Racing Post

European Conference League in focus

Joe Casey marks your card

West Ham have had a dismal first half of their Premier League season but they remain near the head of the betting for the Europa Conference League title.

The Hammers reached the semi-final of the Europa League last season but came up short.

However, their injury issues and lack of goal threat this season means they can be overlooked at the front of the market.

That is despite earning a pass straight through to the round of 16 by winning every one of their group games.

The winners of the 2020-21 Europa League Villarreal are also vying for favouritism despite losing manager Unai Emery to Aston Villa.

The Yellow Submarine have been in solid form in La Liga, where they are in contention for a topfour spot, and also cruised through their group and look a solid proposition.

However, despite having to play a game more than West Ham and Villarreal the side who catch the eye in the outright betting is

Lazio.

The Italians will have been disappointed not to come through a Europa League group where remarkably all four teams finished on eight points but Maurizio Sarri’s men look in a solid position to make amends as they drop down a level.

Romanian side Cluj should not provide too much resistance in the knockout round and the Romans would not fear many of the seeded teams they would face in the round of 16, which includes Slovan Bratislava, Djurgardens, Istanbul Basaksehir and Sivasspor.

Lazio are third in Serie A and recently beat topfour rivals Milan 4-0. They have not won a European competition since 1999 so will be desperate to take home continental silverware and look a solid proposition at 6-1.

The competition certainly looks a weaker renewal than last season, when Leicester, Roma, Feyenoord and Marseille contested the semi-finals.

In a weaker contest, last year’s quarter-finalists Bodo/Glimt could be of interest at 33-1.

The Norwegians were beaten by the eventual winners Roma last season and while their domestic season finishing in November may be a disadvantage in a normal season, this truncated campaign due to the World Cup could see them benefit from the extra freshness.

Bodo have managed to retain many of their key players and highlyregarded manager Kjetil Knutsen and a knockout clash with Lech Poznan is winnable.

At a much bigger price and in a weak edition, the minnows could outrun their considerable odds.

THE BIG MATCHES FOOTBALL

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2023-01-31T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-31T08:00:00.0000000Z

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Racing Post