During this season’s group phase, the Hammers beat Freiburg not once but twice, prevailing 2-1 in Germany and 2-0 in East London, but the match-up that really matters a week ago did not go the same way.

With nine minutes to play, just as the game appeared destine to finish goalless, Roland Sallai cross-come-shot fell at the feet of Michael Gregoritsch, who poked home from mere picometres out.

How crucial will this one-goal advantage prove to be?

A draw at the London Stadium would see Christian Streich’s side reach the quarter-finals of a UEFA competition for the very first time, dumped out by Juventus at this stage 12 months ago.

Breisgau-Brasilianer have won only four of 13 Bundesliga away matches so far this season but, of course, they don’t need to win this one to advance and make club history.

As for West Ham United, they’re really reliant on Europe to keep this campaign alive, currently seventh in the Premier League, struggling for consistency, including only managing a 2-2 draw with Burnley on Sunday.

Of course, the Hammers have enjoyed plenty of success on the continent in recent times, reaching the Europa League semi-finals two seasons ago, before winning last year’s Europa Conference League.

David Moyes’ men have won each of their last ten European home games, so will believe they can turn this around.

West Ham United to qualify after 90 minutes

1st selection

11/5

Both teams to score NO

2nd selection

19/20

Jarrod Bowen to score anytime

3rd selection

15/8

At 15/2, a £10 bet would return £85

West Ham United vs Freiburg

15/2

Liverpool vs Sparta Prague betting tips

Having run out 5-1 winners in Prague a week ago, pretty safe to assume Liverpool supporters can write down 11 and 18 April, the dates of the quarter-finals, in their diaries.

The Reds were 3-0 up by half time at Stadion Letná, with Alexis Mac Allister converting a very early spot-kick, before Darwin Núñez bagged one of the most spectacular braces you’re ever likely to see.

An unfortunate Conor Bradley own goal did give Sparta a glimmer of hope straight after the interval, but Luis Díaz and then Dominik Szoboszlai were on target later on to rubber stamp an empathic 5-1 victory.

Liverpool are three-times winners of this competition, hoisting aloft the trophy in 1973, 1976 and 2001, also reaching the final the last time they featured, beaten by Sevilla in Basel eight years ago.

With the EFL Cup already in the cabinet, Jürgen Klopp’s team still have three more trophies to play for, so expect him to name a heavily rotated team, with Sunday’s FA Cup tie at Old Trafford in mind.

Sparta Prague meantime have already beaten GNK Dinamo, Aris Limassol, Real Betis and Galatasaray to get this far, but a first European quarter-final since 2016 will prove beyond them.

The Maroons are winless in seven visits to England, losing five of them, dating back to a 3-2 victory at Vicarage Road over Watford in 1983.

This sequence includes a 1-0 defeat at Anfield in 2011, with another home win likely on Merseyside.

Liverpool to win

1st selection

3/10

Both teams to score

2nd selection

4/6

Over 3.5 goals

3rd selection

1/1

At 21/10 a £10 bet would return £31!

Liverpool vs Sparta Prague

21/10

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Roma betting tips

Safe to say, following the first leg in the Eternal City, Brighton & Hove Albion’s maiden European voyage is about to come to an end.

A week ago, Roma made all of their expirence count and then some, exploiting the Seagulls’, at times, kamikaze high-line and running out 4-0 winners at Stadio Olimpico.

Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku both on target in the first half, having burst in-behind, before Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante bagged quick-fire goals in the second 45, securing a humungous advantage.

I Giallorossi are aiming to reach a continental final for a third successive season, wining the inaugural Europa Conference League, before a heartbreaking defeat to Sevilla on penalties in last May’s Europa League Final.

Since Daniele De Rossi replaced José Mourinho as head coach back in January, Roma have won seven of 11 matches, their sole defeat coming at the hands of run-away league-leaders Inter.

Thus, no one will want to face them later down the line.

On the flip side, as alluded to, Brighton are making their debut in Europe, and what a memorable adventure it has been, even if it’s going to be cut short.

