There are four cracking Europa League quarter-finals to look forward to on Thursday night and we have a trio of bets which make up our best plays of the day.
Rangers battled to a 0-0 draw at home to Athletic Bilbao last week but that might not prove enough when they head to Spain.
Meanwhile, Lyon look like a good price to cause an upset at Old Trafford and Frankfurt’s game against Tottenham could provide plenty of excitement.
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Thursday football betting tips
Bet of the day
Athletic Bilbao -1 handicap v Rangers @ 1/1
Rangers have produced some big performances in key matches and the Gers have recorded wins over Celtic, Fenerbahce, Nice and Steaua Bucharest this season.
However, the overall profile of the Ibrox outfit is very much in decline and the Light Blues could be heading for a heavy defeat in Bilbao.
Rangers held on for a 0-0 draw at Ibrox last Thursday, but Athletic were clearly the better side in that contest, even withstanding Robin Propper’s early red card.
Barry Ferguson made sweeping chances in his side’s 2-2 draw at Aberdeen on Sunday and that was another tough contest for the Gers.
Many of the Glasgow club’s first-team players were left out in the Granite City, but the poor performance against the Dons further underlines just how far Rangers have fallen this term.
Athletic have lost only three of their 23 San Mames contests this season and Ernesto Valverde’s men are a formidable force on their own patch.
Special of the day
Over 2.5 goals in Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham @ 31/20
Troubled Tottenham have won only four of their last 13 matches and Spurs have suffered six defeats in seven away games.
Ange Postecoglou’s men have shipped 22 goals in their last 11 road trips and it’s hard to see how they can keep things tight in Frankfurt.
Eintracht have lost only three of 21 home matches in all competitions this term and Die Adler have bagged 48 goals on their own patch.
After beating Ajax 4-1 in their last home outing in this competition, backing over 3.5 goals at Deutsche Bank Park looks the best play in what should be an entertaining contest.
Long shot of the day
Lyon to beat Manchester United @ 16/5
Manchester United were hammered 4-1 at Newcastle on Sunday and the Red Devils look mighty short at home to Lyon on Thursday night.
United seem to have escaped too much criticism for Sunday’s abysmal St James’ Park effort, with their priority appearing to be Europa League progress.
However, that looks far from certain against an exciting Lyon side, who felt hard done by after the first leg and won 3-1 at Auxerre on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim’s men were second best in the 2-2 draw at the Groupama Stadium and they created an expected goals total of only 0.72 at Newcastle on Sunday.
The Red Devils have scored only 17 goals in their last 12 Old Trafford matches and Amorim will have to do without injured forward Joshua Zirkzee on Thursday night.
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