The Europa League returns for the second leg of the round of 16 and several of the ties are still delicately balanced.

There is also plenty of British interest with Liverpool, West Ham, Rangers and Brighton all in action. We have picked out the best bets for Thursday’s eight-game slate.

Tip 1 – Michael Gregoritsch to score at any time v West Ham @ 3/1

West Ham are 1-0 down from the first leg of their clash against Freiburg after a controversial defeat in Germany in which they were denied a late penalty.

The Hammers have been struggling recently with just two wins from their last 12 games in all competitions and they will have to hope that their impressive European form at home can see them reverse the deficit.

David Moyes’ side have won their last ten continental matches at the London Stadium and will need to repeat the trick if they are to progress to the quarter-finals.

Michael Gregoritsch netted the only goal in the first leg and his scoring record in this competition makes him a tempting prospect to do so again in the reverse fixture.

The Austrian striker has eight goals in the Europa League across the last two seasons and is averaging a successful strike every 60 minutes in this year’s competition.

Gregoritsch scored the winner in Freiburg’s win over VfL Bochum at the weekend and could be a value play to get in on the act again here.

Tip 2 – Sporting or draw double chance v Atalanta @ 9/10

Sporting and Atalanta meet for the fourth time this season in the second leg of this Europa League round-of-16 match.

The spoils were shared in a 1-1 draw in the first game and Sporting are fancied to avoid defeat in this second clash.

The Portuguese side have lost only one of their last 20 games in all competitions and they are taking on a home team who are winless in their last five matches.

Viktor Gyokeres has had one of the outstanding seasons in European football this term and the Swedish striker can help his team avoid a loss in Italy.

Tip 3 – Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals in Liverpool v Sparta Prague @ 7/10

A 5-1 win in the first leg and an FA Cup clash against Manchester United on Sunday means that Liverpool are likely to field a youthful side when they host Sparta Prague in the second game of this round-of-16 tie. The visitors were unlucky not to get on the scoresheet more than once in the first game and both teams have found the net in six of Sparta’s last eight matches in all competitions.

However, expect the Reds’ youngsters to be dangerous and another high-scoring affair looks likely.

Nine of Sparta’s last ten games have gone over 2.5 goals and a repeat could be on the cards, alongside both teams finding the net.

First Leg Tips

The Round of 16 in the Europa League and Europa Conference League kicks off on Thursday, with five British sides still in their respective competitions.

Rangers, West Ham, Liverpool and Brighton all have Europa League clashes to look forward to, while Aston Villa are the sole British representatives in the Conference League.

We have you covered with our best bets for each of the British sides’ games on Thursday.

Tip 1 - Sparta Prague or draw double chance v Liverpool @ 10/11

Liverpool have been grinding out results in recent weeks, even if not playing at their best, and they will be keen to continue making inroads in their bid for an historic quadruple with a win in the Czech capital.

However, they have title rivals Manchester City visiting Anfield on Sunday and they are still without a spate of injured stars.

Jurgen Klopp may be forced into a number of changes due to both of those reasons and Sparta Prague could capitalise.

The hosts are unbeaten at home in the Europa League this term, beating Real Betis 1-0 and thrashing Galatasaray 4-1 in that four-match run, and they could frustrate a rotated Reds’ side on Thursday.

Tip 2 - Roma to beat Brighton @ 23/20

Perhaps the tie of the round sees European debutants Brighton taking on 2023 finalists Roma, but it may be a difficult trip to the Italian capital for the Seagulls.

Daniele De Rossi has enjoyed an excellent return to Rome so far, winning seven of his nine matches in charge, and his side could be too strong for an out-of-form Albion on Thursday.

Brighton’s only win in five away games came against Premier League basement boys Sheffield United and they have lost the other four in that run - being beaten 4-0 by Luton and 3-0 by Fulham along the way - suggesting they may struggle in the Italian capital.

Tip 3 - West Ham draw no bet v Freiburg @ Evs

West Ham are slowly turning into European specialists.

They made the Europa League semi-finals in 2022, won the 2023 Conference League and won five of their six group stage games in this competition this time around.

They have already beaten Freiburg twice this term - winning 2-1 in Germany and then 2-0 in London in the group stage - and coming off the back of consecutive Premier League wins, they could be too strong for their hosts again.

However, Freiburg held Bayern Munich to a 2-2 draw last Friday and won their other two group stage home games 5-0.

They are clearly a talented side, so use the draw no bet market to get your stake back should the pair cancel each other out on Thursday.

Tip 4 - Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals in Benfica v Rangers @ 19/20

Benfica were thrashed 5-0 by rivals Porto on Sunday, while Rangers were shock 2-1 losers to Motherwell at Ibrox the day prior and both sides will be keen to bounce back immediately.

