Wolves v Olympiacos Tips: Nuno's boys predicted to complete the job on home soil
Wolves welcome Olympiacos to Molineux this evening knowing that a goalless draw or win would cement their position in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
With the two-legged duel tied at 1-1 following the first-leg back March, the game is evenly poised and both sides will be desperate to complete the task at hand when the whistle is blown at 8pm tonight.
While no fans will be in attendance due to safety concerns surrounding Covid-19, the game will be available to watch live on BT Sport.
Taking a look into the outright betting prices for this clash and it is the hosts who enter proceedings as favourites, given a huge 60% chance of victory by the bookies with their odds of 4/6. Olympiacos, on the other hand, are a best-price 9/2 for the win with bet365 - which is a slim-looking 18% implied probability.
In terms of team news, Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo has the luxury of a full squad to choose from with no injuries or suspensions to contend with. Olympiacos will be without first-choice goalkeeper Jose Sa due to injury, with reserve option Bobby Allain likely to come in for him between the sticks.
As always, we’ve got three well-researched football tips for you to get stuck into below, but please always gamble responsibly.
Wolves to win & over 1.5 match goals - 2pts @ 5/4 - Betfred
- Wolves have lost just one of their seven home games in the Europa League this season
- Olympiacos will prove stiff opposition and I can see them scoring at least once with their record considered
Wolves have massively impressed in both the league and Europe this season, and their home form has been largely to thank for their strong stance in both competitions.
The West Midlands outfit have only lost one home game in the Europa League this term - a narrow 1-0 defeat to Sporting Braga back in September - and I’m finding it difficult to bet against them for this return leg fixture against Olympiacos.
With the visitors’ first-choice goalkeeper missing through injury I can see Wolves finding some joy at the top end of the pitch, with Raul Jimenez raring to go after enjoying a two-week break since the Premier League finished a fortnight ago.
I’m predicting a few goals in this and feel confident suggesting it will result in more than two scored overall, and also think that the hosts will come away with the spoils after 90 mins, in turn booking their spot in the next round of the Europa League and hopefully winning us this short-priced selection!
- Wolves have scored nine goals in their last three home games in the UEL
- I'm tipping the hosts to make it through, but predict it to be a tight game
- Olympiacos have scored ten goals in their last four competitive games (all comps)
Next up I’m tipping a correct score of 2-1 Wolves. Nuno’s side have been emphatic on home soil this season, especially in the Europa League having lost just once. I’m fancying them to complete the job here and with a fully-fit squad of top quality players to choose from, can see them progressing through to the next round of the competition.
Wolves have scored at least two goals in all but two of their seven home Europa League fixtures this term, so it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see them notch two more at Molineux this evening.
Olympiacos won’t be easy opponents, though. The Greek outfit stormed the Super League this season, winning it on 91 points - 18 more than runners-up PAOK - and will be desperate to get an away goal on the board here to cancel out Wolves’ from the first-leg.
I do see them finding some joy and am backing them to score this evening but think that Wolves will have too much throughout 90 minutes. Therefore, a 2-1 correct score bet seems like a good shout and that’s best-price with BetVictor at 17/2, much better than the 15/2 it can be found at with SportPesa.
- No player has scored more goals than Jota in the UEL this season
- El-Arabi is Olympiacos' leading scorer (20) and notched in the first-leg back in March
- Wolves have registered 18 corners in their last three home UEL games
For my longshot bet this evening I’m backing a player from each side to find the net and over 4.5 corners for the hosts.
Diogo Jota has been a standout performer for Wolves all season long, and has really come to life in the Europa League by scoring six goals - the joint-most out of any player in this year’s competition.
Raul Jimenez is usually the go-to when it comes to picking a goalscorer for Wolves but at 13/10 I think that price is a little too short, so have opted instead for Jota at 2/1 given the Portugese’s track record in Europe this season.
Jota loves a strike from range, and with so much riding on the game I can see him letting loose as soon as he is presented with even the slightest sight of goal.
The 23-year-old goes into my three-pronged-punt alongside Olympiacos’ leading goalscorer Youssef El-Arabi to score in 90 minutes. The veteran marksman has netted 20 goals in all competitions for the Greek’s this season and is undoubtedly their biggest goalscoring threat.
El-Arabi was on the scoresheet in the reverse leg of this tie back in March and will be relied heavily to deliver the goods for his side this evening; I’m backing him to test Rui Patricio between the hosts’ sticks, and hopefully make that net ripple.
To round this 18/1 fancy (boosted from 16/1) off, I’m including Wolves to register more than four corners. With so much attacking prowess, including the byline-loving speed-merchant Adama Traore, all piling forward Wolves should force a number of corners tonight.
They’ve averaged 5.08 corners per game this season, and have registered 18 in their previous three home games in Europe, which suggests that they’ll enjoy a few more this evening.
#Throwback: Describe in emojis @elarabiyoussef 's goal against @Wolves! / Περιγράψτε το γκολ του Ελ Αραμπί κόντρα στη Γουλβς, με emojis! 🔴⚪️⚽️🥅
#Olympiacos #Goal #Celebration #Emoji #UEL #ElArabi #Football https://t.co/VMK7dQFNJm
