Europa League Preview 20 May

The Amsterdam Arena is the venue for the Europa League Final this Wednesday night as Benfica take on Chelsea and here is your guide to the best of the bets from this game.

After a heartbreaking injury time loss to Porto at the weekend it remains to be seen what kind of Benfica turn up for the final. Will it be a highly motivated outfit determined to salvage something from the weekend or will they still be reeling from their loss? If you think the former can then you can back Benfica at 9/4 (SPREADEX) to win in 90 minutes. History is not on the side of Benfica as they have lost each of their last six major European finals. Chelsea meanwhile have won three of their four previous European finals including lifting the Champions League last year. It is 4/6 (GENERAL) that Chelsea lift the trophy while it is 13/10 (BWIN) that Benfica do so. The head-to-head record also favours Chelsea as on the two occasions (last season in the Champions League) these sides have met it was the side from England who came out on top winning both games. The Blues enter the game in good form with no defeat in their last eight games and are 6/4 (william hill/YOU WIN) to win the game in 90 minutes. Chelsea have also suffered just one defeat in their eight previous clashes with Portuguese opposition, winning six of these. Benfica meanwhile have won just one of their last seven clashes against English sides.

The first goalscorer market is headed by Spaniard Fernando Torres at 13/2 (bet365/BETVICTOR/CORAL) though it has hard to back the Spaniard with any confidence. For Chelsea Frank Lampard is the man for the big occasion and he is 9/1 (ladbrokes) to score first or 3/1 (ladbrokes) to score anytime. This looks generous and as he is also likely to be on penalty duty looks worth taking. Those looking for a Benfica player will see that striker Oscar Cardozo has netted five in his last five Europa League fixtures and is 7/1 (bet365/BETVICTOR/CORAL) to score the opener or 12/5 (BETVICTOR) to score anytime.

Three of the last six Europa League finals have gone to extra time and seven of the last 13. Those who think this game will go over 90 minutes can get involved in the ’When will the match be won’ market that sportingbet are running. 90 minutes is the understandable favourite at 2/7 while extra time is 21/4 and penalties are 9/2. If you think the game might end drawn then another option is to take a bet in the correct score market where the 1-1 draw tops the market at 6/1 (GENERAL). The 0-0 draw meanwhile is 10/1 (boylesports/BET VICTOR/188 BET). Chelsea to win the game 1-0 is 15/2 (BETVICTOR/ladbrokes), while 2-1 is 9/1 (BETVICTOR/ladbrokes/CORAL). If you want to side with Benfica then you can get 1-0 at 9/1 (BETVICTOR/ladbrokes).

One final bet to recommend is a little play in the over 2.5 goals market at 11/10 (BETVICTOR). This bet would have paid in nine of the last 12 Europa League finals (with two of the other having two goals). This bet would have paid out in 12 of the last 14 Chelsea games and in three of the last four Benfica games.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Frank Lampard to score anytime in Europa League final, 3/1 (ladbrokes)
SILVER: Frank Lampard to score first in Europa League final, 9/1 (ladbrokes)
BRONZE: Over 2.5 goals between Chelsea and Benfica, 11/10 (BETVICTOR)

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15/05/2013     © Frixo 2026