Those losses should provide motivation in both camps and an exciting affair could unfold as a result.

Benfica have netted 15 times in their last four home games while Rangers have bagged 14 goals in their last five matches.

Both teams scored in the hosts’ last three Champions League group stage games as well as the visitors’ last three Europa League group matches, suggesting each side will contribute to a high goals total in Lisbon.

Tip 5 - Douglas Luiz to score anytime @ 13/5

Aston Villa’s European journey continues in Amsterdam as they take on Ajax.

They have conceded eight goals in their last six home games, suggesting they could be exposed by the Villans, who have netted nine times in their last three matches, on Thursday.

Douglas Luiz has scored three goals in his last four matches and could net at a big price against a leaky defence on Thursday - with the fact he takes Villa’s penalties an added bonus.

We're reaching the stage of the Europa League where every single game looks like a high quality fixture and it is where the competition gets good in our opinion. With the likes of the unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen taking on West Ham an all-Italian clash between AC Milan and Roma and Liverpool Vs Atalanta as just three of the four high-quality contests.

Bet on the Europa League

Europa League - Quarter Finals (2nd Leg) Predictions - Fourfold Accumulator

The Europa League was blown wide-open when long-standing tournament favourites Liverpool were beaten 3-0 at Anfield by Atalanta in the first leg of their quarter-final.

The Reds travel to Italy with a huge deficit to overcome and that has seen Bayer Leverkusen, who beat West Ham 2-0 in the opening leg of their tie, move to the head of the outright betting.

Benfica take a 2-1 lead to France when they tackle Marseille, while Roma have a slim 1-0 advantage when they make the short trip to take on Milan.

Europa League four-fold

Atalanta v Liverpool - over 3.5 goals - 23/25

[West Ham v Bayer Leverkusen over 2.5 goals - 3/5(https://www.betuk.com/betting/football#event/1020595809)

Milan to beat Roma - 6/4

[Benfica draw no bet v Marseille - Evens]https://www.betuk.com/betting/football#event/1020595807)

Accumulator pays 14.75/1

Atalanta v Liverpool - over 3.5 goals

Liverpool’s Europa League hopes are hanging by a thread after a 3-0 Anfield defeat by Atalanta and the Reds’ chances of Premier League glory also faded with a 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace at the weekend.

It’s a tough period for Jurgen Klopp’s team, but Liverpool know only one way to react and that is to go on the front foot.

The Merseyside men fired in 19 shots and registered an expected-goals tally of 2.60 in the first leg, but Liverpool were unable to convert their chances.

However, it’s not all good news when it comes to creating chances, because the Reds allowed Atalanta 11 efforts on goal and the Italians created chances that were valued at 3.22 expected goals.

Liverpool are forced to chase in the second leg, which would have had a high goal expectancy regardless of the Anfield score, and over 3.5 goals looks likely in Bergamo.

West Ham v Bayer Leverkusen over 2.5 goals

It took Bayer Leverkusen 83 minutes to break down West Ham at the BayArena, but it was a totally dominant display from the Germans and the second leg may be set up for goals.

West Ham will be forced to be more adventurous in front of their home supporters in a tie that they trail 2-0.

Xavi Alonso’s men crushed Werder Bremen 5-0 at the weekend and backing a higher-scoring second leg looks the wise move.

Milan to beat Roma

Milan hit a whopping 25 shots against Roma in the first leg of the all-Italian Europa League quarter-final, but Roma somehow came away with a 1-0 advantage.

That was only the third goal that Daniele De Rossi’s men had scored in their last five games and home advantage may not be enough to stop Milan turning the tie around.

Benfica draw no bet v Marseille

Benfica travelled to Glasgow and shut out Rangers in the previous round of the Europa League and the Eagles could keep Marseille at bay in France too.

Roger Schmidt’s men have kept four clean sheets in their last six matches, and while Marseille did find the net in the first leg of their last-eight tie, that goal came from only two strikes on target.

Going under 2.5 goals or backing one or both teams not to score in this game are interesting propositions, but taking Benfica in the draw-no-bet market looks the best approach.

About Europa League Quarter Finals

The quarter final stage of the Europa League is typically where the big teams start going out of the tournament. For example, in recent years the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United have dropped out at this stage. The competition narrows down to just eight teams and the remainder of the draw is ironed out through the draw so teams know exactly who they will need to face to make it through to the final. Typically, this doesn't make a difference but the anticipation of knowing the route to the final could give teams extra motivation. Since 2014/15, this is how many teams have made the quarter-finals from each country.

Europa League Final Betting Tips

Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen go head-to-head in the final of the Europa League and Leverkusen will be hoping to continue what has been an amazing season.

