Best European Football Leagues to Bet On

Newcastle United host Everton at St James' Park on Monday 2 November 2026 in Matchweek 9 of the Premier League 2026/2027 season, in what is the second chapter of a quickfire double-header between the two sides just days after their Carabao Cup fourth-round meeting at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Magpies arrive in strong spirits after a morale-boosting 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday, a result that lifted Matthias Jaissle's side to eighth in the table with 11 points, while Everton have slipped to 11th after back-to-back Premier League defeats. Newcastle have found the net in ten of their eleven fixtures across all competitions this season, and with St James' Park sold out for the occasion, the home faithful will expect their team to complete a league double over the Toffees following last November's 4-1 away win in this fixture.

Newcastle's recent form has been mixed but is trending upwards, as shown by their last three results: the 2-0 victory at Selhurst Park, a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, and a disappointing 4-1 loss at Coventry. For a full breakdown of those matches, see our previous predictions for 2-0, 0-1 and 4-1. Everton, meanwhile, have taken just one point from their last nine available in the top flight, losing 2-0 at Arsenal and 2-0 at home to Chelsea either side of a 2-2 draw at Hull, with only the three relegation-zone sides scoring fewer than their eight league goals so far — see 2-0, 0-2 and 2-2 for the full analysis of those games.

Everton take on Coventry City at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Friday, November 6, 2026, with David Moyes’s 2026/27 squad looking to bounce back from back-to-back Premier League defeats; the Toffees’ group is built around Pickford, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, Barry, Johnson and George, while Coventry arrive with Frank Lampard back on Merseyside and a promoted side featuring Thomas-Asante, Sakamoto, Rudoni, Hamer and Mason-Clark.

Everton’s mood was lifted in midweek by a 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Newcastle, but the league picture is less forgiving after the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal and a 0-2 home loss to Chelsea; that leaves Moyes needing more end product from Thierno Barry, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and the wide runners, with Jarrad Branthwaite’s concussion and Jack Grealish’s availability still key pre-match checks.

Hamburger SV host Borussia Mönchengladbach in a Bundesliga Matchday 9 clash on Friday, 6 November 2026, with kick-off at 19:30 CET at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg. Both sides come into this fixture searching for consistency after wildly contrasting runs of form, and their recent head-to-head history offers few clues: the last two league meetings between these clubs, in August 2025 and January 2026, both ended in goalless draws. With HSV pushing to climb into the top half and Gladbach desperate to build on a rare away win, an open contest is expected under the Hamburg lights.

The home side's 2026/27 campaign has been a tale of two halves. Merlin Polzin's team lost their opening three Bundesliga matches by a combined 12-0 scoreline, then responded superbly with three straight victories, including a hard-fought 1-0 home win over VfB Stuttgart secured by Miro Muheim's late strike. That momentum has since evaporated: HSV fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat at promoted Paderborn, where Philippe struck an 88th-minute winner (1-0), before slipping to a 3-1 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend despite Terem Moffi's equaliser (3-1). Daniel Heuer Fernandes is set to start in goal behind a back three of Shafiq Nandja, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Warmed Omari, with Yussuf Poulsen and Fábio Vieira leading the line in Polzin's 3-5-2 system.

Atalanta vs Parma is set for Monday 2 November 2026 at 20:45 CET at the New Balance Arena in Serie A Matchday 10, with the latest European odds making Atalanta a clear home favourite at roughly 1.45 for the win, the draw around 4.60 and Parma as high as 7.50, so our prediction is a confident Atalanta 3 : 0 win.

Atalanta’s 2026/2027 squad has enough firepower to justify that price, even after the wild 4-4 against Frosinone and the narrow 3-2 defeat at AC Milan, with Marco Carnesecchi in goal, Isak Hien, Giorgio Scalvini, Odilon Kossounou, Raoul Bellanova and Davide Zappacosta across the back, Éderson, Franck Kessié, Charles De Ketelaere, Lazar Samardžić and Eljif Elmas supplying midfield control, and Gianluca Scamacca, Giacomo Raspadori plus in-form Nikola Krstović leading the line.

Sassuolo welcome Fiorentina to the Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore on Monday, November 2, 2026, for a fascinating Serie A clash between two sides desperate to halt poor runs of form. The Neroverdi sit 12th after a bruising sequence of results, most notably the heavy 2-6 home defeat to Lazio, followed by a 0-2 loss away to Como. Fabio Grosso's men have now gone five matches without a win and have not kept a clean sheet in ten, a worrying trend heading into this fixture.

Fiorentina arrive in Reggio Emilia in even deeper trouble, sitting 18th in the table after three consecutive league defeats. Stefano Pioli's revamped squad – featuring summer signings Radu Drăgușin, João Mário, Viery, Marco Brescianini, Giovanni Fabbian and forwards Mateo Pellegrino and Wilfried Gnonto alongside veteran David de Gea – fell 1-2 to Inter and 3-1 to Como in their most recent outings. La Viola will also be without Marin Pongračić, Luca Ranieri, Arthur Atta and Fabiano Parisi through injury, while Sassuolo miss the suspended Kristian Thorstvedt plus injured Fedde Leysen, Daniel Boloca and Ismaël Koné.

Venezia will host Udinese at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on Friday, 6 November 2026 (20:45 CET) in a crucial Serie A 2026/2027 relegation-zone clash, with the Lagoon side sitting 20th on 3 points and the visitors 17th on just 4 points after eight rounds. Both teams arrive in poor form: Venezia were beaten 1-0 by Como after a De Cunha penalty and fell 0-2 at home to Inter, while Udinese collapsed 2-5 against AS Roma and drew 0-0 with Parma after losing to AC Milan.

Davide Nicola's Venezia will rely on the 2026/2027 squad built around captain Gianluca Busio in midfield, striker Akor Adams (the team's most dangerous forward with 1.5 shots on target per game), John Yeboah, Albion Rrahmani and loan arrivals Matías Moreno and Simon Sohm, though Thierry Correia, Bartol Franjić, Andrea Adorante and Marin Šverko are all sidelined. Kosta Runjaić's Udinese counter with Nicolò Zaniolo, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Jakub Piotrowski, Sandi Lovric and Oier Zarraga, but their absences list is long: Alessandro Zanoli, Oumar Solet, David Alaba, Vakoun Issouf Bayo and Idrissa Gueye are all unavailable.

