Europa League Tips: Group Stage Round 1

As well as the six Champions League ties midweek there are a couple of Europa League ties on Thursday involving EPL sides.  

Atalanta v Everton

Everton have lost all three previous games on Italian soil and, indeed, have yet to score in any of those ties. I don’t expect to see a classic on Thursday and it would be no surprise to see a game with chances and goals at a premium.

Everton could do with a good result but you wonder where their goals are going to come from this season. With United to come at the weekend back in the Premier League, things could get worse domestically for the Blues before they get better, and I think Ronald Koeman would be delighted to return home with a point.

Tip: Under 1.5 goals at

Arsenal v FC Koln

This is Arsenal’s first European game outside of the Champions League since the 2000 Europa League Final when they lost on penalties to Galatasary. FC Koln’s last win against English opposition in a competitive tie was over 40 years ago and I expect the wait to continue although it wouldn’t surprise me if Arsene Wenger shuffled his pack with Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud set for a recall.

Tip: Giroud to score at anytime at