Europa League Group Stage Matchday 2 Odds & Picks – Oct 29

• It’s the UEFA Europa League Group Stage Matchday 2 on October 29, 2020
• Among the games, Tottenham travel to Antwerp and Leicester to Athens
• We list the odds for all 24 games, preview three, and offer our best bets

It’s Matchday 2 of the 2020-21 UEFA Europa League Group Stage this week, with 24 matches taking place on October 29, 2020. Tottenham are the current favorites to win the tournament, closely followed by fellow north Londoners Arsenal and Italian giants AC Milan.

We’ll list the odds for all 24 games, pick out three to preview, and offer some best bets.

UEFA Europa League Matchday 2 Odds

All odds taken Oct. 27 at DraftKings

Pick 1: Royal Antwerp vs Tottenham

With Tottenham now installed as favorites to win this season’s Europa League, there is added pressure on Jose Mourinho and his squad to deliver. It’s 36 years since the Lilywhites last won a European trophy – the UEFA Cup in 1984 – and so one of the big continental prizes is long overdue.

Spurs currently top Group J and head to Antwerp’s Bosuilstadion knowing a win will put them in complete control. Tottenham’s opener, against LASK, was a 3-0 stroll with Mourinho using the opportunity to rotate his squad. He’s likely to do the same on Thursday so expect to see new signing Carlos Vinicius replace Harry Kane up front and Gareth Bale to make just his second start since his return to the club.

Een overwinning van onze Reds, voor onze Reds thuis! 👊🔴⚪#OneRedFamily #ANTBEE #OneFamily pic.twitter.com/DRRPaAnCml

— Royal Antwerp FC (@official_rafc) October 25, 2020

Tottenham’s season was a slow-burner, but they look to have found some form, much the same as Thursday’s hosts who go into the game having won five games on the bounce. Antwerp currently lead the Belgian Pro League and will be bursting full of confidence, especially against a Spurs side that won’t be at full strength. The +330 on offer for the draw here looks great value.

Pick: Royal Antwerp and Tottenham to draw (+330)

Pick 2: AEK Athens vs Leicester City

AEK opened their Europa League campaign with a disappointing 3-0 defeat in Braga, a disappointing outcome but unsurprising given that they are notoriously poor travelers in Europe. They much prefer their home comforts and won’t be fazed by the visit of top English opponents, especially after picking up a useful 1-0 win at the weekend over Giannina in the Greek Super League.

Leicester also go into the game buoyed by a good win at the weekend, after Jamie Vardy’s late winner secured them a 1-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates. The Foxes’ form has generally been good – only two defeats to date – and they began their Europa League campaign with an easy 3-0 home win over Zorya Luhansk.

Στιγμές από τον αγώνα με την @SCBragaOficial #scbaek #aekfc #aekfcseason2020_21 #aekfamily #UEL pic.twitter.com/UbwkQ9KQSq

— AEK F.C. (@AEK_FC_OFFICIAL) October 22, 2020

On paper, this looks like a Leicester win but, Brendan Rodgers will, like Mourinho, rotate his squad and thereby offer hope to the Greeks. For me, as unlikely as it appears, there’s value in the +360 for the home win, with AEK making the most of the home advantage.

Pick: AEK to win (+360)

Pick 3: Real Sociedad vs Napoli

Two of the more fancied teams in this competition clash at the Reale Seguros Stadium, with the Italians still reeling from a surprise home defeat by AZ Alkmaar on Matchday 1. Another defeat here for Napoli makes qualifying for the knockout phase a much trickier task, even at this early stage, and so it will be with a must-not-lose mentality that the Neapolitans head to Spain. Their form has been good in Serie A though, and they currently lie second.

Sociedad managed to pick up an opening day win over Rijeka but left it late; a Jon Bautista goal in the 93rd minute eventually earning them a vital three points on the road. Domestically, the Spaniards are flying and sit top of La Liga after seven games, based on a mean defense that has conceded just three goals so far.

While this one won’t be a goal-fest, and Napoli will certainly make it a war of attrition, I see a super-confident Sociedad edging this by the odd goal.

Pick: Real Sociedad to win 1-0 (+750)