Fresh off a rescheduling from 31 October to Monday, 2 November 2026, Ligue 1's Brittany derby between FC Lorient and Stade Brestois 29 will finally take centre stage at the Stade du Moustoir – Yves Allainmat, with kick-off set for 19:45 UTC. Ticket platforms confirm the fixture was moved to Monday night, and interest has been intense, with the game reported as a full house. Lorient sit 9th in the early 2026/27 table with a balanced 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats, while Brest are 13th despite showing flashes of attacking quality this season. The historical head-to-head record favours the hosts (Lorient 14 wins, Brest 11, 7 draws), although Brest won the most recent meeting 2-0 back in February 2026. European odds for this clash open at approximately 2.10 for a Lorient win, 3.40 for the draw and 3.60 for a Brest victory, reflecting solid home favouritism.

Both teams arrive in respectable form. Lorient are unbeaten in their last three league outings: a goalless 0-0 stalemate away to Angers, followed by back-to-back 1-0 home wins over Monaco and Paris FC, built on the organised structure instilled by coach Alexandre Dujeux. Brest, meanwhile, were edged out in a five-goal thriller by Nice (1-2), held Lille to a draw, and demolished Angers 5-1 earlier in October, with striker C. Doumbia among the league's most productive attackers. Eric Roy's side have scored 12 goals in six matches, but their away record remains patchy, which explains why the bookmakers price a Lorient home win as the likeliest outcome.

Toulouse FC welcome RC Strasbourg to the Stadium de Toulouse on Friday, 6 November 2026, for a Ligue 1 round 10 clash that pits two sides in very different runs of form against each other. Toulouse sit 11th in the table with 10 points from their opening eight matches, while Strasbourg are stuck in 16th place on just 7 points, only three points above the relegation zone. After a midweek of international football, both teams return to domestic action with plenty to prove: the hosts want to bounce back from their defeat at Marseille last weekend, and the visitors will try to build on their stunning 5-1 rout of Auxerre.

Toulouse's recent form has been mixed but resilient. Jens Berthel Askou's side suffered a 2-0 defeat away at Marseille on 1 November, having previously been unbeaten in five league games, but before that they cruised to a 0-3 away win at Le Mans and ground out a 0-0 home draw with Troyes. The 2026/2027 squad is built around goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, defenders Mark McKenzie, Rasmus Nicolaisen and Christ Tapé, midfielders Cristian Cásseres Jr., Aron Dønnum, Niko Sigur and Thomas Jørgensen, and a forward line led by Casper Tengstedt and Jacen Russell-Rowe. Toulouse have been tight defensively, conceding just 11 goals in eight league games, but their attack has been inconsistent, scoring only 12.

Atlético Madrid host Bayern Munich on Tuesday, 3 November 2026 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in one of the standout fixtures of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase. Diego Simeone's side have made a strong start to the season and sit within touching distance of the LaLiga summit, but they face a Bayern team that remains unbeaten in Europe and arrives in Spain full of confidence after a busy October. With both clubs expecting to challenge deep into the knockout rounds, this clash in Madrid could prove decisive for seeding — and the atmosphere in the Spanish capital promises to be electric as two of Europe's heavyweights collide once again.

Atlético come into this one in solid domestic form, having ground out a narrow 1:0 win over Deportivo La Coruña on 24 October, Julián Álvarez scoring his first LaLiga goal in eight months to keep the pressure on the leaders. In Europe they showed real resilience in the 1:1 draw away to VfB Stuttgart on 20 October, battling back with ten men after Morten Hjulmand's red card, and they also edged a tight league contest at Espanyol by 0:1 thanks to Álex Baena's late strike. The big question for Simeone is midfield, where Hjulmand is suspended after his dismissal in Germany, likely opening the door for Johnny Cardoso or Pablo Barrios alongside Marcos Llorente and Baena. Jan Oblak anchors a defence featuring Cristian Romero and Dávid Hancko, while Álvarez, Ademola Lookman, Jonathan David and Alexander Sørloth give Atlético real depth in attack for the 2026/27 campaign.

Barcelona host Aston Villa at Camp Nou on Tuesday 3 November 2026 (21:00 CET) in Matchday 4 of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase, in what shapes up as a fascinating clash between Hansi Flick's Spanish champions and Unai Emery's in-form Premier League side. The Catalan giants will be eager to bounce back after suffering their first defeat of the season, a 2-1 Clásico loss at the hands of Real Madrid on 25 October despite Raphinha's second-half equaliser, with Mbappé striking twice for the visitors. Villa, meanwhile, arrive in Spain after three wins from three in Europe, including a 3-1 home victory over Norwegian debutants Viking, though they were stunned 3-0 by Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup last week. In the European odds for this fixture, Barcelona are firm favourites at around 1.45, the draw is priced at 4.75, and Aston Villa are the clear outsiders at 6.50.

Flick is expected to field a full-strength Barcelona squad built around the attacking trio of Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and new signing Anthony Gordon, with Robert Lewandowski's goals supplemented by the creativity of Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Rodri in midfield, and João Cancelo and Alejandro Balde providing width from the full-back positions. Goalkeeper Joan García and defensive leader Pau Cubarsí marshal a back line that has been nearly impregnable in LaLiga this term. Villa's travelling party features the experienced spine of Zion Suzuki in goal, Pau Torres and Victor Lindelöf at centre-back, captain John McGinn, Ross Barkley and Emiliano Buendía in midfield, with the electric pace of Alysson and Ibrahim Mbaye on the wings and Nicolas Jackson leading the line — a squad that has already beaten PSG, Borussia Dortmund and Viking in this season's competition.

Bodø/Glimt host Lille at the Aspmyra Stadion on 3 November 2026 (21:00 CET) in a Matchday 4 UEFA Champions League league phase clash, and the stakes could hardly be more different for the two sides. The Norwegian champions, who famously beat Manchester City and Inter Milan at home last season, sit on three points after beating Borussia Dortmund 1-0 at Aspmyra before falling 4-3 at Napoli, while Lille remain bottom of the 36-team table with zero points from three games. French giants Lille have struggled in Europe under new head coach Davide Ancelotti, and their latest domestic results have also been mixed: a 1-1 draw at Monaco on 25 October followed an embarrassing 2-4 home defeat to Galatasaray in Europe and a 1-1 Ligue 1 draw against Brest, leaving Davide Ancelotti's men desperate to keep their knockout hopes alive in the Arctic Circle.

