2 days Ago By Phil Haigh
Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side is lagging behind in the betting (Picture: Getty Images)Tottenham may have lost the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie at AZ Alkmaar, but they remain favourites to win the competition.Spurs lost 1-0 in Alkmaar, with a Lucas Bergvall the difference between the sides on a frustrating night for manager Ange Postecoglou.Not only did he watch his team lose, but striker Dominic Solanke returned from injury as he came off the bench, only to be substituted 20 minutes later due to a fresh problem.
However, the bookmakers have not been put off Spurs’ chances of glory as Postecoglou’s side are the shortest price of any team to lift the trophy at just 9/2 with Betfair.It is remarkable confidence in a team that sits 13th in the Premier League and were beaten in the group stage by Galatasaray.Get personalised updates on Manchester United every dayWake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. Manchester United got a better result than Spurs on Thursday night as they drew 1-1 at Real Sociedad after goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mikel Oyarzabal.The Red Devils host the La Liga outfit in the return leg next week and will be favourites to progress, but like Tottenham they are having a woeful season in the Premier League and are not used to regularly picking up results.
Lucas Bergvall’s own goal was the difference in Alkmaar (Picture: Getty Images)Amorim’s side are 11/2 to win the Europa League, which puts them third favourites behind Tottenham and Lazio.Marco Baroni’s team topped the Europa League group stage and picked up a 2-1 win at Viktoria Plzen in the first leg of their last 16 tie this week.Lazio are enjoying a more impressive domestic season than United or Spurs, sitting fifth in Serie A after a win at AC Milan last time out.
Europa League oddsTottenham 9/2Lazio 5/1Man Utd 11/2Roma 7/1Athletic Bilbao 15/2Eintracht Frankfurt 10/1Lyon 12/1Real Sociedad 12/1Rangers 20/1Bodo Glimt 33/1Az Alkmaar 33/1Ajax 33/1Fenerbahce 66/1Olympiacos 100/1Viktoria Plzen 125/1FCSB 300/1Odds courtesy of BetfairRoma and Athletic Bilbao are contenders to lift the trophy on 21 May, with the final held at Athletic’s home, the San Mames.However, the two teams face each other in the last 16, with Roma winning the first leg 2-1 in Italy on Thursday.Inaki Williams had put the Basque side ahead, but Angelino and a late Eldor Shomurodov winner made it a great night for Roma.
The Italians are now 7/1 for Europa League glory and Athletic Bilbao narrowly behind at 15/2.The Europa League trophy will be won in Bilbao in May (Picture: Getty Images)Rangers had a stunning night at Fenerbahce, returning from Istanbul with an unlikely 3-1 victory, although Jose Mourinho claimed it was no surprise to him.Interim manager Barry Ferguson’s team showed once again that they are a force in the competition and their odds to get hold of the trophy have shrunk to 20/1 as a result.
All the second legs of the last 16 ties are played next week on 13 March..