Roberto De Zerbi’s team topped their group, defeating both Ajax and AEK Athens on the road, while João Pedro’s last gasp winner against Marseille on matchday six will go down in Seagulls folk-law.

Brighton have scored 4+ on seven occasions already this season, but even they can’t turn this around, right?

Romelu Lukaku to score anytime

1st selection

15/8

Both teams to score

2nd selection

8/13

Over 2.5 goals

3rd selection

8/13

At 11/4, a £10 bet would return £37.50!

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Roma

11/4

Rangers vs Benfica betting tips

After a thrilling but ultimately inconclusive 2-2 draw at Estádio da Luz, it’s now winner takes all in Glasgow.

Rangers broke the deadlock after just seven minutes a week ago, thanks to Tom Lawrence’s well-directed header.

However, Benfica hit back in first half injury time, Ángel Di María converting a spot-kick, only for the Light Blues to go straight up the other end and restore their lead, with Dujon Sterling poking home at the back post.

The home side then equalised again mid-way through the second period, Connor Goldson heading in a very unfortunate own goal beyond the stranded Jack Butland, and 2-2 is how it finished in Lisbon.

As the pair reconvene in Govan, there must be a winner.

The last time Rangers featured in the Europa League they got all the way to the final two seasons ago, only beaten after a penalty shootout by Eintracht Frankfurt.

En route to Seville, they won all four home knockout stage games, dumping out Borussia Dortmund, Crvena zvezda, Braga and RB Leipzig, hoping to replicate a similar formulae here.

Since Philippe Clement took over in October, the Gers have won 25 of 31 matches in all competitions, most-recently defeating Hibs on Sunday, so will certainly come into this with momentum and confidence.

Benfica meantime have won only two of nine European matches this season, while Roger Schmidt’s team were also smashed 5-0 by Porto in O Clássico earlier this month, three days after a Dérbi de Lisboa defeat in the cup at the hands of Sporting.

As Águias are winless in five visits to Scotland, dating back to their very first trip over, defeating Hearts 2-1 in the European Cup preliminary round 64 years ago, ultimately winning the trophy for the first time that year.

This time, roared on by the passionate Ibrox crowd, we’re forecasting that Rangers will advance.

Rangers to qualify

1st selection

1/1

James Tavernier to score anytime

2nd selection

10/3

Both teams to score

3rd selection

4/7

At 8/1, a £10 bet would return £90

Rangers vs Benfica

8/1

Bayer Leverkusen vs Qarabağ betting tips

Bayer Leverkusen simply cannot be beaten this season, even when they’re forced to travel over 2,100 miles to Baku.

A week ago, it appeared as though Qarabağ were going to end Bayer’s long unbeaten streak, leading 2-0 at the break, thanks to goals that were spectacular in different ways from Yassine Benzia and then Juninho.

However, with 20 minutes to play, Florian Wirtz pounced on some slack defending to half the deficit before, deep into injury time, Patrik Schick equalised, stunning Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium into silence.

So, 2-2 it finished on the shore of the Caspian Sea, meaning it is winner takes all in North Rhine-Westphalia.

These two teams have now met three times this season, also facing-off in the group stages, with Leverkusen winning 5-1 at home and then 1-0 away back in autumn.

Overall, Xabi Alonso’s side are still yet to lose any match in any competition this season, winning 31 of 36.

Die Schwarzroten sit ten points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, in pole position to claim a first-ever Meisterschale, and are through to the DFB-Pokal semi-finals, the sole top-flight team left in the tournament.

So now, can Bayer keep alive their hopes of an unlikely treble by negotiating this tie?

As for Qarabağ, they’ve already made history this season, becoming the first-ever Azeri team to reach the round of 16 in any UEFA competition by dramatically dumping out Braga last month.

Gurban Gurbanov’s team were outstanding in the first leg but, having thrown away a two-goal advantage, are really up against it.

