Six sublime Europa League tips for last 16 first leg tussles

The Turkey international winger has sprung to life in recent weeks, firing in crucial goals during back-to-back domestic victories over bitter rivals Besiktas and Akhisar Belediyespor, and he is a tasty 12/5 to make it three in a row in this European outing.

Shakhtar Donetsk v Anderlecht – Hosts 5/2 to bag three or more

Shakhtar currently lead the Ukrainian Premier League and have been on a rampant run in previous outings, having dispatched three goals past both Bundesliga outfit Schalke and domestic opponents Poltava.

The hosts are therefore 5/2 to fire in another treble of strikes or more on their home patch, against an Anderlecht outfit that have been defeated in their last three Belgian top-flight fixtures, conceding six times in those losses.

Athletic Bilbao v Valencia – Aduriz 10/3 to net last

Two La Liga sides collide in this last 16 European tie, as Gary Neville sets his Valencia team up for a meeting with Bilbao, with the hosts having not lost in this fixture in any competition since 2012.

Athletic attacker Aritz Aduriz loves this fixture, with the former Los Che frontman having netted the last goal in all of his last four outings against his former employers, as well as currently topping the Europa League scoring charts. Back him at 10/3 to strike last again here.

Sparta Prague v Lazio – Visitors win 1-0 at 13/2

Both previous encounters between this pair in the Czech Republic have ended narrow 1-0 results, with Lazio earning victory first back in 2000 and then Sparta Prague prevailing on home soil three years later.

It would appear it’s the Serie A side’s turn to edge out their rivals and they are 13/2 to secure a 1-0 victory on the road, with that previous triumph in 2000 coming thanks to a first-half strike from the one and only Fabrizio Ravanelli.

Villarreal v Bayer Leverkusen – Hernandez goal anytime at 13/8

Javier Hernandez has enjoyed a sensational season since arriving at Bayer Leverkusen from Manchester United last summer, having fired in an incredible 25 goals in all competitions, including five in European outings.

The Mexican marksman is therefore a promising 13/8 to strike again anytime against a Villarreal side that have won just one of their previous five games on all fronts.

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