talkSPORT tips – Best football bets and expert advice on Thursday 25 February

There is action all over Europe on Thursday night with Europa League and Conference League ties taking place around the continent.

We have a trio of selections which make up our best bets of the day.

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Thursday football tips

Bet of the Day – Stuttgart to score over 2.5 goals v Celtic @ 1/1

Celtic are in a tricky position in the second leg of their Europa League playoff with Stuttgart.

The Bhoys trail 4-1 after the first leg at Parkhead and Martin O’Neill’s side can not afford another embarrassing result. However, the Hoops face a huge game with Rangers at the weekend, and Celtic’s thoughts are likely to be on Sunday’s Old Firm clash.

Either way, Celtic’s defence is simply not up to the job and the Hoops have conceded 14 goals in their last nine games.

It’s only nine wins in 20 matches and this is not an exciting and attacking Celtic squad of old.

Stuttgart were miles clear of the Bhoys in the first leg, and while motivation won’t be at fever pitch on Thursday night, the Germans can be fancied to score at least three goals.

Special of the Day – Nottingham Forest to win, over 2.5 goals & Lorenzo Lucca +1 shot on target bet builder @ 31/20

Nottingham Forest hold a 3-0 advantage over Fenerbahce and Forest were excellent in last week’s Istanbul contest.

The Tricky Trees hit a whopping 23 shots and ten corners at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium and the Turkish outfit were completely outclassed.

Clearly, Vítor Pereira could make changes to his side with qualification almost secured, but equally, Fenerbahce know the tie is pretty much beyond them, and it could be a case of going through the motions.
The Turks have seen 18 goals scored in their last five games, and whichever side Forest field, should be too strong.

Lorenzo Lucca scored on his debut for Forest and the Italian could be in line for a start on Thursday night. The 25-year-old is averaging 2.2 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League and Lucca can hit an effort on target.

Longshot of the Day – Genk to beat Dinamo Zagreb, Celta Vigo to beat PAOK, Fiorentina to beat Jagiellonia Bialystok & Viktoria Plzen to beat Panathinaikos fourfold @ 35/4

Genk bashed Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 on the road last week and the Blue and Whites can seal the deal on home turf.

The Belgians have scored at least two goals in five of their last six games and Genk have the firepower to pick off the visitors.

Celta have lost only two of their last 14 matches in 90 minutes and the Spaniards won the shot count 9-5 in PAOK last week. The Sky Blues are another side that can ram home their first-leg advantage.

Fiorentina may look to switch up their side with a 3-0 lead over Jagiellonia Bialystok in the bag, but La Viola were far more dangerous and composed in the first leg and a defeat in Florence looks out of the question.

Complete a fourfold by playing Viktoria Plzen to beat Panathinaikos in the Conference League.

The Czechs grabbed a 2-2 draw in Greece on Thursday and this is a side which has lost only two of their last 17 games at the Struncovy Sady Stadion. 

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