Europa League Semi-Finals Betting 2018 Winner Odds & Predictions

Arsenal draw outright favourites in semi's

Arsenal
Arsenal © GEPA pictures

Arsenal received the toughest draw that they could have gotten for the final four of the Europa League. The Gunners have been targeting success in the tournament as a route back to the UEFA Champions League next season, but they are going to have to shake off the label of underdogs as they face Spanish giants and tournament favourites, Atletico Madrid in the final four. That leaves Marseille to take on Salzburg in the other semi final.

Europa League Winner Odds*

Atletico Madrid 11/10, Arsenal 3/1, Marseille 7/2, Salzburg 6/1* (betting odds taken at 7:17 p.m. on April 13th, 2018)

Marseille v Salzburg

To Qualify: Marseille 7/10, Salzburg 21/20 at bet365* (betting odds taken at 7:17 p.m. on April 13th, 2018)
First leg 26 April, Second leg 3 May; all kick-off times 8:05 p.m.

If their respective quarter-final ties were anything to go by, this should be a pretty entertaining semi-final tussle between two former semi finalists. Marseille lost the first leg of their quarter final against RB Leipzig 1-0 and then conceded first back at home in the second leg. But then they rallied themselves get ahead 3-2 on aggregate before the Germans equalised once more. But a stunner from former West Ham man Dimitri Payet got them backed head before Hiroki Sakai got a fifth for them on the night.

Salzburg had an even bigger comeback after losing the first leg of their quarter-final 4-2. When Lazio’s Ciro Immobile netted his eighth goal of the campaign to put the Italians 5-2 up over the Austrans in the second half of the second leg, RB Salzburg looked down and out. But in the European season of comebacks, this was epic. Just a minute after Lazio had taken the lead in Austria, Salzburg equalled on the night and then in an absolutely crazy five-minute spell between the 72nd and 76th minutes, RB Salzburg rattled off three goals to take a 6-5 aggregate lead and that’s how it stayed.

Salzburg and Marielle were together in this year’s Europa League group stage, the first-ever meetings between the two clubs. Salzburg came out on top with a 1-0 win at home and point from their trip to Marseille in a 0-0 draw. Salzburg have lost just one of their last 21 European games now.

Arsenal v Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid 4/9, Arsenal 13/8* (betting odds taken at 7:17 p.m. on April 13th, 2018)

First leg 26 April, Second leg 3 May; all kick-off times 8:05 p.m.

This will be the first meeting between the two clubs. Atletico Madrid are a powerful side and they are running as the favourites to work their way through and win the tournament. They were up against Sporting in the last round and after winning the first leg 2-0, the Portuguese side did halve the deficit in the second leg, but the Spaniards got through 2-1 on aggregate. That was Atletico’s first defeat in this season’s Europa League.

They have faced English opposition this season as they went up against Chelsea in the Champions League group stage, losing at home and playing out a 1-1 draw at the Bridge. Atletico, who won the Europa League twice, have won 22 of their last 26 games in the competition.

Arsenal picked up a solid 4-1 home in win the first leg of their quarter-final battle with CSKA Moscow. It was a good result but the away goal at the Emirates was always just going to give the Russians a little hope. CSKA Moscow found themselves 2-0 up as well back on home soil, searching for a third that would put them ahead in the tie on goal difference. It was Arsenal who got the third goal of the game to ease some pressure before Aaron Ramsey sealed it with 90th-minute equaliser on the night. The Gunners are the top scorers in his season’s competition with 29 goals and have won more (8) than anyone else.

Predictions

Atletico Madrid are likely going to be too strong for Arsenal over the two legs. They are a beast in defence and Arsenal could have real struggles in battling with them physically. Salzburg pulled off that stunning comeback in the quarterfinals, but of the two, Marseille look to have the better balance in strength and should reach the final, which is in France, in Lyon.