UEFA Europa League Matchday 3 Odds & Predictions: Benfica v Glasgow Rangers, Royal Antwerp vs LASK and PAOK vs PSV Eindhoven

• There are 24 fixtures at 12:55 PM EST and 3:00 PM EST on Thursday, November 5, 2020
• Gerrard’s Rangers in confident mood while Antwerp aim to build on win against Spurs
• See all odds and best bets for UEFA Europa League Group Stage Matchday 3

The busy UEFA Europa League hits its third round of games on Thursday with its 12 groups beginning to take shape with Arsenal, AC Milan, and Villareal among the early front runners.

The final is in Seville in southern Spain in May next year.

Europa League Matchday 3 Odds

 Odds taken Nov. 3 at DraftKings

Pick 1: Benfica vs Glasgow Rangers

Benfica meet Glasgow Rangers in a collision of the two leading sides in Group D with the Scottish club also enjoying their domestic season as they finally threaten to overturn the  dominance of Celtic.

Both clubs have won twice in European competition so far with Benfica leading the table on goal difference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZvddQa9kWA

At Draftkings the offer of +255 for a draw on Thursday at 12:55 PM EST in Lisbon looks promising as the two clubs jockey for an advantage heading into the half-way point of the group stage.

The backdrop to the game is influenced by the buoyant mood at Rangers where coach Steven Gerrard has led his men to the top of the Scottish Premiership table with 11 wins and two draws.

Rangers opened with a 2-0 win away at Standard Liege in Belgium and followed up with a 1-0 win at home against Poland’s Lech Poznan.

Benfica have been prolific with a 4-2 win in Poznan followed by a 3-0 win at home against Standard Liege.

Rangers opened with a 2-0 win away at Standard Liege in Belgium and followed up with a 1-0 win at home against Poland’s Lech Poznan.

They are currently second in the Portuguese league – a point behind Sporting Lisbon in the usual two-horse race.

FULL-TIME: Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers

👏 Three Points at Rugby Park pic.twitter.com/gAqZPIDysV

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) November 1, 2020

Benfica and Rangers have never met before although the Scottish side have never lost in 11 previous meetings with Portuguese teams.

However, Gerrard will have to be wary of Benfica’s free-scoring pair of Darwin Nunez- who hit a hat-trick against Lech Poznan – and “Pizzi” who scored twice against Standard Liege and once against Poznan.

Pick: Draw (+255)

Pick 2: Royal Antwerp vs LASK LINZ

Royal Antwerp are the surprise leaders of Group J after two straight wins including an unexpected 1-0 victory at home against London giants Tottenham Hotspur.

They face the Austrians of LASK Linz who were beaten by Tottenham but have one win to their credit against Bulgaria’s little-rated Ludogorets outfit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH5iYkaQbsE

It makes Antwerp look like good value at 3:00 PM EST to continue their promising start with a win at +125 with Draftkings.

Antwerp are fifth in the Belgian league after six wins, two draws, and three defeats.

Antwerp caused a shock when they defeated a low-strength Spurs side on Matchday 2 thanks to a 29^th minute winner from Lior Refaelov.

LASK are third in Austria’s Bundesliga with four wins, one draw, and one defeat.

Antwerp caused a shock when they defeated a low-strength Spurs side on Matchday 2 thanks to a 29^th minute winner from Lior Refaelov.

🎞️ 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 | 𝗦𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝟯-𝟬 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗞#UEL ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/4RfKe8GHMz

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 26, 2020

The Belgians opened their campaign with a 2-1 win away against group outsiders Ludogorets when Refaelov scored the second goal after an opener from Pieter Gerkens. LASK showed some defensive frailty when they were 4-3 winners against Ludogorets at home on Matchday 2.

Similarly troubled at the back, they were soundly beaten 3-0 at Spurs in the opening match of the campaign.

Proud of you boys ♥️#PSVADO

— PSV International (@psveindhoven) November 1, 2020

Domestically, Antwerp had won four straight league matches before last weekend’s 1-0 defeat away at Anderlecht.

Linz were 2-0 away winners at Sturm Graz last weekend following a 4-0 home defeat of St Polten.

The Austrian club were group winners in the Europa League last season before exiting in the Round of 32 after losing 5-0 at home to Manchester United and 2-1 away.

Pick: Royal Antwerp (+125)

Pick 3: PAOK Thessaloniki vs PSV Eindhoven

PSV Eindhoven are in second place in Group E and will travel to Greece to meet a PAOK Thessaloniki side who have drawn both Europa League fixtures so far.

After a 2-1 away defeat by Granada in the opening game, PSV won 2-1 away against group outsiders Omonia Nicosia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNxbkvMzTKU

It is a patchy start but the price of +230 for an Eindhoven win at 12:55 PM EST is attractive because PAOK have been no more impressive.

They were held 1-1 at home by Omonia although their subsequent 0-0 draw in Granada was more notable.

In fourth place in the Greek league, they have not been in dominant form with three draws and two wins so far this season.

The countdown is on! #PAOKPSV #UEL @EuropaLeague @PSV pic.twitter.com/XqCgKVwGVl

— PAOK FC (@PAOK_FC) November 3, 2020

PSV were 4-0 winners at Den Haag last weekend – making it three wins from four as they sit third in Holland.

These sides have met four times previously with three wins for PSV and one for PAOK.

There was a 4-1 in for PSV the last time they met competitively in the Europa League in December 2001.

Pick: PSV Eindhoven (+230)