Thursday’s Top Football Tips: Palace Backed, Lyon’s Strength, Goals Expected in Rotterdam

Top football tips for Thursday: The midweek European action brings plenty of intriguing fixtures, and our BettingTips4You panel have analysed the form, tactics, and historical records to deliver the four best tips of the day. Each selection comes from one of our trusted experts, each with years of experience in dissecting football from every angle.

Below, four of our BettingTips4You analysts share their strongest opinions on today’s action.

Today’s 5 Tips — European Card
The European fixtures continue tonight. Our experts have four standout singles plus a Daily Super Double. (18+; GambleAware)
Total Tips
Count5
Lyon vs Red Bull Salzburg — Lyon to Win to Nil
Odds 19/10

Rationale: Lyon’s European progress has been built on defensive discipline and narrow wins. They’ve lost just three of their last 29 European home games, while Salzburg have lost five straight Europa League away matches, conceding 2+ in each. The value lies in Lyon to win to nil.

Summary: Strong Lyon home form + Salzburg’s poor European away record make a clean-sheet home win a logical play.

£
£29.00 potential return
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Feyenoord vs Aston Villa — Over 2.5 Goals
Odds 4/5

Rationale: Feyenoord average close to three per home game and Villa’s attack has picked up under Emery, but their European defending remains patchy. With Ueda and Watkins in form, a lively, chance-rich match favors over 2.5 goals.

Summary: Both sides bring scoring momentum; defensive wobble points to goals.

£
£18.00 potential return
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Crystal Palace vs Dynamo Kiev — Crystal Palace to Win
Odds 4/9

Rationale: Palace are unbeaten in 18 and just beat Liverpool. The league’s best defensive record under Glasner plus Kiev’s poor history vs Premier League opposition supports the home side.

Summary: Form, structure, and matchup all point Palace’s way.

£
£14.44 potential return
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Sturm Graz vs Rangers — Sturm Graz Most Corners
Odds 4/5

Rationale: Graz’s pressing and wing play create repeated deliveries and corners, especially at home. Rangers’ away inconsistency and midfield control issues suggest territorial advantage to the hosts.

Summary: Style + venue favor Graz to win the corner count.

£
£18.00 potential return
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Daily Super Double — BTTS (Feyenoord vs Aston Villa) & Over 2.5 (Sturm Graz vs Rangers)
Odds 2/1

Rationale: Feyenoord and Villa pair firepower with leaky defenses, making BTTS very likely. Graz and Rangers need a response and tend toward open play, boosting goal volume. The combo rides attacking trends and urgency in two balanced Europa League fixtures.

£
£30.00 potential return
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Three Punchy Stats
  • Lyon have lost just three of their last 29 home matches in Europe.
  • Rangers have only one away victory all season under Russell Martin.
  • Crystal Palace are unbeaten in 18, the best current run in Europe’s top leagues.
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Lyon vs Red Bull Salzburg

Herrin Kendrick; Senior Analyst at BettingTips4You

Rationale:
Lyon’s start to the Europa League has been shaped by defensive organisation and narrow victories, with five of their six competitive wins this season ending 1-0. Interim coach Jorge Maciel has instilled discipline and patience, ensuring his side grind out results rather than overwhelm opponents. At Groupama Stadium, Lyon have been reliable, winning five of their last six European home games while conceding just twice.

Salzburg, by contrast, continue to struggle away from home on the continental stage. The Austrians have not claimed an away Europa League victory since 2018, and their last five trips in this competition all ended in defeat, with at least two goals conceded each time. Their inability to cope with higher-intensity opposition has become a trend.

Given Lyon’s defensive resilience and Salzburg’s away shortcomings, backing Lyon to win to nil feels the most credible play. Les Gones rarely concede at home, while Salzburg’s bluntness in Europe suggests they will again fall short.

Best bet – Lyon to win to nil

Feyenoord vs Aston Villa

Wolfgang Shotten; Bundesliga Correspondent at BettingTips4You

Rationale:
This clash promises attacking football from both sides. Feyenoord are top of the Eredivisie, averaging nearly three goals per game at De Kuip, with Ayase Ueda in fine scoring form. Robin van Persie’s men thrive on home support, regularly overwhelming visiting sides through width and tempo.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, come off a morale-boosting victory over Bologna and a 3-1 comeback against Fulham. Unai Emery’s tactical setups often prioritise attacking balance, and with Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Buendia, and John McGinn in form, Villa carry real scoring threat. However, Villa’s defensive lapses, particularly away from home in Europe, leave them vulnerable against teams who press high.

Given both clubs’ scoring records and the context of European competition, over 2.5 goals feels the strongest angle. Feyenoord’s relentless attack, paired with Villa’s creativity, should generate multiple chances, and neither side looks likely to sit deep.

Best bet – Over 2.5 Goals

Crystal Palace vs Dynamo Kiev

John Pentin; UK Football Writer at BettingTips4You

Rationale:
Crystal Palace are making their Conference League debut with immense confidence after an 18-game unbeaten Premier League run, capped by a dramatic 2-1 win over Liverpool. Oliver Glasner has forged a compact and efficient side, difficult to break down yet capable of punishing teams in transition.

Dynamo Kiev, though consistent domestically, are struggling to turn performances into victories in Europe. Successive draws in the Ukrainian league highlight defensive concerns, and their record against English teams is poor, with only five wins from 30 matches. Facing Premier League opposition again, their task becomes even harder.

Palace’s mix of structure and star quality gives them a clear edge. Backing Crystal Palace to win outright combines current form with historical trends. Their defensive record – the fewest goals conceded in the Premier League – further underlines their superiority heading into this clash.

Best bet – Crystal Palace to win

Sturm Graz vs Rangers

Linus Bergström; European Football Specialist at BettingTips4You

Rationale:
Both Sturm Graz and Rangers are under pressure after opening-day Europa League defeats. The Austrians lost 2-0 to Midtjylland, while Rangers went down 1-0 to Genk. With both sides struggling for European form, the corner market provides value.

Sturm Graz’s style under Jurgen Säumel is built on intensity and wing play. Their pressing game forces opponents deep, and their wide players generate repeated deliveries into the box. This often translates into a high number of corners, even in games where they fall short on the scoreboard.

Rangers, by contrast, are still trying to find their rhythm under Russell Martin. The Scottish side have been inconsistent, with only one away win all season. Defensively shaky and without control in midfield, they are likely to be pushed back in Austria.

Given this tactical setup, Sturm Graz to win most corners is the most compelling pick. Their tempo and territory should ensure they dominate this metric regardless of the result.

🧲 Thursday Super Double

For added value, we’ve combined two selections in today’s Daily Super Double:

  • Feyenoord vs Aston Villa – Both Teams to Score
  • Sturm Graz vs Rangers – Over 2.5 Goals

Rationale:
Feyenoord and Aston Villa both have firepower and leaky defences, making BTTS highly likely. Sturm Graz and Rangers are inconsistent but both need a response, which should encourage attacking football and goals. Combined, this double backs urgency and attacking trends in two evenly matched Europa League fixtures.

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