Thursday’s Europa League matchday five predictions, odds and betting tips: Dju the man for Midtjylland

Thursday’s Europa League best bets

Franculino Dju to score at any time
TNT Sports 7, 5.45pm Thursday
2pts 3-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Freiburg to beat Viktoria Plzen
TNT Sports 8, 5.45pm Thursday
2pts 5-4 Betfair, Paddy Power

Lyon to beat Maccabi Tel-Aviv
TNT Sports 9, 8pm Thursday
3pts 8-11 general

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Europa League matchday five predictions

Roma vs Midtjylland predictions

Midtjylland remain the only team in the Europa League to have won all four of their games but their perfect record will face its toughest test yet when they visit Roma.

The hosts have just climbed to the Serie A summit after beating Cremonese 3-1 at the weekend but they have been a touch disappointing in Europe, losing back-to-back home games against Viktoria Plzen and Lille.

They have won both of their away games but are looking to avoid the ignominy of losing three consecutive European home matches for the first time.

Midtjylland are the top scorers in the Europa League this term and a major part of that has been their star striker Franculino Dju.

The youngster could be the next striker to move to a big club from Scandinavia and goes into this game with ten goals in his last nine games for his club.

If anyone is to breach the Roman defence, it is likely to be Dju.

Viktoria Plzen vs Freiburg predictions

Two of the Europa League top eight face off as Viktoria Plzen host Freiburg and the visitors are fancied to come out on top.

The German side have won three and drawn one of their four league-phase games, beating Nice, Utrecht and Basel.

Their hosts are unbeaten in their four matches but have ridden their luck at times, including a 2-1 win over Roma in which they lost the expected goals battle 2.1-0.1.

The home side have also shipped eight goals in their last two outings, a defeat to Slavia Prague and a draw with Jablonec. Freiburg could be facing them at the perfect time and can pick up three points on the road.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs Lyon predictions

Maccabi Tel-Aviv already look set for a Europa League departure, with just one point from their four games and a tough test of fixtures to come.

That starts with a home match against Lyon, who should have little trouble brushing them aside opponents.

Les Gones have already beaten Utrecht, RB Salzburg and Basel in this competition and can pick up their fourth win of the league phase  on the road.

Maccabi have scored only once, while Lyon have conceded just twice, and it is the Israeli’s lack of an attacking threat that could be the difference between these teams, who meet in Serbia.

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