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The Black Cats are back on the Europa League prowl as Celtic face Besiktas battle.
Roll up… roll up as the UEFA Europa League is back in town on Thursday night – and that means a HUGE list of games to wade through.
For Premier League fans, Sunderland’s continental exploits continue at home to Dinamo Zagreb, and north of the border, Martin O’Neill and Celtic tackle Besiktas.
Troy Parrott’s old employers AZ Alkmaar take on Juventus, Marseille head to Bayer Leverkusen, and Celta Vigo welcome Union Saint-Gilloise to their little corner of north west Spain.
With lots to get through, there’s no time to waste, and PP tipster Feargal Brennan has five cracking acca picks. Here we go!
*All games kick off at 8pm
Celta Vigo v Union Saint-Gilloise
Double Chance: Union Saint-Gilloise or draw
Celtic v Besiktas
Double Chance: Besiktas or draw
Leverkusen v Marseille
Leverkusen to win to nil
Sunderland v Dinamo Zagreb
Sunderland to win & both teams to score
AZ Alkmaar v Juventus
Both teams to score: Yes
WHEN: Thursday, November 5th @ 8pm
WHERE: Estadio Balaidos, Vigo.
TV: TNT Sports 7 / HBO Max
We start off on Thursday on the road at Celta who won 2-1 at Celtic in their last European outing.
However, that was their first Europa League victory of the campaign, after losing to Omonia Nicosia and Juventus.
Union have been excellent all season, with no defeat inside 90 minutes in 2026/27, and they’ve picked up seven points from three Europa matches.
I’m backing the away team in the double chance, as they look very solid right now, and won’t be fazed by a tricky trip to Spain.
WHEN: Thursday, November 5th @ 8pm
WHERE: Celtic Park, Glasgow.
TV: TNT Sports 3 / HBO Max
From Celta to Celtic as The Bhoys take on Besiktas in Glasgow.
O’Neill’s team are struggling right now, with defeat in all three of their Europa League clashes so far this season, and Thursday will be another major test for his men.
Besiktas have beaten Marseille and Hoffenheim – before a draw with Crystal Palace – and I’ll go again for the double chance on the visitors.
WHEN: Thursday, November 5th @ 8pm
WHERE: BayArena, Leverkusen.
TV: TNT Sports 5 / HBO Max
Leverkusen and Marseille are two teams in wildly contrasting form in the league phase of the competition.
The hosts have won all three Europa battles so far and they go into Thursday’s schedule second in the overall rankings – plus they are the only side yet to concede a goal.
Marseille have lost three from three, with just one goal scored, so a home win and a clean sheet is the call here.
WHEN: Thursday, November 5th @ 8pm
WHERE: Stadium of Light, Sunderland.
TV: TNT Sports 1 / HBO Max
Sunderland are rock bottom of the Premier League with no win on the board since August.
However, it’s been a completely different story in Europe, with two wins and a draw racked up by Regis Le Bris.
Their wider struggles are still relevant – as they’ve only kept one European clean sheet – and Dinamo Zagreb average one goal per game up to now in the league phase.
15/8
WHEN: Thursday, November 5th @ 8pm
WHERE: AFAS Stadion, Alkmaar.
TV: TNT Sports 4 / HBO Max
And finally to Alkmaar as Juve land in the Netherlands.
AZ have won two from three Europa games in the post-Parrott era, but they’re conceding an average of one goal per match, and that’s a concern.
Juve are unbeaten in Europe, with two wins and a draw, but they’ve also only kept one continental clean sheet.
Celta Vigo v Union Saint-Gilloise
Double Chance: Union Saint-Gilloise or draw
Celtic v Besiktas
Double Chance: Besiktas or draw
Leverkusen v Marseille
Leverkusen to win to nil
Sunderland v Dinamo Zagreb
Sunderland to win & both teams to score
AZ Alkmaar v Juventus
Both teams to score: Yes
*All odds quoted are correct at the time of publication, but are subject to change.
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