Back this 35/1 Europa League bookings treble

(Featured image: Alamy Images)

Written by: Brad Walker

Focus shifts to the Europa League play-offs on Thursday, but which players are a safe bet to go in the referee's book?

Our tipster Brad Walker (@brad_TWalker) has picked out three individuals to keep an eye on.

Selection #1 - Jan-Carlo Simic (Anderlecht) to be shown a card - 13/5

The Serbian defender played every minute of Anderlecht's 'League Phase' campaign and wasn't afraid to get stuck in. 

Simic committed 17 fouls across those eight matches, averaging 2.12 per game. 

He picked up two yellow cards in the process to add to the five he's already received in Belgium's Jupiler Pro League.

Simic has already made habit of receiving cautions in this competition. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)

Selection #2 - Gianluca Mancini (Roma) to be shown a card - 12/5

Mancini may have only featured in five of Roma's eight matches so far in this competition, but he did play all 90 minutes during those games.

The 28-year-old has also started 14 of his side's last 15 in Serie A and is set to feature against a tricky Porto side in Portugal.

Despite not yet receiving a card in the Europa, the Italian has already committed seven fouls and faces-off with pacey opposition forward Samu Omorodion here.

The latter has already bagged five times in this competition and will hope to leave his mark on a Roma defence which has made habit of conceding chances on the road, where they've averaged 1.48 xGA. 

Pressure will therefore be on Mancini in the backline, raising the prospect of him going into the book for a fifth time in all competitions this term.

Selection #3 - Bart van Rooij (FC Twente) to be shown a card - 2/1

The Dutch defender has already received a yellow on three occasions in this competition, two of which combined for a red against Nice in November.

Van Rooij isn't shy when it comes to making an impression, having averaged 2.9 tackles per game so far. 

He's also won 65% of his duels but a feisty temperament always leaves him on the edge of spilling over, making him worthy of a mention in this conversation.

Brad Walker's Europa League treble selections for Thursday, February 13, 2025

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Meet the Author

Brad Walker


Sports Writer

Brad has been working in the sports media sphere for almost three years now and is an ardent supporter of Liverpool FC, as well as a huge lover of boxing.

Having recently graduated with a Sports Journalism MA from Liverpool John Moores University, Brad has conducted interviews with several stars of the fight game including Eddie Hearn, George Groves and Derek Chisora.

When he’s not writing about sports, he’s usually watching back old tape of his favourite fighters Terence Crawford, Naoya Inoue and Marvin Hagler.