Celtic v Ferencvaros: Europa League predictions, best bets and odds

Frank Monkhouse

Football betting analyst Frank Monkhouse has three predictions as the UEFA Europa League returns to Celtic Park on Thursday evening.

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After dropping out of the Champions League at the playoff stage, Celtic kick-start another Europa League campaign in Glasgow.

The Scottish Premiership champions play the second-best team in Hungary, with three points and a perfect start up for grabs. They thrashed Turkish club Trabzonspor 5-0 in qualifying and now target another major upset when visiting Scotland.

Keep reading as in-form football betting writer Frank Monkhouse explains the thinking behind his three Celtic v Ferencvaros predictions.

Celtic v Ferencvaros betting tips

Celtic to score first @ 8/15 (bet365)

Over 2.5 goals @ 8/15 (bet365)

Nygren score or assist @ 4/5 (bet365)

Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.

Team to score first - Celtic

Following Sunday’s heavy League Cup defeat at Ibrox, the Celtic players owe their fans a response.

Martin O’Neill’s team were battered from pillar to post by the Gers, losing 3-0, and it could’ve been even worse. An early exit from a competition they were favourites to win will hurt all at Parkhead, but they must bounce back, and fast.

Celtic have been much more convincing at home than on their travels so far. In their four previous games at this stadium, they’ve collected four wins, scored nine goals, and conceded just one.

In the Premiership, the locals beat Dundee 1-0, Falkirk 2-1, and Aberdeen 3-0. What’s even more interesting is that O’Neill’s men thrashed Austrian Bundesliga champions LASK 3-0 here in a Champions League qualifier.

Celtic crumbled in the second leg, losing 5-1 on the night and 5-4 on aggregate. At home, they dominated the ball against a strong opponent, finishing with 64% possession and 17 shots at goal.

In their last game here, Celtic made light work of Aberdeen, with 66% possession and 27 shots.

The pressure is on everyone inside the home dressing room to put Sunday’s horror show behind them. The fans will ensure that the players know just what’s expected of them, and I’m backing Callum McGregor and co to explode out of the traps.

Back Celtic to score first on Thursday.

Followers aren’t too interested in which team wins, who scores, and when. As long as Celtic hit the net to make it 1-0, your bet wins. The same wager was paid out as a winner inside 26 minutes in Celtic’s only previous home match in Europe.

Tip: Celtic to score first @ 8/15 (bet365)

Bet explanation: You need Celtic to score the first goal of Thursday’s Europa League match.

Total goals - Over 2.5

Moving to my second suggested bet from Glasgow’s east end, I’m taking Thursday’s match to produce more than two goals from both teams combined.

It’s another play that’s not tied to the match winner. A 3-0 home win for Celtic is every bit as useful as a 2-1 away win or a 2-2 draw. As long as Celtic v Ferencvaros ends with over 2.5 goals, you’ll make a solid profit.

Celtic have played 10 games in all competitions so far, with over 2.5 goals landing eight times. They’ve played four at home, scoring nine goals.

Checking on how Ferencvaros have performed so far this season adds confidence to this pick. The visitors beat Vojvodina 2-1 in Serbia and Twente by the same scoreline in the Netherlands, both in this competition.

In the Hungarian top-flight, the Greens have three wins and two draws from six starts, scoring 10 goals and conceding 7.

The stats and results show both teams boast plenty of firepower, but remain fragile in defence. I expect Celtic to dominate possession, get the ball wide, and fill the box.

My research tells me the Premiership champions will score at home, but must stay switched on against a team that’s always dangerous on the counter-attack.

Updated head-to-head stats on the Flashscore app show these clubs have met three times, with Celtic winning two and Ferencvaros taking the other. Over 2.5 goals was a smart bet in two of those three encounters.

Tip: Over 2.5 goals @ 8/15 (bet365)

Bet explanation: Celtic v Ferencvaros must give up three or more goals to win this bet.

Score or assist - Nygren

I dip into the player betting markets for my third and final Celtic v Ferencvaros prediction.

Siding with experience, Benjamin Nygren is backed to score or provide an assist on Thursday under the bright lights.

The 25-year-old Swede was an important player for Celtic last season. The number eight scored 22 goals from 69 appearances for club and country. Included in that run were strikes against Sturm Graz, Feyenoord, Utrecht, and Stuttgart in the Europa League.

This season, Benjamin has played 10 games and scored 5 goals. He found the net in each of his first four appearances, including in that Champions League win over LASK at this stadium last month.

In addition to his goals, Nygren provided assists against St Mirren, Aberdeen, LASK, Dundee United, and Kilmarnock. That shows just how important he is to Celtic’s attack, and he will be again on Thursday before a huge audience.

Followers of my football betting previews have made a profit on Nygren a few times in the past, and the numbers tell us it’s worth sticking with the 2025/26 Celtic Player of the Year.

Benjamin looks destined for bigger and better things. Starring in Europe is a great way to catch the attention of the big teams and managers.

Tip: Nygren to score or assist @ 4/5 (bet365)

Bet explanation: Benjamin Nygren must score against Ferencvaros on Thursday evening in Glasgow or provide an assist for a teammate to score.