Football Park's Best Bets | Midweek European ACCA

Football Park's Best Bets | Midweek European ACCA

Thursday night marks the final opportunity for clubs competiting in the qualification rounds of UEFA's club competitions to reach the big time and a place in the group stages of either the Europa League or Conference League. There are no fewer than 11 Europa League play-off second leg ties taking place, while in the Conference League thirty-six teams still stand their ground.

With so many matches taking place across the two competitions, it can be hard to know where to focus your attention in terms of a bet. Thankfully, we've got you covered here at Football Park.

Shamrock Rovers v Santa Clara, UECL, 8.00

Shamrock Rovers are on the brink of another historic milestone in European football. Having become the first Irish club ever to reach the knockout stages of the Conference League last season, the Hoops now stand just 90 minutes away from breaking new ground once more. Victory over Santa Clara would make them the first Irish side to qualify for the group stages of a major European competition without relying on the so-called “champions route.”

Their 2-1 first-leg triumph in the Azores last Thursday ranks among the finest away results ever achieved by an Irish club. Not only did it come against a team who finished fifth in Portugal’s Primeira Liga — ranked seventh in Europe by UEFA — but Rovers also managed to outplay their hosts in possession, forcing Santa Clara to resort to long throws, set-pieces, and physical battles.

For all the prestige of Portuguese football, Santa Clara lacked the European experience of Rovers, who in recent years have gone toe-to-toe with the likes of AC Milan, Chelsea, and Molde. That know-how was evident again in Ponta Delgada, as the Dubliners kept their composure to overturn an early deficit and take control of the tie.

Vinicius gave the hosts the lead after 20 minutes, reacting quickest to Ed McGinty’s parry from Gabriel Silva’s thunderous shot. Rovers looked momentarily shaken, but they grew into the game and found their equaliser just before half-time. Danny Grant surged through midfield, exchanged passes with Danny Mandroiu, and rifled a deflected strike past veteran defender Luis Rocha to level matters.

Both sides saw goals chalked off for offside early in the second half, but Rovers made their dominance count on 66 minutes. Dylan Watts’s free-kick was recycled at the far post by Josh Honohan, and Mandroiu showed wonderful footwork in a crowded box before calmly slotting beyond Gabriel Batista to seal a priceless away win.

Santa Clara chased a late equaliser but could muster only speculative efforts from distance, comfortably dealt with by McGinty. Rovers, by contrast, showed all their big-game savvy to see out the contest — securing a victory that was built on experience, resilience, and composure.

With a one-goal advantage, a formidable record at Tallaght Stadium, and the lure of a €3.7 million group-stage windfall, Rovers are perfectly placed to finish the job and etch their name into Irish football history once again.

SELECTION: Shamrock Rovers Double Chance @ 1.62 (BetFred)

Linfield v Shelbourne, UECL. 7.45

For the fourth time in just over a month, Shelbourne and Linfield go head-to-head — and so far, the record is firmly in the League of Ireland champions’ favour. Two wins and a draw leave the Blues still searching for a first victory over the Dubliners, and unless that changes at Windsor Park, it’ll be Shels booking their place in the group stages — along with all the financial rewards that come with it.

When Shelbourne knocked Linfield out of the Champions League qualifiers at the first hurdle, most thought that was the end of the story. But UEFA’s complex qualification path has brought the two rivals back together, and last week’s first leg in Dublin was nothing short of chaotic.

There were three penalties (only one converted), a red card, and a fierce Linfield fightback. Reduced to ten men after just 20 minutes, the Blues looked dead and buried when Shels went 2-0 up shortly after half-time. Yet David Healy’s side dug in, Kieran Offord pulling one back on 53 minutes before missing the chance to equalise from the spot — Paddy Barrett somehow escaping with only a yellow for his handball on the line.

Shels punished that miss ruthlessly, Evan Caffrey restoring their two-goal cushion late on to secure a 3-1 advantage ahead of the trip north. Joey O’Brien’s men are now strong favourites to advance, but recent encounters have shown that while technically superior, Shels have a tendency to make sloppy mistakes. So far, Linfield haven’t capitalised. If the Reds cut out the errors, their quality should carry them through.

The bigger Windsor Park pitch may suit Shelbourne’s counter-attacking game, especially with the pace of Mipo Odubeko ready to exploit the spaces that open up if Linfield throw bodies forward in search of a way back into the tie.

SELECTION: Shelbourne Double Chance @ 1.61 (Coral)

Fredrikstad v Crystal Palace, UECL, 5.00

Crystal Palace head to Norway on Thursday looking to complete the job against Fredrikstad and secure their place in the Conference League group stages. After a rollercoaster few months, the Eagles’ fans would welcome a straightforward night.

It’s been a year of highs and lows at Selhurst Park. Palace stunned Manchester City in last season’s FA Cup and kicked off this campaign by edging Liverpool on penalties in the Community Shield. But the celebrations have been tempered by UEFA’s decision to demote them from the Europa League into the Conference League, as well as the summer exit of star playmaker Eberechi Eze to Arsenal.

Captain Marc Guehi continues to be linked with Liverpool, yet head coach Oliver Glasner knows full focus is needed for this tie. His side dominated the first leg at Selhurst, creating chance after chance before Jean-Philippe Mateta’s header finally broke the deadlock early in the second half. A 1-0 win was the least they deserved after registering 25 attempts to the visitors’ five.

The return leg offers a different kind of challenge, with Fredrikstad hoping their artificial surface and home crowd can tilt the balance. But their recent European record is hardly encouraging — they were brushed aside 5-1 on aggregate by Midtjylland earlier in qualifying and currently sit mid-table in Norway’s Eliteserien, struggling badly against the league’s leading sides.

Palace, meanwhile, have been resilient under Glasner, losing just four times in all competitions since Christmas. With Mateta in form, Ismaïla Sarr adding pace out wide, and reinforcements on the way — Villarreal’s Spanish winger Yeremy Pino is close to signing — the Eagles have the firepower to finish the job.

Fredrikstad will surely attack more than they managed in London, but the gulf in quality was evident in the first leg. If Palace play with the same control, they should extend their European adventure into the autumn and start to dream of emulating West Ham and Chelsea by bringing the trophy back to London.

SELECTION: Crystal Palace @ 1.45 (QuinnBet)

Braga v Lincoln Red Imps, UECL, 8.00

The Portuguese side lead 4-0 after their trip to the Rock and should be able to mark their qualification for the Europa League proper with a strong showing in front of their home supporters. Braga struggled to keep pace with the big three in Portugal last season and closing that gap on Sporting, Benfica, and Porto while making in roads in Europe will be the key mission for Carlos Vicens' side this term.

While Braga will most likely rotate given their comfortable aggregate advantage and the fact they have a league game on Sunday away to Rio Ave, they do have the option to call on players such as Euro 2016 winner Joao Moutinho and highly sought after teenager Roger Fernandes, who is being chased by several Premier League clubs including Chelsea and Brentford.

Runners up in this competition when beaten by compatriots Porto in 2011, Braga will have far too much class for the minnows from Gibraltar.

SELECTION: Braga to win to nil @ 1.83 (BetFred)

COMBINED ODDS: Shamrock Rovers Double Chance, Shelbourne Double Chance, Crystal Palace to win, Braga win to nil @5.92