The Europa League group stages reach their conclusion on Thursday and there will be little riding on it for West Ham, who have already guaranteed themselves top spot in Group H.
With a busy Christmas schedule approaching, David Moyes may opt to ring the changes for the visit of Dinamo Zagreb, but Brendan Rodgers’s Leicester cannot afford the same luxury.
The Foxes sit top of Group C but only one point clear of Spartak Moscow and Napoli, while Legia Warsaw are just two points further back.
All four sides still carry hopes of qualification and it is important that the Foxes avoid defeat in Naples.
Old Firm rivals Rangers and Celtic are also in European action, although the Gers have already locked up second spot in Group A while the Bhoys are unable to qualify having collected just six points from their first five fixtures.
Fragile Foxes Set for Another Lively Clash
Leicester and Napoli shared the spoils in a four-goal thriller at the King Power Stadium in September and the return clash in southern Italy promises to be equally entertaining.
Napoli dominated the shot count 22 to seven on that occasion but have been hit hard by a string of injuries, which should level up the playing field somewhat.
Influential figures Victor Osimhen, Kalidou Koulibaly, Lorenzo Insigne and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa are all missing for the hosts, but Leicester’s defensive flaws mean they are unlikely to capitalise.
The Foxes have been breached in all five European encounters and are without a Premier League clean sheet since the opening day – a sequence of 14 games – which points to a bet on over 2.5 goals at 5/7.
Each of Napoli’s five Europa League group fixtures have seen over 2.5 goals land, while that bet has also copped in 15 of Leicester’s 22 matches in all competitions this season.
Gala Can Prevail in Battle for Group Supremacy
The formula in Group E is a simple one. If Lazio record a home victory over Galatasaray then it is they who will advance to the Europa League round of 16 as group winners, but failing to do so would leave the Turkish visitors to claim top spot.
And at the prices, it is Gala who appeal as most likely to pick up the result they need.
Fatih Terim’s men are struggling to deliver on a regular basis in the Super Lig – they sit seventh – but they have been a model of consistency in Europe, winning three and drawing two of their five games.
The Turkish side have lost only two of their last 13 games in all competitions and were worthy 1-0 winners over Lazio in Istanbul.
Galatasray have kept clean sheets on their two Europa League away trips at Marseille and Lokomotiv Moscow and they could frustrate a Lazio side that may be minus top scorer Ciro Immobile, who limped off in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Sampdoria.
Even if Immobile is passed fit, Lazio have won only five of their last 13 games in all competitions, which makes Gala look decent value at 27/20 to avoid defeat.
Midtylland to Make Their Mark in Bulgaria
With Group F’s top two Red Star Belgrade and Braga doing battle, third-placed Midtylland know victory at Ludogorets would see them leapfrog one of that pair.
And the Danish league leaders should be able to pick up the maximum points they require against the Bulgarian hosts, who have drawn one and lost four of their five group games.
Ludogorets’ only point came courtesy of a 1-1 draw at Midtjylland on matchday one, but they lost the shot count 14 to two and scored with their only effort on goal.
But with nothing on the line for them and the league the priority – they are currently top – manager Stanislav Genchev may opt to ring the changes here.
With that in mind, Midtylland rate a strong fancy to do the business at 20/29.
*All odds correct at time of writing
