Football Tips 12/12/2013

Zambia were one of the favorites for the competition, but were knocked out in the semi-finals after an extra-time winner from Sudan. All of the CECAFA Cup games have been tight during the knock out stages, this one is for the third place play-off so it may be a little different, but we can't see a flurry of goals coming. Zambia were the highest ranked team going into the competition and these two faced each other in the group stages which ended in a 1-1 draw, more of the same is fine with us.

Neither team has won in the Europa League group stage this season, but Pandurii are coming off the back of a solid league win and will be motivated to prove their worth in Europe against a Pacos team that sits bottom of the Portuguese Primeira Liga and they've let in 7 goals without reply in their last three league games. Pandurii have not lost by more than a goal to the two stronger teams in the group at home and this one was a draw last time the teams met in Portugal. A win or draw will see this bet safely into profit.

PAOK top the group with a draw as they have superior goals scored in an otherwise dead-locked top 2. With a draw last time they met head to head and the same points and goal difference, meaning PAOK would go through top with goals scored as they have bagged two more than AZ (they have conceded 2 more too of course). AZ are huge outsiders with the bookies today, but unless they rotate their whole team they should be going for a win to take top spot in the group. Feel free to wait until the team news is out before you decide, but we're taking a chance on AZ to win or draw the game.

Lazio scored three away to Trabzonspor to come back and draw 3-3 when they last met. A home win will be needed if Lazio want to finish top of Group J. Trabzonspor are big scorers finding 13 goals in 5 Europa League games so we're not expecting Lazio to keep a clean sheet in this one meaning they will need to score at least two if they want to win it on current form. Lazio have done most of their league scoring at home this season, where they've also done a fair bit of conceding so this one looks likely to feature goals.