There is a stack of Europa League action on Thursday night, where Man Utd will be hoping for some respite from poor domestic performances. 

We have a trio of European selections, which make up our best bets of the day for Thursday. 

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Bet of the day

Porto to beat Man Utd @ 5/4

The troubles of Man Utd won’t have escaped many a gaze, but just how far the Red Devils have sunk may be clouded from view. 

Erik ten Hag’s side stumbled into a 3-0 defeat against Spurs on Sunday and, while Bruno Fernandes’ first-half red card didn’t help the United cause, the Red Devils could have easily been three or four goals behind before the Portuguese midfielder was dismissed. 

United once again splashed the cash in the summer transfer window and the investment in big-name signings brought some hype to Old Trafford. However, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee, Noussair Mazraoui have yet to prove that they can make a big impact. 

Porto were beaten 3-2 at Bodo/Glimt in their opening Europa League contests, but the Dragons had 63 per cent possession, 28 shots and nine corners in that defeat and those numbers should leave United feeling cold. 

It’s hard to see how anything will change for United until Ten Hag is relieved of his duties and a 1-1 Old Trafford draw against a poor Twente side doesn’t inspire confidence that the Red Devils will offer more in Europe. 

Porto are a structured, solid and useful outfit and the Dragons look a cracking bet on Thursday night. 

Special of the day

Athletic Bilbao to win to nil v AZ Alkmaar @ 7/4

Athletic Bilbao are fierce opponents on their own patch and the Lions have lost only two of their last 27 home matches. 

Ernesto Valverde’s men have already avoided defeat against Sevilla, Celta, Valencia and Gefate at San Mames this term and it took a top-level Atletico Madrid side until the dying moments of the game to break down the Basque side. 

AZ were turned over by Utrecht at the AFAS Stadium last time out and it’s hard to see the Dutch outfit breaking down Athletic on Thursday night. 

Long shot of the day

Dynamo Kyiv to beat Hoffenheim @ 9/4

Hoffenheim have won only one of their opening five Bundesliga matches this season and the Kraichgauers conceded four goals in a 4-3 defeat to Werder Bremen at the weekend and Europe hasn’t offered much sanctuary to the Germans. 

Pellegrino Matarazzo’s men were held to a 1-1 draw by Midtjylland in their Europa League opener and that was a contest in which Hoffenheim were certainly second best, needing a 90th minute equaliser. 

Dynamo Kyiv look like a nicely priced alternative at the PreZero Arena.

Backing under 2.5 goals looks a play at the Estadi Montilivi. 

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Odds correct at time of publish and subject to change*

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