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Thun v Stoke Betting: Tempting odds for a draw in Switzerland

Stoke face a tricky away match in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier with Swiss side Thun on Thursday night. They travel to the Thun Arena as marginal 13/10 favourites, while Thun are priced 2/1, but crucially the match is being played on a plastic pitch and that could be a great leveller, with the draw looking good value at 11/5 in the betting with Boylesports.

Tony Pulis's men are 4/9 on to qualify though and they should have enough quality to overcome the Swiss team, who are 13/8 to qualify.

Thun only got promoted to the Swiss Super League in the 2009/10 season and they have enjoyed quite a rise in their domestic league. They finished fifth last year and are now top of the league thanks to an impressive home record, with the Swiss season well underway.

They are unbeaten in their last five at home, beating Lausanne 5-2 on Sunday, and their main threat is likely to come from the wily Mauro Lustrinelli. The 35-year-old striker scored two at the weekend and he is 5/1 favourite in the first scorer betting. Meanwhile, the advantage of playing on a plastic pitch cannot be underestimated and their experience of the artificial surface has proved vital so far as they upset Serie A side Palermo in the last round of Europa League qualifying.

Stoke are understood to be upset that they will have to play on such a pitch, with Pulis already suggesting that the bounce and run of the ball is different to what his team are used to. Matthew Upson could make his debut as Pulis is likely to rest injury doubts Jonathan Woodgate, Matthew Etherington, Rory Delap and Jermaine Pennant for risk of causing further injury.

They overcame Hajduk Split in the last round and earned a gritty 0-0 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League at the weekend. They have kept three clean sheets in a row now but worryingly they have failed to score in four of their last six matches, including last season. During that time they have scored just two and one of those was an own goal.

Jonathan Walters scored the other goal and he is a tempting punt in the first scorer betting at an industry best price of 13/2 with Boylesports.com. Of more interest though could be a look at backing against both teams to score at 10/11.

Meanwhile, under 2.5 goals can be backed at 4/6 and that is well worth a look at tree of Thun's last four have involved under 2.5, as have five of Stoke's last six. Stoke should come through the tie as their greater quality shines through but they might have to settle for a draw in a tricky first leg, with the correct score of 0-0 available at 17/2.

Thun v Stoke Tips

Tip #1: Match to finish as a draw @ 11/5 with Boylesports.com
Tip #2: Under 2.5 goals @ 4/6 with Boylesports.com
Tip #3: Back against both teams to score @ 10/11 with Boylesports.com

Thun v Stoke Betting

Match Odds

2/1 Thun
11/5 Draw
13/10 Stoke

To Qualify Odds

13/8 Thun
4/9 Stoke

Correct Score Odds

7/1 Thun 1-0
10/1 Thun 2-0
17/2 Thun 2-1
17/2 Draw 0-0
11/2 Draw 1-1
14/1 Draw 2-2
13/2 Stoke 1-0
10/1 Stoke 2-0
17/2 Stoke 2-1

First Goalscorer Odds

5/1 Mauro Lustrinelli
6/1 Kenwyne Jones
13/2 Jon Walters
13/2 Milaim Rama
15/2 Dario Lezcano
8/1 Christian Schneuwly
8/1 Stephen Andrist
17/2 No Goalscorer
10/1 Matthew Etherington
10/1 Mirson Volina
12/1 Robert Huth

Odds supplied by Boylesports.com, who provide over 100 other betting markets, including live betting in-running, on this match and all the week's Europa League matches.

Posted: Wednesday, 17th August 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: europa league, thun, stoke city, mauro lustrinelli, boylesports,

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