Bodø/Glimt's 2026/2027 squad remains built around captain Patrick Berg in midfield, with Danish striker Kasper Høgh and winger Jens Petter Hauge leading the attack, supported by Fredrik Sjøvold, whose winner sank Dortmund, Andreas Helmersen, Håkon Evjen, and the experienced defensive duo of Fredrik André Bjørkan and Jostein Gundersen, with Nikita Haikin between the posts. Lille's 2026/2027 squad features veterans Olivier Giroud and captain Benjamin André alongside exciting talents such as Ethan Mbappé, Ayase Ueda, Dilane Bakwa, Hákon Haraldsson, and Tiago Santos, though defensive absences, including the suspended Tanguy Nianzou after his red card at Monaco, leave Ancelotti scrambling for solutions ahead of the long trip north.

Feyenoord host Inter at Stadion Feijenoord De Kuip on Tuesday 3 November 2026 in the 2026/2027 UEFA Champions League league phase, matchday 4, with both teams needing a result after opening the campaign on 3 points. The latest European odds make Inter the clear away favourite at about 1.70, the draw is around 4.10 and Feyenoord are priced near 4.20, with over 2.5 goals close to 1.37 and both teams to score around 1.41. Despite Feyenoord's home backing, Inter's cleaner defensive trend away from the 3-4 Club Brugge shock points to an away win, and our prediction is Feyenoord 1-3 Inter.

Feyenoord's recent rhythm has been mixed: a 1-1 Eredivisie draw at PSV, a 1-0 Champions League defeat at Betis and a 3-2 home win over Como leave them vulnerable when pressed high. The likely 2026/2027 spine remains Timon Ernst in goal; Givairo Read, Jeremie St. Juste, Mika Marmol and Javi Lopez or Tsuyoshi Watanabe at the back; Gjivai Zechiel, Chris Vanhoutte and Oussama Targhalline in midfield; with Luciano Valente, Nacho Ferri and Anis Hadj Moussa ahead. The concern is availability and defensive depth, with long-term absentees such as Bart Nieuwkoop, Gijs Smal, Jordan Bos, Jakub Moder, Thomas Beelen, Reiss Nelson and Shaqueel van Persie still limiting rotation, and Watanabe needing careful management.

Galatasaray welcome VfB Stuttgart to Rams Park on Tuesday, 3 November 2026 (20:45 CET) for Matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League league phase, with Slovenian referee Rade Obrenović taking charge of a fixture that pits the Turkish champions' firepower against one of Germany's most entertaining sides. According to the latest European odds, Galatasaray are slight favourites at 2.10 for the home win, the draw is priced at 3.60, while an away victory for Stuttgart can be backed at 3.40. With both teams built to attack rather than to contain, the markets also make both teams to score a short price, and this one has all the ingredients of a Champions League classic in Istanbul.

Okan Buruk's Galatasaray arrive full of confidence after a memorable October that saw them edge the Istanbul derby 2-1 against Fenerbahçe at Rams Park before a stunning away triumph in France, coming from behind to beat Lille 4-2 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. The 2026/27 squad is stacked with star quality: Victor Osimhen leads the line after hitting eight Süper Lig goals already this season, supported by summer signings Rafael Leão, İlkay Gündoğan and Aleksey Batrakov, with Leroy Sané, Gabriel Sara and Lucas Torreira providing creativity and steel. With Uğurcan Çakır in goal and Davinson Sánchez marshalling the defence, Gala's XI is arguably the strongest assembled at the club in years.

LASK welcome Slovan Bratislava to the Raiffeisen Arena on November 3, 2026, in a UEFA Champions League League Phase clash that pits one of Austria's most dangerous attacking sides against a Slovak champion still searching for its first points of the campaign. LASK arrive in strong form in Europe, having shocked Sporting CP with a 3:2 away win on matchday three, though they were beaten in a nine-goal thriller by Liverpool in their last home outing, losing 3:6 at the Raiffeisen Arena despite a brave attacking display. In the Austrian Bundesliga, Thomas Sageder's men bounced back from a Salzburg defeat with a convincing 4:0 win away at Austria Lustenau, and the Blau-Weißen will be confident of exploiting Slovan's fragile back line in Linz.

Slovan Bratislava, by contrast, have endured a nightmare return to the Champions League group stage, suffering heavy defeats in all three of their opening fixtures. The Belasí were dismantled 6:1 by Paris Saint-Germain in France, then crushed 0:3 by Stuttgart at Tehelné pole before shipping four goals in a 4:0 thrashing by Roma in the Italian capital. Their defensive record — ten goals conceded across three matches, the worst in the competition — is compounded by a lack of attacking output, and coach Vladimír Weiss faces an uphill battle to keep his side competitive against a LASK team averaging two goals per game in Europe this season.

Manchester Utd host AS Roma at Old Trafford in the 2026/2027 Champions League league phase on 3 November 2026, with the latest pre-match news pointing to both squads being close to full strength. United’s European odds are about 2.38, the draw is 4.17 and AS Roma are around 2.78, which frames the tie as tight despite Roma’s slightly stronger league-phase start. Our prediction is Manchester Utd 2 : 2 AS Roma, with goals expected because both attacks have been productive while both defenses have wobbled in recent away tests.

Manchester Utd’s 2026/2027 squad picture features Senne Lammens in goal, Noussair Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt and Diogo Dalot across the back, Andrey Santos and Mason Mount in midfield support, and Bruno Fernandes as the creative hub behind Matheus Cunha, Youri Tielemans and Bryan Mbeumo, with Joshua Zirkzee and Benjamin Šeško also in the attacking mix. That depth matters after a difficult run that includes the 0-3 Premier League loss to Bournemouth and the 1-4 Champions League defeat at Como, results that raise the pressure at Old Trafford.

Shakhtar Donetsk host Sporting CP in a blockbuster UEFA Champions League 2026/27 league phase Round 4 clash on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, kicking off at 17:45 UTC at Stamford Bridge in London, where Shakhtar are again staging their European home fixtures. The encounter pits two of the early-season surprise packages against each other: Sporting CP arrive with a perfect record of two wins from two matches (6 points, +4 goal difference) sitting comfortably inside the top eight, while Shakhtar Donetsk hold 4 points from a win and a draw and are pushing to break into the automatic qualification spots. A win for the visitors would stretch their lead over the Ukrainians to five points, but Shakhtar's strong home performances at Stamford Bridge this season suggest Rui Borges' men will not have things all their own way.

Shakhtar's route to this fixture has been a mixed but encouraging one. Matchday 3 brought a narrow 1-0 defeat at San Siro against Inter, where Carlos Augusto's 77th-minute strike separated the sides despite a spirited second-half display, while Matchday 2 saw the Miners produce their best European performance of the campaign so far, a convincing 3-1 triumph over AEK Athens in London. Marino Pusic's 2026/27 squad has shown real resilience, and the point earned in the 1-1 draw away to PSV Eindhoven on Matchday 1 underlines their ability to frustrate stronger opposition on the road.

