The latest round of Europa League fixtures are staged on Thursday and one of the ties of the night is in Germany.
A clash between sides from the Bundesliga and La Liga is always likely to feature high on the list in Europe’s second-tier competition and Hannover versus Levante is no exception.
Both qualified for this season’s competition via their league position at the end of the last campaign, Levante achieving an excellent sixth place in the Spanish top flight, and it is home advantage that is tipped to prove the difference between the two this evening.
Hannover, who filled seventh spot domestically in the Spring, boast a tremendous record on their own patch and it is just one defeat since February 2011, a run stretching to 27 matches. They also went well in this tournament 12 months ago and I’m expecting a strong showing once again.
A 4-2 quarter-final defeat to eventual champions Atletico Madrid was certainly no disgrace and Hannover have begun their latest Europa League campaign in terrific style.
Four comfortable wins in qualifying, smashing 15 goals in the process, saw them reach the group stage and an opening 2-2 draw in Holland against FC Twente was a point well-earned.
Levante too started well, winning 1-0 in Spain against Helsingborg, but they are a different proposition altogether in front of their owns fans and Juan Ignacio Martinez’s men are woeful travellers.
Levante have tasted defeat in 13 of their previous 17 La Liga fixtures over the past calendar year and it’s three thrashings on the trot to start this season.
A 4-0 reversal at Osasuna last time out means it is now nine goals conceded on the road already, without picking up a single point, while Levante also struggle to score goals at the other end.
Missing a host of key players on Thursday including Barkero, Obafemi Martins and Juanlu, no Levante player has scored more than one league goal this season and Hannover are tipped to comfortably take advantage.
Well-backed in the previous 48 hours, Hannover can be sided with at 1.66 with Paddy Power and that still represents value.
3pts Back Hannover (vs. Levante) @ 1.66 (Paddy Power)