<p><em>The 2025/26 UEFA Europa League will begin its next phase, with 16 teams aiming to qualify for the next stage through the play-offs.</em></p> <p>This stage will feature the teams that finished 9th-24th, with the winners advancing to face one of the top-eight teams.</p> <h2>UEL 25/26 Play-Off Betting Preview</h2> <p>Let's take a look at what first-leg matches are scheduled for this upcoming Play-Off Round on Friday, February 20 (played over two legs):</p> <ul> <li>PAOK vs Celta Vigo (KO 04:45 AEDT)</li> <li>Brann vs Bologna (KO 04:45 AEDT)</li> <li>Dinamo Zagreb vs Genk (KO 04:45 AEDT)</li> <li>Fenerbahce vs Nottingham Forest (KO 04:45 AEDT)</li> <li>Ludogorets vs Ferencvaros (KO 07:00 AEDT)</li> <li>LOSC Lille vs Crvena zvezda (KO 07:00 AEDT)</li> <li>Celtic vs VfB Stuttgart (KO 07:00 AEDT)</li> <li>Panathinaikos vs Viktoria Plzen (KO 07:00 AEDT)</li> </ul> <h2>UEL Play-Off Betting Predictions</h2> <p>Let's take a look at each game individually as we provide our best betting predictions, keeping the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/uefa-competitions/uefa-europa-league">UEL 25/26 betting odds</a> we have available at Sportsbet in mind! If you're looking to expand your European football knowledge, our guide on <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-europa-league">how to bet on the Europa League</a> is a great place to start.</p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/uefa-competitions/uefa-europa-league/paok-v-celta-vigo-10103272">PAOK vs Celta Vigo</a>: Celta Vigo as underdog winners</strong> is our prediction, as PAOK has lost six of its last seven Europa League Knockout matches. <strong>Over 2.5 Goals offers value</strong>, as both teams have seen scorelines of 3+ goals in this year's competition.</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/uefa-competitions/uefa-europa-league/brann-v-bologna-10141426">Brann vs Bologna</a>: Bologna are favourites and likely winners</strong>; have won last three UEL away games, while Brann haven't won since MW3. Met in a 0-0 draw in MW4, meaning<strong> 'No' in BTTS offers value</strong>. Bologna currently compete in <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/italy/italian-serie-a">Serie A betting</a>, where they've shown solid defensive organisation.</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/uefa-competitions/uefa-europa-league/dinamo-zagreb-v-genk-10142801">Dinamo Zagreb vs Genk</a>: Genk as underdogs offers value</strong>; Belgian side have travelled well in the UEL, winning three of four. Zagreb have lost four of last five. <strong>Over 2.5 Goals has value</strong>, with both defences conceding regularly.</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/uefa-competitions/uefa-europa-league/fenerbahce-v-nottm-forest-10144113">Fenerbahce vs Nottingham Forest</a>: Under 2.5 Goals offers value,</strong> as Fenerbahce don't score many goals, while Forest don't travel with much prolificacy.<strong> 'Fenerbahce And Draw' offers value</strong> due to potential new manager bounce for English side. Forest have been impressive in <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/united-kingdom/english-premier-league">Premier League betting</a> this season.</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/uefa-competitions/uefa-europa-league/ludogorets-v-ferencvaros-10154350">Ludogorets vs Ferencvaros</a>: Ferencvaros are likely winners</strong>, having won 3-1 in MW4 (at home); Ludogorets struggle in KO round (lost seven of last eight). <strong>Over 3.5 Goals offers value</strong>, as it has hit in four of Ludogorets' last six Europa League matches.</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/uefa-competitions/uefa-europa-league/lille-v-crvena-zvezda-10134059">LOSC Lille vs Crvena zvezda</a>:</strong> Crvena Zvezda beat Lille in MW4 (1-0), starting an unbeaten streak to now in the UEL. We think<strong> 'Crvena Zvezda And Draw' offers value</strong>, given Lille's positive home form. Lille are also competing in <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/france/french-ligue-1">Ligue 1 betting</a> this season.</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/uefa-competitions/uefa-europa-league/celtic-v-stuttgart-10105960">Celtic vs VfB Stuttgart</a>:</strong> 'No' in BTTS offers value, as Stuttgart have shown they can keep clean sheets away from home when the favourites.<strong> 'Celtic And Stuttgart' offers value</strong> as only two draws (both Celtic) were recorded across the Group Phase for both teams. Stuttgart have been solid in <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/germany/german-bundesliga">Bundesliga betting</a> this campaign.</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/uefa-competitions/uefa-europa-league/panathinaikos-v-plzen-10133414">Panathinaikos vs Viktoria Plzen</a>:</strong> <strong>Draw offers value</strong>, following a 0-0 in MW6 in Greece; Under 2.5 goals, as neither team scores regularly.</li> </ul> <h2>Keep Reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-uefa-champions-league">Everything you need to know about betting on the Champions League</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-uefa-conference-league">The Conference League: Europe's third-tier competition explained</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/soccer-news/what-is-xg-soccer-explained">What xG actually tells us about a team's performance</a></li> </ul>