Villarreal host reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain at La Cerámica on 3 November 2026 in a blockbuster UEFA Champions League league phase clash, and the Yellow Submarine arrive in reasonable shape despite their recent European setback. Marcelino's men ground out a 0-0 home draw against Elche in LaLiga before showing their attacking bite in a thrilling 4-3 defeat at Anfield, where Georges Mikautadze and Sergi Cardona gave them a shock two-goal lead before Liverpool's late comeback. Villarreal responded superbly in domestic action, edging Valencia 1-2 away at Mestalla to keep their LaLiga momentum alive, though the 2026/27 squad built around Mikautadze, Cardona, on-loan defender Ronald Araújo, Juan Foyth, Gerard Moreno and Ilias Akhomach now faces the toughest test of their season against Europe's dominant force.

PSG, champions of Europe after lifting a second straight Champions League title in 2026 under Luis Enrique, roll into Spain in ominous form with a perfect record in this season's league phase. The Parisians came from behind to win 1-3 at Strasbourg thanks to Ousmane Dembélé's game-changing cameo, then produced a statement performance by beating Barcelona 4-2 at the Parc des Princes, with Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz striking late. However, the win came at a heavy cost: Dembélé suffered an injury and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ruptured his ACL, ruling the Georgian winger out long-term. Undeterred, PSG's rebuilt 2026/27 squad — Matvey Safonov in goal; Warren Zaïre-Emery, Ilya Zabarnyi, Lucas Hernández and Lucas Digne at the back; João Neves, Vitinha and Dro Fernández in midfield; with Ferran Torres, Maghnes Akliouche and teenage bench stars Senny Mayulu and Mika Godts, who sealed Monday's 2-0 win over Lyon with two late goals — dispatched Lyon to go top of Ligue 1, even as Enrique rested key legs ahead of this trip.

AEK Athens welcome Real Madrid to the OPAP Arena for a blockbuster UEFA Champions League clash this season, with kickoff scheduled in the coming days as Europe's elite competition reaches its decisive phase. The Greek champions have endured a tough run of European fixtures lately, following their 2-2 derby draw against PAOK, the 0-3 defeat away to Manchester City and the 1-2 loss in Donetsk, results that leave them with little margin for error at home against the Spanish giants.

Real Madrid arrive in Athens in far stronger form under returning manager José Mourinho, having recently claimed a 2-1 win over Barcelona in El Clásico, a 3-0 victory against RB Leipzig and a 2-0 triumph versus Sevilla. Los Blancos' rebuilt 2026/27 squad features summer signings Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries and Carlos Espí, who join an already star-studded core including Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois.

Borussia Dortmund host Real Betis at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 CET in a UEFA Champions League league-phase encounter. Latest tournament news shows a fascinating contrast: Dortmund have collected six points from three matches, while Betis have won all three games and sit on nine points. Both teams are therefore approaching this fixture in strong European form, with Dortmund aiming to protect their imposing home record and Betis looking to preserve a perfect Champions League campaign.

Dortmund are unbeaten across their three most recent Bundesliga matches, defeating Werder Bremen 3-2 and Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 before drawing 0-0 away to Union Berlin. Betis earned an impressive Champions League victory over Feyenoord 1-0, but their other recent results have been less convincing: a goalless LaLiga draw at Celta Vigo and a heavy 2-5 home defeat to Barcelona. That domestic inconsistency slightly weakens the visitors’ position despite their perfect European record.

FC Porto host SSC Napoli at the Estádio do Dragão on Wednesday, 4 November 2026 (21:00 CET) in a UEFA Champions League 2026/27 league-phase clash that arrives with both clubs desperate for a first European win of the campaign. The Dragons are perfect at home in Portugal — eight wins from eight in Liga Portugal — but their continental form reads badly after a 1-0 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven and a 3-2 loss away to Real Betis. Francesco Farioli's men bounced back domestically with a gritty 0-1 win at Gil Vicente, keeping their flawless league record intact. Napoli, meanwhile, arrive from Serie A in mixed shape: a shock 1-0 defeat at Venezia, a thrilling 3-3 draw with AS Roma, and a statement 1-4 away rout of Monza last week, so Antonio Conte's side will believe their firepower can finally ignite in Europe too.

The market makes Porto a slight favourite on home soil, with European odds sitting around 2.30 for a home win, roughly 3.40 for the draw, and near 3.00 for a Napoli victory — prices that reflect Porto's domestic dominance but also their European wobble, with the total goals line set close to 2.5. Both squads for the 2026/27 season are packed with quality: Porto can call on Diogo Costa in goal, a defence featuring Jakub Kiwior, Jan Bednarek and Alberto Costa, a midfield of Alan Varela, Seko Fofana, Gabri Veiga, Hwang In-beom and Pablo Rosario, and an attack led by Pepê, Samu Aghehowa, Borja Sainz and André Silva. Napoli counter with Alex Meret between the posts, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alessandro Buongiorno, Chris Smalling and Amir Rrahmani at the back, a star-studded midfield of Kevin De Bruyne, Scott McTominay, Stanislav Lobotka and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, and forwards including Santiago Giménez, Rasmus Højlund, David Neres, Matteo Politano and Lorenzo Lucca.

Fenerbahce host Liverpool at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on November 4, 2026 in one of the standout fixtures of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase. The Turkish giants have endured a rough October in Europe and arrive as clear underdogs, with bookmakers pricing an away win at around 1.65 in European odds, the draw at 4.50 and a Fenerbahce home win at 5.20. Liverpool, meanwhile, have won all three of their Champions League matches so far and sit among the early pace-setters in the table.

Fenerbahce's European campaign has been bruising. After being thrashed 6-0 at Aston Villa in their league phase opener, they let a 2-0 lead slip in a 2-2 home draw with Slavia Prague, and domestic form has not offered much consolation either following a 2-1 defeat to Galatasaray in the Istanbul derby. Domenico Tedesco's squad for the 2026/27 season will lean heavily on goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, defenders Alexander Djiku and Diego Carlos, midfield metronomes Ismail Yuksek and Sebastian Szymanski, and the attacking duo of Edin Dzeko and Allan Saint-Maximin, with Youssef En-Nesyri the main goal threat.

