The Champions League playoffs have barely started and the Europa League betting is already ready to steal the spotlight. Eight first-leg knockout ties take place on Thursday, February 19, with 16 teams fighting for a place in the round of 16 on the road to the final in Istanbul.
From Celtic Park to Istanbul, from Bergen to Thessaloniki, Thursday's schedule delivers some fascinating matchups. Nottingham Forest's remarkable season continues with a trip to Fenerbahçe, Bologna head north to face Norwegian underdogs Brann, and Celtic host Bundesliga power Stuttgart in what could be the tie of the round.
Every match is available to bet on at Duelbits Sportsbook, with over 400 betting markets on each fixture, exclusive odds boosts, and unique PREDICT markets covering cross-match props you won't find anywhere else.
Plus, don't forget: Bet $20 on any Champions League match this week and get a $10 free bet for Europa League action. Check the Duelbits promotions page for full details.
PAOK were a force at home during the league phase, boasting an 80% clean sheet rate and averaging 2.60 points per home game at the Toumba Stadium. The Greek side finished 17th in the standings with 12 points and 17 goals scored, a genuinely impressive attacking output.
Celta Vigo bring their own European pedigree and have been strong on the road in La Liga this season, averaging 1.3 goals per away game. Both teams to score has landed in each of Celta's last four Europa League matches, making that a popular angle here. Iago Aspas has recorded at least one shot on target in five of his last seven Europa League appearances.
Expect fireworks at the Toumba. PAOK should edge this at home, but Celta have the quality to grab a crucial away goal.
One of the standout ties of the round. Fenerbahçe are unbeaten in their last eight home European matches, scoring 15 goals across that run under Domenico Tedesco. The Turkish giants finished 19th in the league phase but were difficult to beat, with their only home loss coming against Aston Villa.
Nottingham Forest, however, have been arguably the story of European football this season. Sean Dyche's side scored 15 goals across eight league phase matches, conceded the fewest in the competition, and enter the playoffs with genuine belief they can go deep. Forest defend in a compact 5-3-2 low block and are lethal on the counter.
This is a fascinating tactical battle. Fenerbahçe will dominate possession and territory, but Forest's defensive discipline could frustrate the hosts. Fenerbahçe have received three or more cards in seven of their last eight Europa League matches, something worth noting for the bet builders.
🔥 Duelbits Odds Boost: Nottingham Forest To Win Either Half & Have The Most Shots On Target, 3.75 (boosted from 3.25)
Dinamo Zagreb are riding high after a 4–0 domestic win over Istra and have three consecutive home wins in European competition. The Croatian side average 2.0 xG per home game and are dominant from set pieces with a strong aerial presence.
Genk, however, have scored in six of their last seven away matches and finished 9th in the league phase, the highest-ranked team in Thursday's fixtures. Their vertical, fast-paced style of play could cause problems for Zagreb's defense. Daan Heymans has scored or assisted in four of his last five Europa League appearances.
This has the makings of a tight, competitive affair with Genk's seeded status giving them a slight edge over two legs despite the away first leg.
The fairytale of this year's Europa League playoffs. Brann grabbed the last qualifying spot, 24th in the league phase, and will host Serie A's Bologna in their first European knockout tie in years. The Norwegian side earned seven of their nine league phase points at home in Bergen, where they play with aggression, high pressing, and active flanking.
The challenge? Norway's domestic season doesn't start until mid-March, so match sharpness is a real concern. Bologna, meanwhile, are battle-hardened from Serie A and have scored two or more goals in each of their last four Europa League matches. Santiago Castro has had at least one shot on target in each of his last four European appearances.
Bologna are clear favorites, but Brann's home advantage and the unique conditions of playing in February in Bergen should not be underestimated.
A meeting of two proud European clubs, but one in very different form to the other. Lille have been struggling badly in 2026, with six defeats in nine matches across all competitions. Key absences including Thomas Meunier and Ethan Mbappé have disrupted their balance, and the French side won just four of their eight league phase games.
Crvena Zvezda, in contrast, are unbeaten in their last nine official matches and arrive in Lille brimming with confidence. The Serbian side's compact mid-block and dangerous counter-attacking style could exploit Lille's current fragility.
Lille's quality should still see them through at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, but this is far from a foregone conclusion. Both teams have received two or more cards in their recent Europa League matches, making the cards market an appealing bet.