Xavi Alonso’s men completed an unbeaten Bundesliga season on their way to lifting their first ever German top-flight title and there is a chance of an historic treble with the Europa League and German Cup finals to come.

Atalanta were beaten in the final of the Coppa Italia, but there is still a chance of silverware at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

We have a big-priced bet builder to consider ahead of Wednesday night’s final.

Atalanta v Bayer Leverkusen

Atalanta to win and over 3.5 goals @ 14/1

Leverkusen head to Ireland chasing a second major trophy of the season and Alonso’s men have yet to lose a match in any competition this term.

Clearly, Die Werkself are an excellent side who are going to be difficult to beat, but this is a one-off game, with no safety net of another match and Leverkusen now have the pressure and expectation attached to their performance.

Atalanta have shown that they can cause problems against Europe’s elite this season, taking Liverpool apart in this competition, while La Dea also reached the climax of the Coppa Italian this term.

If Leverkusen are allowed the time to control the contest, they will do just that and perhaps Atalanta gaffer Gian Piero Gasperini will realise his best chance could come if they can make the Aviva Stadium a chaotic contest and that is likely to lead to goals.

The Goddess have hit 23 goals in their last 12 matches and a narrow 1-0 Coppa Italia final defeat to Juventus, where Atalanta were clearly the better side, is the only defeat in the Bergamo side's last nine games.

Leverkusen are a top-level side and, while the hope is Atalanta can cause the Germans problems, it’s unlikely to come with Die Werkself finding the net at the other end.

Alonso’s side have hit 25 goals in their last nine games and they have an attack capable of exposing even the tightest of defences.

Leverkusen arrive in Ireland with a strong chance of lifting a second major trophy of the campaign, but the Germans look a little too short at 4/5. Perhaps there is some value in a 3-1, 3-2 or similar scoreline Atalanta victory, and taking a Goddess victory in 90 minutes and over 3.5 goals in the game, looks a value bet builder play.

Who are the most likely teams to make the 2024 Europa League final?

When it gets to the knockout stages of the competition, we get a clearer picture of the teams who may face-off in the Europa League final come May. This year, the sports betting odds are heavily weighted in the direction of Liverpool as many believe the Europa League will be part of a treble for the club. However, another team with their eyes on a treble this season are Bayer Leverkusen who currently sit top of the Bundesliga and are in a fantastic position to win the DfB Pokal.

We now know that the two teams who will face off in the final are:

Atalanta vs Bayer Leverkusen

The first side of the draw looks considerable more favourable towards Liverpool and the second half of the draw looks incredibly competitive. If we are to see an all English final, West Ham United will have their work cut out for them. Liverpool and Leverkusen are the favourites and if those two make the final, the story writes itself.

Previous Europa League Finals

Europa League Final Appearances By Country

We're so close to the 2024 Europa League final and with that in mind, there are a small number of teams who have the trophy in their sights but are three games away from glory against tough competition. Each team has gone through a lot to get to this point and whoever goes on to win the competition will do so on merit. As it stands, two teams can win the treble by winning the Europa League, they are Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen - the two teams could face off in the final which could make the final of this years competition one of the biggest in history, especially if Leverkusen can go into the game unbeaten in all competitions.

Europa League Semi-Final Second Leg Bet Builder

The second legs of the two Europa League semi-finals will be held on Thursday and the home teams will feel they are in the box seat to book their place in the final in Dublin on 22 May.

Serie A side Atalanta, who knocked Liverpool out of the competition in the last eight, will fancy their chances of completing the job after they earned a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their clash against Marseille.

Meanwhile, new Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen find themselves in an even stronger position after Xabi Alonso’s side claimed a 2-0 success at Roma last week.

However, there is still plenty to play for and we have come up with a BetBuilder for each game to take you through the evening’s action.

Atalanta vs Marseille Bet Builder - Atalanta to win, over 3.5 goals & Gianluca Scamacca to score at any time @ 5/1

A 1-1 draw in the first leg in Marseille was an excellent result for Atalanta and their recent home record suggests they should have enough to see off the Ligue 1 side inside 90 minutes on Thursday.

The Bergamo side have won 11 of their last 14 home matches and one of the two defeats came against Liverpool after they had virtually guaranteed their semi-final spot with a 3-0 win at Anfield.

Marseille are dismal travellers, having beaten only Ligue 1 basement boys Clermont in their last ten games on the road, so it is difficult to see them getting much here. Atalanta look well placed to gain a top-four Serie A spot this season and have already reached the Coppa Italia final.

So a home win is the first element of the bet builder and there looks a strong chance there will be goals too, with Marseille having conceded 12 times in their last five away matches.