RC Lens host Como on Wednesday, 4 November 2026 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in what promises to be a fascinating UEFA Champions League 2026/27 league phase Matchday 4 encounter. Under Cesc Fàbregas, the Italian side has enjoyed a meteoric rise, earning a first-ever Champions League berth and sitting ninth in the standings after thrashing both RB Leipzig and Manchester United by 4-1 scorelines, with only a defeat to Feyenoord blemishing their campaign so far. Lens, meanwhile, arrive with work to do: after beating Slavia Praha on Matchday 1, Yannick Cahuzac's men have suffered consecutive goalless defeats to Sporting CP and Club Brugge, most recently falling 3-0 in Belgium on 21 October.

The French side's domestic form has been inconsistent as well, though they showed resilience at home by beating Paris FC 2-1 on 24 October before slipping to a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Lille on Friday. Captain Florian Thauvin remains the creative heartbeat of the 2026/27 squad, with Ruben Aguilar and Odsonne Édouard providing support in attack, though Cahuzac continues to manage absences including Ismaelo Ganiou, Abdallah Sima and Maik Nawrocki. Como have no such worries domestically, cruising past Sassuolo 2-0 at the Sinigaglia thanks to an Anastasios Douvikas brace, with Jean Butez in goal, Marc-Oliver Kempf and Willy Kambwala in defence, and the in-form Nico Paz pulling the strings behind Douvikas and Ché Adams.

PSV Eindhoven host Club Brugge KV at the Philips Stadion on Wednesday, 4 November 2026 in a UEFA Champions League 2026/27 league-phase clash between two attack-minded sides in strong domestic form. PSV arrive boosted by recent big results, including 2-1 victory over Feyenoord in the Eredivisie and an away win at Porto by 1-2 in Europe, while Club Brugge also hit the road in confidence after their 0-3 win at Zulte Waregem in the Belgian Pro League. Both coaches have flagged this fixture as a pivotal one for their hopes of a top-24 finish, with each side chasing three points to stay in touch with the league-phase qualification places.

The 2026/27 squad rebuilds add an intriguing subplot to this fixture. PSV moved decisively in the summer, signing Kodai Sanó (€15.00m from NEC), Sven Mijnans (€13.00m from AZ), Sami Ouaissa, and goalkeeper Matej Kovář, while recruiting Lutsharel Geertruida on loan from RB Leipzig and Filip Kostić on a free transfer from Juventus — offsetting the big departures of Ismael Saibari to Bayern Munich (€50.00m) and Joey Veerman to Borussia Dortmund (€22.00m). Club Brugge, meanwhile, have been even busier in the market, finishing the window with a positive transfer record of roughly +€56.05m and fielding one of the youngest squads in the competition, averaging just 23.7 years across a 28-man roster packed with emerging Belgian and international talent.

RB Leipzig host Manchester City in a 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league-phase meeting that arrives with both sides needing control rather than chaos. Leipzig’s recent form has been mixed but dangerous: they managed 3:1 against Elversberg, then had to respond after 2:1 at Real Madrid, a reminder that Marco Rose’s team can attack in bursts but must improve game management against elite transition sides.

Manchester City’s latest run points to the same old problem for opponents: even when the rhythm is imperfect, their ceiling is brutal. City took 1:2 at Aston Villa and should be full of confidence after 2:0 versus Ipswich, with the 2026/27 squad still built around Ederson, Rúben Dias, John Stones, Joško Gvardiol, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Jérémy Doku and Erling Haaland.

Slavia Prague host Arsenal at the Fortuna Arena on November 4, 2026, in one of the standout fixtures of the 2026/27 Champions League league phase. The Gunners arrive in the Czech capital unbeaten in 15 consecutive league-phase matches and sitting comfortably near the top of the table, while Slavia are fighting to stay in contention for a top-24 finish after a mixed start to their European campaign. The visitors' preparations have been slightly disrupted, however, as Bukayo Saka was forced off inside the opening ten minutes of the midweek trip to Bayern Munich with a non-contact injury, making him a genuine doubt for the trip to Prague.

Slavia Prague's European form has been frustrating, as they let a lead slip in a 2-3 home defeat to Lens in September, conceding twice in stoppage time, and they most recently battled to a creditable 2-2 draw away to Fenerbahce in Istanbul. Jindrich Trpisovsky will lean on his experienced 2026/27 core: goalkeeper Jakub Markovic, defenders Tomas Vlcek, Stepan Chaloupek and David Zima, midfielders Christos Zafeiris, Michal Sadilek and Lukas Provod, and forwards Tomas Chory, Mojmir Chytil, Ivan Schranz and Danijel Sturm, who has been among their most dangerous attackers this season.

Viking welcome Azerbaijan's Sabah FK to the SR-Bank Arena in Stavanger on 4 November 2026 for a UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League phase matchday clash, and the Norwegian side will be confident of collecting all three points after an unbeaten October in Europe. Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim's men followed up a dramatic 3-3 home draw against Bayern Munich — sealed by a 90th-minute equaliser — with a hard-fought 0-0 stalemate away to Aston Villa, a result that keeps Viking firmly in the hunt for a top-eight finish in this season's competition.

Sabah FK arrive in Norway as one of the surprise stories of the 2026/27 Champions League, but the Baku-based outfit have struggled on their European travels this autumn, and their maiden league phase campaign has already featured heavy away assignments at Villarreal and Arsenal later in the schedule. Sabah's squad for the 2026/27 season is built around experienced Azerbaijani internationals and a core of foreign recruits, yet they remain defensively vulnerable against high-tempo pressing sides — a weakness Viking exploited when they faced them in the earlier stages of this campaign. Viking's own 2026/27 squad, featuring captain Arild Østbø between the posts and the attacking trio of Erik Botheim, Simen Kvia-Egeskog and Edvard Tagseth, has gelled superbly on European nights in Stavanger.

Rennes welcome Olympiacos Piraeus to Roazhon Park on Wednesday 4 November 2026 for matchday four of the UEFA Europa League league phase, with kick-off now at 16:30 CET. The fixture was originally scheduled for Thursday 5 November but was rescheduled at the request of the French authorities, who could not guarantee safety and security conditions due to planned strikes and protests in France that day. Rennes sit 13th in the league phase standings with five points from three games, while Olympiacos arrive in Brittany looking to strengthen their own push toward the knockout rounds in what promises to be a tight contest under the Roazhon Park lights.

The home side are in excellent shape this season and currently sit second in Ligue 1, and they remain unbeaten in Europe after a resilient 2-2 draw away to Juventus last time out, a result that keeps Rennes very much in the mix for a seeded play-off spot. Domestically, confidence is sky high following a commanding 3-0 victory over Strasbourg at the weekend. Head coach Habib Beye can call on a strong 2026/27 squad featuring Brice Samba in goal, a back line led by Charlie Cresswell, Anthony Rouault and summer signing Gonçalo Oliveira, captain Valentin Rongier anchoring midfield alongside Ludovic Blas and Sebastian Szymański, and a dangerous front three of Musa Al-Taamari, Esteban Lepaul and on-loan striker Boulaye Dia, whose penalty threat could prove decisive.

