Athletic Bilbao v Rangers

Athletic Bilbao and Rangers reconvene for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday night.

This tie is finely poised after the pair played out a 0-0 draw at Ibrox. As such, it’s all to play for in this week’s return match at the San Mames Stadium.

⭐ Athletic Bilbao v Rangers Best Bet

Rangers should offer more of an attacking threat during this week’s second leg. The Light Blues were forced into rearguard action last week after receiving an early red card. That was just the second time that Rangers have failed to score in 11 Europa League outings this season.

What’s more, the Scottish giants have struck in each of their five continental contests away from home this term, hitting multiple goals in three of those matches. Bilbao are strong at home Rangers will probably need to score here to stand a chance of progressing.

👕 Athletic Bilbao v Rangers Predicted XI

🔍 Athletic Bilbao v Rangers Player to Watch

🔴 Oihan Sancet

Oihan Sancet has been one of Athletic Bilbao’s breakout stars this season. The 24-year-old’s performances and goal-scoring exploits this season have reportedly attracted interest from a host of elite clubs.

Sancet has scored 16 times across his 29 appearances in all competitions this season, chipping in with three assists for good measure. The attacking midfielder registered one of Athletic Bilbao’s three on-target efforts during last week’s first leg against Rangers at Ibrox.

🔵 Vaclav Cerny

Vaclav Cerny has put in a string of impressive performances for Rangers in the Europa League this season. Cerny has struck six times on continental duty this term, meaning that he sits joint-second in this season’s Europa League goalscoring charts.

Two of those strikes came against Fenerbahce away from home in the previous round. It’s also worth noting that Cerny has scored 11 times across his 28 appearances in the Scottish Premiership this season.

📂 Athletic Bilbao v Rangers Cheat Sheet

Andy’s Bet Club is the best place for Football Betting Predictions. We offer a huge range of Europa League Bet Builder Tips covering a full range of punting plans, look out for our Europa League Accumulator for Thursday.

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Check out more in-depth Rangers v Athletic Bilbao Betting Stats here.

💻 Athletic Bilbao v Rangers Bilbao Form and Tactics

Athletic Bilbao were left frustrated after being held to a 0-0 draw at Ibrox last Thursday. The Basque Country club failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage following Robin Propper's early red card. Ernesto Valverde’s side dominated possession (71% ) but just three of their 19 efforts on goal hit the target, including a missed penalty.

Athletic Bilbao snapped a run of three successive goalless draws with a 3-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Sunday, with the aforementioned Oihan Sancet bagging a brace. With both teams producing an xG output of 1.63, it was a contest that was closer than the scoreline suggests.

Athletic Bilbao boast a 100% record at home in this season’s Europa League, winning each of their five matches to date. However, it’s worth noting that each of the last two teams to visit this venue on continental duty have got on the scoresheet.

Rangers have been a Jekyll and Hyde side in terms of their domestic and European form this season. For all their domestic difficulties, the Light Blues have proven to be a tough nut to crack in the Europa League this term, losing just three of their 11 matches to date. That return is made all the more impressive by the fact that the Scottish giants have fallen to defeat in just one of their five Europa League games away from Ibrox this term, triumphing in three of those contests.

The fact that interim boss Barry Ferguson made nine changes for Sunday’s trip to Aberdeen was the clearest indication yet that Rangers are now putting all of their eggs in a Europa League shaped basket. 10-man Rangers showed great fighting spirit by coming from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie, scoring with two of their four on-target efforts.

🏁 Athletic Bilbao v Rangers Ref Watch

• Referee - Irfan Peljto

• Stats are per 90 and are taken from Peljto's 24/25 UEFA competition games (13 total)

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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.