Europa League Predictions – Semi-Finals 2010/2011
As we saw in the Champions League this week semi-finals can be tense, nervy affairs, with both sides desperate to not lose an advantage in the first leg and ultimately reach the final.
If history is anything to go by the same is true for the Europa League semi-finals. In the last 5 competitions (UEFA Cup included) only one of 10 first leg semi-final matches has gone over the 2.5 goals mark and the semi-final most likely to follow suit is Benfica v Braga.
The all-Portuguese affair adds welcome excitement to football fans in Portugal with the top places in the domestic league all but sewn up. Braga have certainly been the dark horses in this season’s competition and have edged through by keeping games tight especially away from home. Every Europa League knockout game in this season’s competition for Braga has finished with less than 2 goals and Braga will have to adopt a similar approach if they are going to edge their way into the final at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Historically domestic head to head meetings at the Stadium of Light also point to the under 2.5 goals tendency with the last 8 games failing to breach this mark. With the possibility of a final, neither side will want to surrender too much of a lead going into the second leg.
Under 2.5 goals (Benfica v Braga) @1.72
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