AC Milan welcome Ferencvaros to San Siro on Thursday 5 November 2026 (18:45 CET) for Matchday 4 of the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase, in what promises to be a stern test for Rúben Amorim's Rossoneri. Milan are back in European competition after a one-year hiatus and are targeting a place among the top eight in the 36-team league table, which would send them directly into the round of 16. Amorim has reshaped a squad with an estimated market value of €557 million into a more disciplined, cohesive unit this season, and with San Siro expected to be packed, the home side will look to stamp their authority early. Ferencvaros, arriving from Budapest with their trademark physicality and direct attacking style, have little to lose and will aim to spoil the Milanese party. The European odds reflect Milan's status as clear favourites: 1.50 for a home win, 4.20 for the draw, and 6.75 for a Ferencvaros away victory.

For the 2026/2027 season, Milan's squad blends experienced leaders with Amorim's fresh tactical vision, with Serbian centre-back Strahinja Pavlović anchoring the defence and providing the workhorse mentality the new coach demands. In midfield and attack, Amorim has leaned on a collective of technically gifted artists, all tasked with restoring the style and composure that was missing last term. Ferencvaros, meanwhile, built their 2026/27 campaign around a disciplined back line and quick transitions, knowing that their best chance at San Siro will come from set pieces and counterattacks. Both coaches are expected to field strong elevens despite the congested autumn calendar. Our prediction for this encounter is 3:1 — a confident home win in which Milan's attacking quality ultimately overwhelms the Hungarian champions.

AZ Alkmaar host Juventus on Thursday, 5 November 2026, at the AFAS Stadion in a UEFA Europa League 2026/27 league phase match kicking off at 20:00 UTC. Both sides arrive with something to prove in Europe: AZ are trying to build on a strong start to their continental campaign, while Juventus travel to the Netherlands aiming to recover from a shaky domestic spell. The bookmakers make the Italian side a narrow favourite in European (decimal) odds, with Juventus priced around 2.00, the draw near 3.40, and a home win for AZ at approximately 3.50.

AZ's recent form has been solid despite a few setbacks. The Cheeseheads were held to a 2-2 draw away at Cambuur in the Eredivisie, but bounced back in style in Europe, thrashing Ararat-Armenia 0-4 on the road in Yerevan. Maarten Martens can count on a talented 2026/27 squad featuring Jari De Busser in goal, Lewis Schouten, Wouter Goes and Seiya Maikuma in defence, Jordy Clasie and Peer Koopmeiners in midfield, and an exciting attack led by Mexx Meerdink, Ro-Zangelo Daal, Calvin Stengs and Ayoub Oufkir. The hosts will however be without Kees Smit, Jizz Hornkamp and Stije Resink through injury.

Anderlecht vs Salzburg is one of the most intriguing fixtures of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase, with the two sides set to meet at Lotto Park on November 5, 2026. Historically this is a balanced rivalry — each club has one win apiece in their previous European meetings — but both arrive in very different states of health and form. Anderlecht are building momentum after a slow start to their European campaign, while Salzburg's high-energy pressing game has been dented by a growing injury list, setting up a fascinating tactical battle in Brussels.

The home side's recent European form has been a story of improvement. After opening their campaign with a narrow home defeat to Lyon, RSC Anderlecht responded with a hard-fought trip to Croatia before producing their best performance of the season so far, a convincing 3-0 victory away to Jagiellonia Bialystok on October 22. That away win — following the 1-0 loss at Dinamo Zagreb and the 1-2 home defeat to Lyon — has lifted confidence around the club, and the 2026/27 squad, built around goalkeeper Justin Heekeren, a settled back line and an increasingly fluid attacking unit, finally looks like a cohesive European outfit under their current project.

Bayer Leverkusen host Olympique Marseille at the BayArena on November 5, 2026, in what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase. The German side are looking to bounce back from a disappointing domestic run, having been beaten 3-0 away at Hoffenheim in their most recent Bundesliga outing (0:3), while Marseille arrive in North Rhine-Westphalia full of confidence after an entertaining 4-3 home win over Le Havre in Ligue 1 (4:3). Both clubs view this competition as a genuine route to silverware this season, and with direct qualification places at stake, expect an intense, high-tempo European night under the lights in Leverkusen.

Leverkusen's 2026/27 squad features a dangerous attacking arsenal led by Victor Boniface and Moussa Diaby, with Nathan Tella, Malik Tillman and new signing Eliesse Ben Seghir providing creativity in support, while Aleix García pulls the strings in midfield. Marseille's roster for this season combines experience and flair: Amine Harit and Amine Gouiri lead the line, with Angel Gomes, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Neal Maupay adding depth in the final third, and Nayef Aguerd marshalling the defence. The visitors' last European away test, however, ended in defeat in Austria (1:2), a reminder that their travelling defence can be vulnerable against organised, pressing opponents like this Leverkusen side.

Benfica host Lech Poznan at the Estádio da Luz on Thursday, 5 November 2026, in what promises to be a one-sided UEFA Europa League league phase clash. The Portuguese giants are flying through the group stage while the Polish side is struggling badly, and the European odds reflect that gap: Benfica are priced as heavy favourites at around 1.17, the draw is offered near 7.00, and an away win for Lech Poznan sits as long as 5.00 with most bookmakers.

Benfica arrive in outstanding form, having won their last three matches in all competitions. Marco Silva's men were made to work hard away to Santa Clara before grinding out a 1-2 victory in the Primeira Liga, with Vangelis Pavlidis and Gianluca Prestianni scoring in the second half. In Europe, the Eagles dismantled Omonia 1-4 in Nicosia and earlier beat Celtic 4-1 at home, averaging more than three goals per game in this season's Europa League campaign.

Celta Vigo host Royale Union Saint-Gilloise at Balaídos on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in a UEFA Europa League group stage clash that pits two in-form attacks against each other. Celta arrive looking to bounce back from a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Rayo Vallecano last weekend, though their European campaign has been promising so far, highlighted by a famous 2-1 win at Celtic Park in the previous round. In LaLiga, Claudio Giráldez's men also held Real Betis to a 0-0 draw, but the heavy loss in Vallecas has increased the pressure to deliver a strong home performance in Europe.

