Lazio, Lyon, and Tottenham occupy the top three spots in the Europa League standings after the first three matchdays, and they plan to stay there for a relatively easier path in the knockouts.
A loss or a draw this week would cost these three teams dearly, as FCSB and Anderlecht are lurking, while Ajax, Eintracht Frankfurt, Galatasaray, Midtjylland, Slavia Praha, Athletic Bilbao, Hoffenheim, Fenerbahce, and Bodo/Glimt are also undefeated thus far.
On Thursday, Lazio, Lyon, and Tottenham will take on Twente, Besiktas, and AZ Alkmaar in games that will likely produce several Europa League 2024 highlights, which they’re expected to win, according to the latest Europa League 2024 odds.
Learn more about these matches as SBOTOP analyses them one by one.
No Immobile, no problem for Lazio
When Ciro Immobile left Lazio after eight years to join Besiktas in July, head coach Marco Baroni faced the daunting task of trying to find a new source for their goals. Fast forward to today, and it seems like the Biancocelesti have found their answer in the final third.
Enter Valentin “Taty” Castellanos. Last season, the Argentinian forward was Immobile’s understudy, and now he has taken over the No. 9 role for Lazio, leading the team in scoring with five goals across all competitions.
After being held scoreless in their 3-0 opening victory against Dynamo Kyiv, Castellanos recorded a brace in their 4-1 rout of Nice. The 26-year-old has been so good this season that he was called up by the Argentinian national team for the first time ever last August.
Other than Castellanos, Twente’s backline will also have to worry about Boulaye Dia, Mattia Zaccagni, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Dia struck twice against Dynamo Kyiv, and Dele-Bashiru also scored in the same game.
Unfortunately for the Biancocelesti, Tijjani Noslin won’t make his homecoming on Thursday because he is serving his three-match ban after getting a red card against Dynamo Kyiv. Manuel Lazzari is also sidelined due to a thigh injury.
As for Twente, they opened their Europa League campaign with back-to-back 1-1 draws against Manchester United and Fenerbahce.
Sam Lammers is Twente’s biggest threat up front, as the Dutchman now has four goals in all competitions this year. Head coach Joseph Oosting’s most notable absentee is their midfielder, Younes Taha (leg).
Lacazette on the cusp of history with Lyon
Alexandre Lacazette is the one Lyon player to watch throughout this season’s Europa League, as he is closing in on a historic milestone.
The 33-year-old striker has 24 goals in this particular tournament, good for joint-fifth with Munas Dabbur, and he is 10 goals shy of surpassing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (his former Arsenal teammate) to become the all-time leading scorer.
Lacazette opened his Europa League account this season by notching a brace (alongside Malick Fofana) during Lyon’s 4-1 drubbing of Rangers.
Other than Lacazette’s pursuit, what makes Lyon the favourites against Besiktas is their solid home form. Pierre Sage’s side has only lost one of their 26 Europa League group stage games at the Groupama Stadium.
Besiktas started their 2024-25 campaign on a high note by beating Galatasaray 5-0 in the Turkish Super Cup final and fighting through the play-off legs to clinch their Europa League berth.
However, things haven’t gone to plan for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men after qualifying, as they suffered consecutive losses against Ajax (4-0) and Eintracht Frankfurt (3-1), so they come to France with a huge sense of urgency.
It won’t help Besiktas that they’ll be without winger Milot Rashica due to an injury he suffered in the most recent international break, leaving Ciro Immobile, with eight goals in all competitions, to shoulder the huge offencive load.
Spurs plan to keep AZ winless
Tottenham’s pursuit of a long-awaited trophy continues this week when they host an out-of-form AZ Alkmaar in London. Ange Postecoglou’s side is coming off a convincing 4-1 win against West Ham United, which saw three Spurs on the scoresheet.
The Spurs have been virtually unbeaten at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as they’ve won 12 of their last 14 European matches there, and they’ve yet to concede a goal from a Europa League counterpart this season.
With the odds in their favour, Postecoglou will likely rotate his side to a rest for some starters.
As for AZ Alkmaar, they are in the midst of a four-game losing streak, their worst such run in 22 years. Since defeating Elfsborg in the first matchday, Maarten Marten’s side has had a hard time preventing goals.
Troy Parrott is the star man for the Dutch side, but his goals alone might not be enough to unsettle the Spurs.
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