Previews

Europa League tests await

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 02/12/2009
Football betting

Everton and Celtic get back to their European adventures on Wednesday night with tricky fixtures as they look to improve on previous poor performances in the Europa League.

Everton currently sit in second place in their group behind Benfica, who have downed the Toffees twice in recent times, 5-0 in Portugal and 2-0 at Goodison Park four weeks ago.

The Blues travel to Greece to face AEK Athens and are currently slight sportsbook favourites to win the contest, but a win for the hosts would nudge them ahead of David Moyes' struggling outfit.

Everton lost against Liverpool in the big Merseyside derby on Sunday and they will be looking to take their minds off their domestic problems.

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They have won just once in their last eight Premier League fixtures, a run that has caused them to plummet to a disappointing 16th place in the domestic table.

They will welcome Jack Rodwell back into the squad following a groin strain he picked up in the 3-2 loss at Hull City last week.

However, Leon Osman has suffered a foot injury and Joseph Yobo has a hamstring problem picked up in the 2-0 defeat against Liverpool and they will both miss out.

It is yet another blow for Moyes who is already without Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Victor Anichebe, James Vaughan and Phil Neville.

Benfica travel to BATE Borisov and a win for the Portuguese giants will secure their passage.

Celtic require a small miracle to scrape through from Group C.

The Bhoys are rooted at the foot of the table with just two points to their name from four games and only two wins will give them a chance to progress.

They face Israeli outfit Hapoel Tel-Aviv at Celtic Park, who surprisingly top the table on nine points ahead of Hamburg in second place.

Hamburg clash against Rapid Vienna and a point for the hosts will all but see them through.

Elsewhere Ajax face a trip to FC Timisoira from Romania with Anderlecht entertaining Dinamo Zagreb.

Spanish giants Valencia welcome Lille and Slavia Prague host Genoa in Group B in an open looking group.

Red Bull Salzburg have been in exceptional form and with four wins from four, they are already through from Group G and they take on Italian side Lazio while Villarreal travel to Bulgaria to face Levski Sofia.

Both Villarreal and Lazio are locked on six points and one of these will take second place in the group.

In Group H, FC Twente face table-toppers Fenerbahce and a win would see them through.

FC Sheriff Tiraspol host Steaua Bucharest and only a win for the Moldovan minnows will give them hope to progress.

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