Union Saint-Gilloise travel to Spain in excellent spirits after a perfect week in Belgium: a 5-2 home thrashing of Cercle Brugge followed by a 2-1 away win at Waasland-Beveren. Sébastien Pocognoli's side sit among the frontrunners in the Belgian Pro League and have carried that momentum into Europe, making them anything but a straightforward opponent. Their most recent European test came against Spanish opposition in this mid-October tie, a useful rehearsal for the tactical challenge Balaídos will pose.

Celtic host Beşiktaş at Celtic Park on Thursday, 5 November 2026 in what promises to be one of the most intriguing fixtures of the UEFA Europa League league phase. The Scottish champions are looking to bounce back after a disappointing home defeat to Celta Vigo on Matchday 3, when they led through Mika Baur's strike only to lose 1-2 late on. Martin O'Neill's side have been free-scoring domestically — highlighted by a 7-1 demolition of Hearts — but were held to a 2-2 draw by Dundee United in their most recent Premiership outing, underlining some defensive vulnerability heading into this European test.

Beşiktaş arrive in Glasgow under new head coach Vincenzo Italiano, who took charge in June 2026, and the Turkish side have been one of the surprise packages of the competition. They beat Marseille 4-1 in Istanbul and followed up with a superb 3-2 away win at Hoffenheim, though they were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace in their last Europa League match. Domestically, they responded to a 2-0 defeat at Trabzonspor by beating Başakşehir 2-0 on 26 October, keeping them in the Süper Lig title conversation.

Crystal Palace welcome TSG Hoffenheim to Selhurst Park on Thursday, 5 November 2026 (17:45 GMT) for Matchday 4 of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase. The Eagles, now managed by Pierre Sage after his summer appointment on a three-year contract, sit 15th in the league phase table with four points from three games, while Hoffenheim arrive in London looking to build on their impressive European campaign. Palace opened with a commanding 4-0 home win over Lech Poznań before a 3-2 defeat in Lyon and a 2-2 draw at Beşiktaş, so the Londoners will view this home fixture as a key opportunity to climb into the seeded knockout positions.

Palace's recent form has been mixed, and their Premier League struggles were underlined by a narrow 1-0 defeat at Tottenham on 31 October, where a second-half goal decided a tight contest. That loss followed a 0-2 home reverse against Newcastle United, leaving the Selhurst Park faithful eager for a response under the lights in Europe. The good news for the 2026/27 squad is that the core remains intact and refreshed: Dean Henderson and Walter Benítez compete in goal, Chris Richards, Axel Disasi, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben Chilwell anchor the defence, Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada pull the strings in midfield, and the attacking burden is shared by Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eddie Nketiah, Jørgen Strand Larsen, Yeremy Pino, Ismaïla Sarr and loan duo Evann Guessand and Darío Osorio.

H. Beer Sheva host OFI Crete in a UEFA Europa League 2026/27 league phase fixture at Turner Stadium on Thursday, 5 November 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 CET. The Israeli side arrive in strong domestic form after a stunning 2-5 away win over Maccabi Haifa in the Ligat Ha'Al, though their European campaign has been bumpier, as shown by the 2-1 defeat away to AZ Alkmaar. OFI Crete, meanwhile, were beaten 2-1 by Rennes in their last Europa League outing and went down 0-2 at home to Bayer Leverkusen, leaving the Greek club with little margin for error if they are to keep their knockout phase hopes alive.

In terms of team news for the 2026/27 season, H. Beer Sheva manager Ron Kozuk is expected to rely on the spine that has served him well so far: goalkeeper Ofir Marciano protected by Guy Mizrahi, Djibril Diop, Miguel Vítor and Pedro Amador, with Forson Amankwah and Niv Yehoshua anchoring midfield behind the creative trio of Javon East, Zahi Ahmed and Amir Ganah, with Igor Zlatanović leading the line. The hosts are without Lucas Ventura, Idan Nachmias and Dan Biton through injury. OFI Crete's 2026/27 squad is built around Andreas Cantalapiedra's attacking threat, with Kostas Kostoulas, Thiago Romano, Zisis Karachalios and Giorgos Kanellopoulos providing support, while Panagiotis Katsikas or Konstantinos Lilo will battle for the gloves.

Levski Sofia host Jagiellonia at the Vasil Levski National Stadium on Thursday, 5 November 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 17:45 UTC in the UEFA Europa League league phase. The Bulgarian side arrives with encouraging continental momentum after a 1-2 win away to Viktoria Plzen and a resilient 1-1 draw at NEC Nijmegen. Jagiellonia’s latest European form is less stable: they were beaten 0-3 by Anderlecht before responding with a 3-1 victory over Ararat-Armenia.

The latest European odds make Levski Sofia the favourites at 1.98, with the draw priced at 3.71 and an away win for Jagiellonia available at 3.90. Those prices reflect Levski’s improved away performances in the competition and home advantage in Sofia, but Jagiellonia remain dangerous when their front line finds space to break quickly. The visitors will need a much sharper defensive display than the one that allowed three goals against Anderlecht, while Levski must avoid the slow start that undermined them in their 0-1 home defeat by RB Salzburg in September.

Lillestrom host Viktoria Plzen at Arasen Stadion on 5 November 2026 in a crucial UEFA Europa League 2026/2027 league phase fixture, with both sides desperate to revive campaigns that have stalled after three rounds. Lillestrom, winless in the league phase (D1, L2), were humbled 6-0 at home by Real Sociedad last time out — a sobering evening in which Thomas Olsen missed a penalty and the Norwegians shipped six despite a bright start. That result followed a resilient 1-1 draw away to Sparta Prague, a performance built on defensive discipline that coach Andreas Georgson will want to replicate against Plzen. The 2026/2027 Lillestrom squad is built around young attacking talent: Gustav Nyheim and Thomas Olsen lead the line, supported by Yaw Paintsil, Yildren Ibrahimaj and Ruben Gabrielsen, with Stefan Hagerup and Pontus Dahlberg competing in goal behind a back line marshalled by veteran Espen Garnas.

Viktoria Plzen arrive in Norway with identical momentum problems, having lost their last two European outings. Miroslav Koubek's side went down 2-1 away to Ferencvaros in Budapest before slipping to a 1-2 home defeat against Levski Sofia, leaving the Czechs with ground to make up if they are to reach the knockout rounds. Plzen's 2026/2027 squad blends experience with youth: Martin Jedlicka guards the goal behind defenders Sampson Dweh, Vaclav Jemelka, Milan Havel and Karel Spacil, while the midfield engine room features Lukas Kalvach and Cadu, with Prince Kwabena Adu and Daniel Vasulin providing the attacking thrust. Koubek has publicly demanded a reaction, and Plzen's European pedigree — they reached the Europa League round of 16 in recent seasons — suggests they are far better than their recent results show.

