Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
The goalless draw in Glasgow between Athletic Bilbao and Rangers left plenty of questions unanswered ahead of the second leg in Bilbao. While Athletic Bilbao are expected to take control on Thursday, Rangers remain determined not to surrender their Europa League semi-final ambitions easily.
Athletic Bilbao
Before a 3:1 win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, Athletic Bilbao had gone through arguably the toughest spell of their season. A run of three straight 0:0 draws against Osasuna, Villarreal, and Rangers underscored their recent attacking struggles. However, in their most recent La Liga fixture, the team conceded just 0.79 xGA from three shots on target — supporters will be hoping for a similarly solid defensive performance on the European stage.
Rangers
Rangers entered the international break riding high after a dramatic 3:2 win over Celtic, but their early April form has been far less convincing. The squad failed to find the net in home fixtures against Hibernian (0:2) and Athletic Bilbao, generating only 1.21 xG across those 180 minutes. Even so, Rangers deserve credit for their disciplined defensive showing after Robin Pröpper was sent off in the first leg — the suspended player will be joined on the sidelines by the injured Bailey Rice for the second leg.
Athletic Bilbao vs Rangers Prediction
It’s worth noting the increased attention on Total Under markets for the second leg between Athletic Bilbao and Rangers. The hosts are likely to dictate play, but that may not result in many clear-cut opportunities.
