Introduction to Thursday’s Europa League Matches
Thursday night sees the return of the Europa League with Celtic, Rangers, and Nottingham Forest all in action. Martin O’Neill makes his European return as Celtic boss after two decades away from Glasgow on the road at Midtjylland, and Sean Dyche takes his Forest team to Sturm Graz. Ahead of Thursday’s matches, Paddy Power News football tipster Feargal Brennan has four value picks that add up to a belting Bet Builder.
Midtjylland v Celtic
The match between Midtjylland and Celtic takes place on Thursday, 6th of November, at 17:45, at the MCH Arena in Herning, and will be televised on TNT Sports 2.
Double Chance: Celtic/Draw
20 years have flown by, and Martin O’Neill is back in the building at Celtic. It could not have gone much better for the O’Neill/Shaun Maloney double act so far, with an opening 4-0 win over Falkirk followed by a 3-1 Scottish League Cup semi-final victory against Rangers. A trip to Denmark is O’Neill’s first European test on his return, and Midtjylland have been solid so far in the Europa League this season. Brendan Rodgers picked up four points from his opening three games in the league phase, with a draw against Red Star, and a win over Sturm Graz. The hosts have won all three, beating Graz, Forest, and Maccabi Tel Aviv, so a win prediction might be a stretch for O’Neill, and a draw would be a decent result to take back to Parkhead.
Johnny Kenny to Score
No player has symbolized the mood music shift at Celtic under O’Neill than Johnny Kenny. After starting just one game under Rodgers in the opening weeks of 2025/25, O’Neill has thrown the Ireland U21 international straight in from the off, with starts against Falkirk and Rangers. Kenny has responded to that show of faith with three goals in 137 minutes of action, and the 22-year-old looks set to keep his spot. His performances could also mean a call-up for the senior Ireland squad this week ahead of those all-important World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Hungary.
Sturm Graz v Nottingham Forest
The match between Sturm Graz and Nottingham Forest takes place on Thursday, 6th of November, at 17:45, at the Liebenauer Stadium in Graz, and will be televised on TNT Sports 1.
Both Teams to Score: Yes
Continuing the theme of managerial throwbacks, and Dyche’s Forest head off to Austria in his fourth game in charge. Dyche has not been out of the game as long as O’Neill, but his back-to-basics approach has yielded a sound start at the City Ground, after a brilliant 2-0 opening win over Porto on the banks of the Trent. That was followed by a league loss at Bournemouth and a late 2-2 draw with Manchester United over the weekend. Hosts Graz have lost three on the run in all competitions, but they have scored in each of their last seven games, and Dyche’s charges only failed to hit the net at in-form Bournemouth.
Rangers v Roma
The match between Rangers and Roma takes place on Thursday, 6th of November, at 20:00, at the Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, and will be televised on TNT Sports 3.
Under 2.5 Goals
We wrap up on Thursday night at Ibrox as Roma land in Glasgow. Danny Rohl lost 3-0 away at Brann on his Rangers debut, before two successive league wins, followed by defeat at the hands of O’Neill on Sunday. It’s still too early to gauge his impact at the club, but goals continue to be an issue, with just one scored across those trickier matches against Brann and Celtic, and Roma are on the back of a 1-0 loss at AC Milan. In three league phase games, Rangers have managed just one goal, and Roma have managed three, but with five of their last eight in all competitions coming in under the 2.5 goals scored barrier.
Thursday’s Europa League Betting Tips
A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 10/1 with Paddy Power. The bets include:
- Midtjylland v Celtic: Double Chance – Celtic/Draw, and Johnny Kenny to score
- Sturm Graz v Nottingham Forest: Both teams to score – Yes
- Rangers v Roma: Under 2.5 goals
Conclusion
In conclusion, Thursday’s Europa League matches promise to be exciting, with Celtic, Rangers, and Nottingham Forest all in action. Martin O’Neill’s European return as Celtic boss, Sean Dyche’s fourth game in charge of Forest, and Rangers’ match against Roma are all highly anticipated. With a Bet Builder paying approximately 10/1 with Paddy Power, there are plenty of opportunities for fans to get involved and back their favorite teams. As always, it’s essential to remember to bet responsibly and within your means.
