Football Multi Bet: $10.52 Tip for Friday

I’ve been picking through the Europa League round of 16 second legs for this football multi bet, and there’s genuine value on offer this Friday morning. Two selections hold first-leg leads at home, while the third is a side that has no choice but to go for it. Combined odds on these push past 10x - a nice way to start the weekend if you ask me.

Friday March 20, 9:00am NZT, Villa Park

Aston Villa take a 1-0 lead into this second leg after Ollie Watkins’ header settled the first leg in France. Lille had moments - Romain Perraud tested Emiliano Martinez with one decent effort - but Villa were controlled and deserved the result.

Lille arrive at Villa Park short-staffed this time. Captain Benjamin Andre is a major doubt after picking up a hip injury in the first leg, while Hamza Igamane - one of their key forwards - has been out since January with a cruciate problem. That’s two big names, gone.

I look at Villa’s home record this season and I just can’t see where their comeback comes from. My football betting tips on this tie keep landing on a Villa win. At $1.65, it opens up this multi nicely.

Friday March 20, 9:00am NZT, Estadio do Dragao

Porto won 2-1 in Stuttgart and bring a one-goal aggregate lead back to the Dragao, where they’ve won four straight European home games. They’re also in form - a 3-0 win over Moreirense on Sunday shows their high on confidence.

Stuttgart need at least two goals to get through here. They’ve scored 20 in this competition so it’s not impossible, but Deniz Undav will have to play the match of his life against a side unbeaten at home in 11 matches across all competitions.

I’ve checked betting sites in NZ and Porto to win sits at $1.70. This is the leg I feel most settled on.

Friday March 20, 9:00am NZT, Estadio Benito Villamarin

Right, this is the risky bit, but it’s also where we get our value. Betis are winless in five, including a loss in the first leg of this tie and a 2-0 beatdown by Getafe before that. Panathinaikos arrive unbeaten in nine and lead on aggregate after Vicente Taborda’s penalty in Athens.

But Betis need a win. A draw knocks them out. That kind of desperation tends to lift a home side, and remember - Betis had 13 shots to Panathinaikos’ seven in that first leg and still lost. Their attacking quality is there.

Anass Zaroury - Panathinaikos’ top scorer in this competition with four goals - is suspended after his red card. That’s a big loss for their counter. Betis’ Antony, meanwhile, has been directly involved in seven Europa League goals this season. I’m backing him to make the difference and bag us $3.75 on new betting sites to close out this multi.