football | Tuesday, May 16, 2023 10:24 AM (Revised at: Thursday, May 18, 2023 3:08 PM)

Europa League Semi-Final Double: 3.10 Double for Thursday’s Semis

Sam Ingram

Europa League Semi-Final Acca: Thursday, May 18th

The Europa League semi-finals are here and we’ve got two identical bets in both matches to form a Europa League double. Expect both to get a little heated with so much on the line…

In this article:

Sevilla vs Juventus Preview & Best Bet
Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma Preview & Best Bet
Europa League Double Odds

Sevilla vs Juventus Preview

Thursday, May 18th, 20:00 (UK)

Federico Gatti was the name on the lips of Juventus fans as they headed home from the Allianz Arena last Thursday. For most of the game, Juve came out second-best against a Sevilla outfit that looked rejuvenated following a season of many more downs than ups.

A header from two yards in the 97th minute dulled the shine of Sevilla’s efforts. It sets the tie up at 1-1 as we head to sunny Spain for the decider.

Yet, this is their competition. This is where they feel at home, and it’s undoubtedly where they come alive. The Spaniards have never entered the semi-final of this competition and not gone on to win the tournament – highlighting what kind of job Max Allegri and his players have on their hands.

Sevilla vs Juventus Best Bet

Just like the other semi-final opening leg hosted in Italy, the spicy Italian air welcomed in a wave of excitement in Turin, followed quite swiftly by cautions of the yellow variety. In almost a mirroring fashion to that in Rome, referee Daniel Siebert from Germany delivered seven bookings split 3/4, seeing Sevilla pick up one more than The Old Lady.

Danny Makkelie takes the whistle here after a season averaging 3.81 cards per90. It’s not the biggest number, but I’m banking on the personnel and game state getting us over the line here.

Selection: Over 3.5 Cards, Card Each in Second Half and Over 2.5 Cards in Second Half
Best Odds: 1.72 (bet365)
Stakes: 7/10

More Sevilla vs Juventus Tips

Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma Preview

Europe, Europa League, Thursday, May 18th, 20:00 (UK)

As he often does in Europe, Jose Mourinho set his team out well enough to smuggle a 1-0 lead back to Germany. The tie is far from over, making the second leg finely poised and well worth a watch on Thursday evening.

Edoardo Bove’s second-half goal was his first-ever strike in European competition. It could be one of the biggest of his career, depending on how the footballing gods decide which way the subsequent 90 minutes will swing.

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side came, saw, and mixed it with Roma throughout but didn’t quite conquer. The 62% possession in the Germans’ favour as well as finishing two shots shy of Roma’s (12) total, suggests it certainly wasn’t plain sailing for Mourinho and Co. The Romans pipped the visiting Leverkusen ensemble on expected goals – but not by a landslide: 1.31xG vs 0.97xG.

Now, it will take a lot of work in Germany. It will be a hotly-contested battle and one I think Roma will need to score in unless it goes all the way to penalties. However, if Roma’s head coach does find a way to usher them into another European final after last year, he’ll be able to build on his previous five European final wins (Porto, Inter, Real Madrid, Man United, and Roma).

Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma Best Bet

In terms of approaching from a betting perspective, I simply cannot look past cards. Michael Oliver manned the first leg and handed out seven bookings split 4/3 in ‘favour’ of the Italians. Each card landed in the second half, with tempers mounting as the game progressed up until the final whistle.

It’s difficult to see history not repeating itself, even if we’re set in a new, quieter stadium with a different referee in the middle. A European Cup final is on the line, so don’t expect either to roll over and have their bellies tickled – especially Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

The 30 fouls shared out evenly – 16/14 – produced nearly a free-kick every three minutes on average in the opener. Get anywhere near that on Thursday, and you’d expect a few to cross the line and make their way into the referee’s book.

The official, Slavko Vincic has brandished 4, 5, 7, 1, 7, 4 and 4 cards in European competition this season, producing a 4.57 cards per90 strike rate.

Selection: Over 3.5 Cards, Card Each in Second Half and Over 2.5 Cards in Second Half (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.83 (bet365)
Stakes: 15/10

Odds as at 09:00, May 16th, 2023. Odds may now differ.

More Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma Tips

Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma Preview

Sevilla vs Juventus – Over 3.5 Cards, Card Each in Second Half and Over 2.5 Cards in Second Half
Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma – Over 3.5 Cards, Card Each in Second Half and Over 2.5 Cards in Second Half

Acca Odds: 3.16

Odds via bet365 as at 10:30 on 16th May 2023. Odds may now differ.

WHAT IS A FOOTBALL ACCA?

A football acca is an accumulator bet, a type of bet that consists of several selections across different matches that are combined together into one single bet. An acca usually. consists of at least four selections but many more can be included. There will be odds for the single bet as a whole which is calculated by multiplying the odds of all of the selections. A football acca is one of the most popular ways to bet. This is the case because they can create potentially massive odds for a small stake. Many punters choose to create football accas which is what we have created here. If one of these selections loses then the football acca will lose. This type of bet needs every selection to win in order to succeed.