UEFA Cup 14 & 15 March

Wednesday’s games

It’s hard to get too excited about tonight’s games as the bookies have not give much away in any of the contest. I expect Spurs and Osasuna to win tonight but at the odds on offer there’s no value to be had. Werder Bremen look a touch too short at home given that they only need a draw but Celta were poor in the opening game and it’s probably best swerved. Comparing form between the German and French leagues is never easy but I was surprised to see Lens so under-rated against Bayer Leverkusen tonight. The German side are only in sixth place in the Bundesliga and are not that strong at home, while Lens did look the better side of the two in their 2-1 win last week. The betting line is predicated on Leverkusen only having to win 1-0 to go through and I think that has slightly distorted the Asian handicap. Have a one point bet on Lens (+ ½) at 1.88

[Lens lost 3-0]

Thursday’s games

Tonight's action is not much easier than last night and my only thought is that the bookies seem to be a bit too keen on Espanyol. Maccabi Haifa are a reasonably useful outfit and have already held the Spanish side to a 0-0 draw and beaten CSKA Moscow over two legs. Despite this the bookies seem to give the Israelis little chance and make them huge underdogs. It's very far from being the bet of the season but the bookies are being too generous and Maccabi Haifa are worth a one point bet (+1 1/4) at 1.78.

[Espanyol won 4-0]