NEC Nijmegen host Omonia Nicosia at the Goffertstadion on 5 November 2026 in a UEFA Europa League league-phase clash, with both sides chasing crucial points in a tight group. NEC arrive after a stubborn run in the Eredivisie, picking up a draw in the 2-2 home stalemate against FC Groningen and another point in the 2-2 battle with Fortuna Sittard, while their European adventure has already featured a famous 4-2 win at Dinamo Zagreb. Omonia's recent form has been more volatile: they were humbled 1-4 at home by Benfica in the 1-4 Europa League defeat, days after losing the Nicosia-area derby at AEK Larnaca by a 2-0 scoreline, though their 3-0 win in Celje shows they can be dangerous on the counter.

On the European odds market, NEC Nijmegen are the clear favourites for this fixture: a home win is priced around 1.85, the draw sits near 3.60, and an Omonia victory pays approximately 4.20. Those decimal odds reflect both the Dutch side's strong European pedigree this season and Omonia's patchy away form, and they align with simulation models that give NEC more than a 50% chance of winning. The over 2.5 goals market is also firmly backed at roughly 1.75, suggesting bookmakers expect an open, attacking contest rather than a cagey European night.

Real Sociedad welcome Olympique Lyon to the Reale Arena in San Sebastián on Thursday 5 November 2026 (18:45 CET) for a UEFA Europa League 2026/27 league-phase showdown, and La Real arrive in rampant form. Sergio Francisco's side followed up a Copa del Rey win at Málaga (2:5) with a stunning Europa League rout in Norway, beating Lillestrøm (0:6) before edging Levante in LaLiga (2:1) to keep momentum at a peak ahead of this clash.

Lyon, by contrast, travel to the Basque Country with questions to answer. Paulo Fonseca's men have come undone in their biggest recent tests, beaten by Hoffenheim in the Europa League (3:0) and undone by late goals against PSG (2:0) in Ligue 1, leaving them mid-table domestically and under real pressure to take something from matchday four in Europe.

Sparta Prague host AFC Bournemouth at the epet ARENA on Thursday, 5 November 2026 (17:45 UTC) in a UEFA Europa League league-phase clash that pits one of Czech football's giants against an in-form Premier League side. The Czechs arrive under pressure after a patchy run: they were beaten 1-0 by Olympiacos in their last European outing and could only draw 1-1 with Lillestrøm, alongside domestic setbacks against Baník Ostrava. Bournemouth, by contrast, are flying — unbeaten in five and fresh from wins such as 3-0 over Aston Villa and 3-0 at Manchester United, plus a 3-0 dismantling of Milan in this competition.

For the 2026/2027 campaign, Sparta Prague's squad is built around Elias Cobbaut and Filip Panák in defence, Lukáš Sadílek and Qazim Laçi in midfield, with Victor Olatunji and Václav Sejk leading the line. Bournemouth counter with a settled Premier League core: Kepa in goal, Illya Zabarnyi and Marcos Senesi at the back, Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie dictating play, and the explosive front line of Antoine Semenyo, Evanilson and Justin Kluivert. Team news is far kinder to the visitors — Sparta are without Adam Sevínsky, John Mercado, Matěj Ryneš, Adam Karabec, Emmanuel Uchenna, Ondřej Penxa and Magnus Kofod Andersen through injury, while Bournemouth only miss Alex Tóth, Alex Scott, Veljko Milosavljević and Julián Araujo.

Sturm Graz host NK Celje at the Merkur Arena on Thursday 5 November 2026 (kick-off 20:00 UTC) for matchday four of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase, in what will be the first-ever competitive meeting between the two sides. The Austrian outfit sit on four points from three matches after edging Marseille 1-0 on matchday three, while Celje are still searching for their first win of the campaign following a hard-fought 2-2 home draw with Salzburg. Sturm's home form in Europe has been solid, and the bookmakers agree: European odds currently price a home win around 1.67, the draw near 4.20, and a Celje victory at roughly 5.90.

Christian Ilzer's 2026/27 Sturm Graz squad blends youth and experience, with teenage prodigy Luca Weinhandl pulling the strings in midfield, Oumar Diakité leading the line after netting the winner against Marseille, and Ammar Helac guarding the goal. Jacob Hödl and Simon Seidl add creativity from the flanks, while Belmin Beganović provides depth in attack. Celje's roster, built around a compact Slovenian core, has struggled for cutting edge in this competition — just two goals scored and seven conceded across their three league-phase outings, including a sobering 0-3 home defeat to Omonia Nicosia and a 2-0 reverse away to Bayer Leverkusen.

Sunderland host GNK Dinamo Zagreb at the Stadium of Light on Thursday, 5 November 2026 (21:00 CET) in a UEFA Europa League 2026/27 league phase Matchday 4 clash between two sides having very different European campaigns so far. The Black Cats, in their debut season in a major UEFA group or league phase, sit 9th in the table with an unbeaten record of seven points from three matches, having beaten AZ Alkmaar 1-0 at home, won 2-1 away at Torreense, and drawn 1-1 at Lech Poznań. Dinamo Zagreb, Pot 1 opposition on paper, are down in 18th place with four points after a goalless draw at Hapoel Be'er Sheva, a narrow 1-0 home win over Anderlecht and a damaging 2-4 home defeat to NEC. In European odds, Sunderland are clear favourites at around 1.75 for the home win, with the draw priced near 3.80 and an away victory for the Croatian champions close to 4.20.

Regis Le Bris has built a young but fearless Sunderland squad for the 2026/27 season, with summer arrivals such as Enzo Le Fée — whose penalty beat AZ — Timur Tutyerov, who scored in Poznań, Chemsdine Talbi, Malick Fofana, Jocelin Ta Bi and Noah Sadiki, who netted the late winner in Portugal, complementing homegrown talent like Chris Rigg. The Wearsiders have proven resilient on the road, though their domestic form has dipped: after a goalless Premier League home draw with Leeds United (0-0) and a thrilling Carabao Cup comeback against Brentford (3-2), they were beaten 3-1 at Coventry City (3-1) last time out, leaving them bottom of the Premier League and under pressure. Le Bris will be without Nordi Mukiele, Thomas Meunier, Wilson Isidor, Daniel Ballard and Romaine Mundle through injury, which could force rotation between competitions.