The Horseman have won only eight of their last 30 European away games (excluding qualifiers), while they’ve lost all four previous outings in Germany, conceding 13 times.

Thus, a home win seems very likely at BayArena.

Atalanta vs Sporting CP betting tips

Following last Wednesday’s first leg in Lisbon, we are no closer to finding out which one these two sides will reach the quarter-finals.

The pair drew 1-1 at Estádio José Alvalade eight nights ago, with Paulinho’s cool finish breaking the deadlock for Sporting.

However, soon after, some calamitous defending from the hosts was pounced upon by Gianluca Scamacca, with Atalanta unlike not to leave victorious, given that Ademola Lookman hit the post in the second half.

So, it’s now winner takes all in Bergamo.

This’ll actually be the fourth meeting between the two already this season, with Atalanta very much having the better of it in the group phase, winning 2-1 in Portugal before a 1-1 draw in Italy saw them top the section.

La Dea are seeking to reach the quarters of a UEFA competition for only the fifth time, getting there in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1988, this competition in ‘91 and 2022 as well as the Champions League four seasons ago.

Given that Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, in their entire history, have only ever lost one of 18 Europa League home matches, they have to be favourites to advance now.

As for Primeira Liga leaders Sporting Clube de Portugal, they featured in the last eight of this tournament just last season, so are hoping to, at least, match that achievement.

The Lions have never won any of their visits to Italy however, meaning Rúben Amorim’s team face an uphill battle at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia.

Slavia Prague vs AC Milan betting tips

Will the two-goal advantage AC Milan established at San Siro be enough to see them through?

Slavia Prague already traveled to Italy as massive underdogs, but their cause was not helped very much when El Hadji Malick Diouf was sent off by referee Halil Umut Meler after just 26 minutes.

It took Milan onl eight minutes to make their man advantage count, Olivier Giroud breaking the deadlock, only for a stunning, long-range strike from David Douděra to stun San Siro into silence.

Nevertheless, two quick-fire goals from Tijjani Reijnders and then Ruben Loftus-Cheek had I Rossoneri comfortably 3-1 ahead by the break.

Ivan Schranz did reduce the deficit to 3-2 but, with five minutes to play, Rafael Leão burst down the left, with his shot-come-cross bundled over the line by Christian Pulisic.

As the pair reconvene in Prague, most expect AC Milan to get the job done.

The seven-times European champions have never won this competition in either of its guises, their best runs coming in 1972 and 2002, ousted in the semi-finals by Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund respectively.

With little to play for domestically, sat second in Serie A, 16 points below the leaders, Stefano Pioli’s team are all in as they attempt to reach the Europa League Final in Dublin.

Slavia Prague meantime have featured in three major European quarter-finals since 2019 but, baring the most famous result of their history, Jindřich Trpišovský's side will bow out in the round of 16 this time round.

Villarreal vs Olympique Marseille betting tips

This tie has been left until last in our running order simply because this second leg is a mere formality, right?

A week ago, much to the delight of the Stade Vélodrome crowd, Marseille ran out 4-0 winners, with Jordan Veretout breaking the deadlock, Yerson Mosquera poking home an unfortunate own goal and then Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bagging a brace.

Alberto Moreno was sent off later on, compounding Villarreal’s miserable night; the former Liverpool left-back has not had the best week, also dismissed during Sunday night 3-2 victory at Real Betis.

This first leg is one of five victories in succession Jean-Louis Gasset has enjoyed since being appointed OM head coach, dumping out Shakhtar Donetsk in the previous round, whilst winning three out of three in Ligue 1.

Les Phocéens have never won this competition, but have been beaten finalists in three occasions, defeated by Parma in 1999, Valencia in 2004 and Atlético Madrid six years ago.

Well, given Olympique de Marseille’s recent form, they have to be amongst the favourites to go all the way this year, assuming they avoid an improbable remontada in Eastern Spain.

Villarreal themselves hoisted aloft this trophy just three seasons ago, but this’ll surely be the end of the European road for Marcelino’s men at Estadio de la Cerámica.