The tie of the round. Celtic are unbeaten at home in their last 10 European fixtures, scoring 22 goals in that run. Under the returning Martin O'Neill, the Bhoys clinched a playoff spot with a dramatic 4–2 win over Utrecht and followed it up with a 97th-minute winner against Kilmarnock in the league.
Stuttgart finished 11th in the league phase and bring Bundesliga-level quality, with the third-highest possession in away matches in Germany's top flight. Their compact 4-3-3 block and fast transitions when winning possession make them a dangerous opponent. Deniz Undav has had at least one shot on target in each of his last five Europa League appearances, and Jeff Chabot has been carded in four of his last five.
Multiple prediction models call this the most open and evenly-balanced tie of the round, with a high-scoring draw being the most popular prediction. Both teams create chances late in games, expect drama after the 70th minute.
🔥 Duelbits Odds Boost: Deniz Undav Or Benjamin Nygren To Score First, 3.75 (boosted from 3.25)
A matchup between two solid but unspectacular sides. Panathinaikos finished 20th in the league phase and have seen six or more cards in four of their last six Europa League matches, while Plzeň have received two or more cards in each of their last eight.
Both teams tend to generate high shot volumes, 25 or more shots have been taken in six of Plzeň's last six Europa League games, but converting them is another matter. Multiple prediction models lean toward a draw in this one, making it a potential stalemate in Athens.
The over 5.5 match cards line looks like one of the strongest bets on Thursday's card given both sides' disciplinary records.
Ludogorets provided the biggest story of the final league phase matchday, fighting their way into the knockout zone with a crucial 1–0 home victory on the final day. The Bulgarian side earned the 23rd spot and will host 12th-placed Ferencváros.
Ferencváros are the higher-ranked and more experienced European side, but Ludogorets have been dominant at home in the Europa League this season. Twenty-five or more shots have been taken in each of their last eight Europa League home matches, and forward Caio Vidal has recorded a shot on target in seven of his last eight appearances.
Another tie where a cagey, low-scoring first leg looks likely, with the seeded Ferencváros happy to take a draw back to Budapest for the second leg.
Thursday's two biggest ties are also linked in a special cross-match odds boost at Duelbits:
All Teams To Score A Goal (across both matches) - 3.50 (boosted from 2.75)
Given that both teams to score has landed in each of Celta Vigo's, and by extension, most attacking sides', recent Europa League games, and that Celtic vs Stuttgart is widely tipped as the highest-scoring fixture of the round, this boost carries real appeal.
Fenerbahçe have scored in every home European match this season, Forest have scored in six of their eight league phase games, Celtic have netted 22 goals in their last 10 home European fixtures, and Stuttgart's Deniz Undav has been on target in five straight Europa League appearances. All four teams finding the net at enhanced odds of 3.50 is one of Thursday's standout bets.
Beyond the standard sportsbook, Duelbits PREDICT offers unique cross-match markets for Thursday's Europa League action. These let you bet on the overall matchday rather than individual games, perfect for fans who want skin in every match at once.
With eight matches and several ties expected to produce goals (PAOK vs Celta Vigo, Celtic vs Stuttgart, Lille vs Crvena Zvezda), the 21+ total goals line at 1.85 looks like a solid play. That's an average of just 2.6 goals per game, very achievable across knockout-stage football where both teams have something to play for.
The 8pm CET matches, Lille vs Crvena Zvezda, Celtic vs Stuttgart, Panathinaikos vs Plzeň, and Ludogorets vs Ferencváros, include the highest-xG fixture of the day in Celtic vs Stuttgart. The 12+ goals line at 2.50 offers decent value if you believe at least two of those four games produce 3+ goals.
Head to Duelbits PREDICT to explore the full range of Europa League matchday markets.
Thursday's Europa League is one of the most loaded European football cards of the season, and Duelbits has everything you need:
✅ 400+ betting markets per match: 1x2, Asian handicaps, player props, corners, cards, shots on target, and more.
✅ Exclusive odds boosts: enhanced prices on selected bets across Thursday's fixtures.
✅ PREDICT Markets: unique cross-match props including total goals, shots on target, and more.
✅ Instant crypto deposits and withdrawals: bet with BTC, ETH, LTC, and more.
The knockout stage only happens once. Back your picks at Duelbits Sportsbook.
