Shay Given’s European football predictions
See if you agree with his selections, which when combined would return at odds of 29/1!
What an unbelievable tie this looks like being. Arsenal have got a few injuries to deal with, Gabriel being the latest one. But at least on a positive note they have Bukayo Saka back from his long lay-off.
But even with Saka back in I think Real Madrid, with the attacking front three that they have, will be too strong for them on the night and over the two legs.
PSG are obviously a really good team and they’ve proved that already this season against English opposition when beating Manchester City in the group stages and knocking out Liverpool in the round of 16.
It’s going to be a very tough one for Aston Villa but I actually fancy them to do enough in Paris to stay in the tie. If they can grab a goal and keep the deficit down to just one, then they can have a real go at PSG back at Villa Park.
I can’t see anything other than a Chelsea win in this one and I think their name is on the trophy.
They haven’t been at their best in recent weeks but with the strength of their squad and players like Cole Palmer who are capable of moments of magic, they should get the win in Poland and take a stranglehold of this tie.
I think Spurs need to get a victory in this first leg and I’m backing them to do so. Ange Postecoglou and his players know that their season hinges on this Europa League campaign and the crowd should create a great atmosphere under the lights on Thursday night.
Germany will be a difficult place to go for the second leg so it’s vital that Tottenham get a decent lead to take back to Frankfurt.
It definitely favours Manchester United to be at home for the second leg of this tie but it’ll be a difficult one for them to get anything in Lyon and I think the hosts will come out on top with a narrow advantage ahead of the return fixture.
United were defensively solid against Manchester City on Sunday and they’ll take confidence from that as they head over to France. I can see Ruben Amorim’s side losing on the night but the tie being far from over.
