The inaugural Europa Conference League is now halfway through the group stage and there is plenty to talk about heading into matchday four on Thursday.
UEFA’s tertiary competition may have been derided in some quarters but it has provided some real moments of excitement this season.
Teams will now be at the stage where they look ahead to potential qualification for the last-32 stage in the new year.
Mourinho’s Roma Given Rude Awakening
When the draw was made in the summer, Jose Mourinho will certainly have been satisfied.
Norway’s Bodo/Glimt were making their debuts in a UEFA competition group stage, while Zorya Luhansk’s stock had fallen after only finishing third in last season’s Ukrainian top flight.
Meanwhile, CSKA Sofia are not the force of old and Roma duly beat the Bulgarians 5-1 on the opening night of games.
Zorya were then dispatched 3-0 but the Italian giants will not have seen what was coming next, as they were trounced 6-1 by the dynamic Norwegians.
Roma face Bodo in the reverse fixture at the Stadio Olimpico next and can be backed at 10/31 to get back to winning ways.
Gent Aim to Keep Perfect Record
To give an idea of just how competitive the Conference League has been this season, only one team boast a 100 percent record after three games.
That belongs to Belgian side Gent, who have defeated Flora, Anorthosis Famagusta and Partizan Belgrade of Estonia, Cyprus and Serbia respectively.
Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s side haven’t even conceded a goal yet and look to be in a very commanding position to qualify at this stage of the competition.
Gent are 20/21 to beat Partizan – regarded as their toughest opponent in Group B – on Thursday, a result which would seal their place in the last 32.
Spurs Enter New Era Under Conte
Tottenham, currently one of the favourites to win the Conference League at 6/1, will be negotiating the rest of the group stage with a new manager following the announcement of Antonio Conte on Tuesday.
Spurs have some work to do in Group G as they sit third following a win, draw, and loss from their opening three games.
Conte’s first test will be Vitesse Arnhem on Thursday and the squad will undoubtedly be eager to impress the stern Italian, as they hope to force their way into his team.
Tottenham are available at 5/18 to beat Vitesse in what will be a pumped-up atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Plenty to Watch Elsewhere
In the other Group G clash, Ligue 1 side Rennes, who top the group, face whipping boys Mura of Slovenia in a match they will be expected to win.
If Lille come out on top, they will be tantalisingly close to a place in the knockout stages where they will aim to use their experience of Champions League football last season.
Meanwhile, former European Cup winners Feyenoord are in action away at Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin, with just four points separating the entire of Group E.
Union will hope to bounce back from their 5-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich and they are available at 6/5 to win, while Feyenoord are 41/20 to triumph.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