Take a chance on there being more than three goals in the game, and add Gianluca Scamacca to get his name on the scoresheet after six goals in his last six matches.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma Bet Builder - Bayer Leverkusen to win, over 2.5 Leverkusen goals & Florian Wirtz to score at any time @ 15/4

It is one of the most staggering statistics of this football season that Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen are still unbeaten and it seems highly unlikely that Roma will bounce back from their home 2-0 loss last week.

So it makes sense to put up a home win as the first leg of the bet builder, and with matches at the BayArena averaging 3.79 goals this season, there looks a strong chance that there will be plenty more on Thursday, so take a chance that the rampant home side can score at least three.

Florian Wirtz should play a key part in that and after seven goals in his last seven matches taking his season’s tally to 18, there looks a strong chance that he will get on the scoresheet.

Europa League 1st Leg Bet Builder

The Europa League semi-finals are rapidly approaching and all four remaining sides will be hoping to give themselves a crucial first-leg advantage in the hopes of reaching the final in Dublin.

A duo of tantalising ties are in store on Thursday, with Daniele De Rossi’s Roma hosting Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen - who are still unbeaten in all competitions - while Liverpool’s conquerors Atalanta travel to the Stade Velodrome to face Marseille.

We have a bet builder for each of the first legs below.

Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen

• Draw
• Both Teams to Score
• Florian Wirtz to score anytime

Place bet at @ 13/1

Bayer Leverkusen clinched their first ever Bundesliga title in emphatic fashion in a 5-0 thumping of Werder Bremen in mid-April and could be on course to combine their league triumph with a European trophy, while they might yet win a treble as they are also in the final of the DFB Pokal.

Xabi Alonso’s men are looking to reach their first European final since 2002 but face a tricky final hurdle in the form of Roma, who were runners-up in this competition last season.

The Giallorossi overcame fellow Serie A rivals AC Milan in the quarter-finals, while they have won five of their last six games at the Stadio Olimpico. That run includes impressive victories over Brighton and the Rossoneri in the Europa League as well as Lazio in the league derby.

However they were beaten 3-1 by Bologna in their most recent home fixture and that setback could impact their chances of becoming the first side this season to defeat the German champions.

Bayer’s success, though, may have taken its toll as they have drawn each of their last three games since clinching the title, which includes a 1-1 stalemate in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final at West Ham.

Having needed last-gasp equalisers to salvage something in each of those draws, Bayer are finding ways not to lose and another draw is well worth considering in Rome. With each of the pair’s last three games seeing both sides find the net, a similar story could also play out on Thursday.

One man that could be an option in the goalscorer market is Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz. The 20-year-old has 36 goal contributions in all competitions this season, which includes scoring three times in the Europa League so far, and he will likely be one of the main attacking threats for the visitors once again on Thursday.

Marseille vs Atalanta

• Over 2.5 Goals
• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score anytime

Place Bet @ 37/20

Both Marseille and Atalanta are in impressive goalscoring form and so an entertaining, goal-laden encounter could be in store when the two sides meet in France.

Jean-Louis Gasset’s Marseille side are unbeaten in four games across all competitions and each of the last three fixtures have seen winners in the “over 2.5 goals” market, with the Olympians netting exactly two in each.

Their opponents on Thursday in the first leg have also looked strong going forward, scoring eight goals in their last three games, while there have been at least three goals in five of their last seven games, a run which includes their emphatic 3-0 win at Liverpool in the last round.

With two potent sides in action, plenty of chances are expected at the Stade Velodrome and Marseille striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be one to benefit, having shown his liking for this competition across his whole career.

No man has scored more goals in the Europa League than the 34-year-old in the history of the tournament (34), while he is also the leading goalscorer in this year’s edition with 10 and he looks a strong play to score at anytime.

What will the 2024 Europa League Semi-Finals look like?

We are still at the quarter-final stage of the competition at the time of writing. However, we know the draw for the rest of the competition at this stage with side one featuring Liverpool, Atalanta, Benfica and Marseille and side two featuring AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham United and last years finalists Roma.

That means that the semi-finals will look something like this:

• Liverpool/Atalanta Vs Benfica/Marseille
• AC Milan/Roma Vs Bayer Leverkusen/West Ham

Instantly, eyes go to the potential clash of AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen but both sides face tough competition in the quarter-finals, so it is possible that we don't see that fixture.

If the favourites were to progress from each game, the semi-finals would be

• Liverpool Vs Marseille
• AC Milan Vs Bayer Leverkusen

Of course, football betting odds, can be deceiving with a lot of favourites dropping out at every stage of the competition. For example, in the first knockout round of this years competition, 3/8 fixtures were won by the underdogs as Qarabag, Freiburg and Sparta Prague all overcome the odds to be victorious.