign, however have recently slowed down and sit sixth in the league, although have played more games than most of their rivals.

Moyes’ side has struggled for goals recently as after a flying start to the season for striker Michail Antonio, the Jamaican is without a goal since the 1st January leaving winger Jarrod Bowen to deliver for the Hammers.

After Bowen limped off at Anfield last weekend, we struggle to see West Ham threatening against Sevilla’s resolute defence and at 9/4, our tip is for Sevilla to win to nil.