This Thursday, our focus shifts to the first leg of all four exciting UEFA Europa League quarter-final ties, with a place in the semi-finals up for grabs. Below are our suggested betting markets and key insights for each match.
Before we get into the details, let’s first review the latest outright odds. Athletic Bilbao are currently the favourites, priced at 33/10, with Manchester United closely behind at 7/2. Lazio and Tottenham Hotspur follow at joint odds of 4/1, while Eintracht Frankfurt are listed at 7/1. The remaining teams are available at 11/1 or greater.
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BODO/GLIMT v LAZIO – Click here to bet
Two matches into their new domestic campaign, the four-time Norwegian champions sit top of the Eliteserien table with a perfect record, having secured six points from their opening two fixtures. Their most recent outing saw them ease past HamKam with a dominant 3-0 victory, extending their winning streak to three competitive matches on the bounce. Impressively, they’ve scored 12 goals and kept three consecutive clean sheets during that run.
Their European form has been equally, if not more, impressive. Kjetil Knutsen’s men have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament, dispatching heavyweights such as FC Porto, Braga, and Besiktas along the way. On Thursday, they’ll look to add another notable name to that growing list when they welcome Lazio to the Aspmyra Stadium for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.
Bodo|Glimt’s fairytale run has already taken them further than ever before in Europe. This is their first-ever appearance in the Europa League quarter-finals, having defeated Greek giants Olympiacos 4-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16 – a statement win that underlines just how far the Norwegians have come.
As for the visitors, Lazio arrive in Norway with momentum of their own. Currently sitting sixth in Serie A, Marco Baroni’s side head into Thursday’s showdown fresh off the back of a hard-fought 1-0 away win over Atalanta this past weekend. The Biancocelesti have suffered just one defeat in their last seven matches across all competitions (W3, D3, L1), and have proven to be a resilient outfit in Europe, losing just once throughout their continental campaign.
In the previous round, Lazio saw off Czech side Viktoria Plzen with a 3-2 aggregate win to book their place in the last eight. With both sides in strong form and eager to make their mark on the European stage, Thursday’s encounter promises to be a captivating contest in the Arctic Circle.
Head-to-Head
This will be the first-ever meeting between Bodo|Glimt and Lazio.
Betting
Bodo|Glimt 95/40
Draw 26/10
Lazio 23/20
Verdict
A chance is taken on the hosts to once again defy the odds in the first leg. While it’s unlikely they will progress over the two legs when heading to Italy next week, they have proven to be a tough nut to crack at home. For that reason, I’ll back the Norwegian side to either win or draw.
Suggested Bet: Double Chance – Bodo|Glimt/Draw at 7/10
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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR v EINTRACHT FRANKFURT – Click here to bet
Tottenham Hotspur returned to winning ways this past weekend with a much-needed 3-1 victory over Southampton, snapping a two-match losing streak in the Premier League. Despite the win, the Lilywhites remain 14th in the table – a position that hardly reflects the club’s ambitions or pedigree. By their own standards, it’s been a disappointing domestic campaign.
However, the story has been very different in Europe. Ange Postecoglou’s side have thrived on the continental stage, and the three-time European champions are dreaming of adding a fourth title to their cabinet. Their path to the quarter-finals has included six wins, two draws, and just two defeats – a testament to their resilience and ability to bounce back when it matters most.
In the previous round, Spurs showcased their strength at home after a narrow 1-0 first-leg defeat away to AZ Alkmaar. Back in London, they delivered a much-improved performance, overturning the deficit with a confident 3-1 win to secure their spot in the last eight.
Awaiting them on Thursday night are Bundesliga challengers Eintracht Frankfurt. The German outfit travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first leg of this mouth-watering quarter-final clash, hoping to continue their strong European run.
The Eagles, currently third in the Bundesliga, are coming off a 2-0 defeat to Werder Bremen at the weekend – a result that halted their momentum but hasn’t derailed their top-four ambitions. With six league matches remaining and the likes of Mainz, RB Leipzig, and Borussia Mönchengladbach hot on their heels, Dino Toppmöller’s men will be balancing domestic pressures with their European aspirations.
In Europe, Frankfurt have been clinical. They’ve suffered just two losses en route to the quarter-finals, racking up seven victories and one draw in the process. Their Round of 16 tie saw them dismantle Dutch giants Ajax with an emphatic 6-2 aggregate scoreline – a clear warning that they mean business.
Head-to-Head
These sides last met in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage, where both games were tightly contested. The first leg in Frankfurt ended in a 0-0 stalemate, before Spurs edged the return fixture in North London with a 3-2 victory.
Betting
Tottenham Hotspur 8/10
Draw 16/5
Eintracht Frankfurt 16/5
Verdict
A difficult game to call outright market, but one that should feature goals. While I’m sitting on the fence in terms of who is likely to prevail in the first leg, my preference lies elsewhere, where I think there is value in backing both teams to score with at least three goals to feature. The visitors have failed to find the net just once in Europe this season, while Spurs’ encounters have often been relatively entertaining, with seven of their ten matches in this competition featuring three goals or more.
Suggested Bet: Totals and Both Teams to Score – Over 2.5 and Yes at 17/20
RANGERS v ATHLETIC BILBAO – Click here to bet
Rangers return to European action this Thursday as they welcome Spain’s Athletic Bilbao to Ibrox for the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final clash. Sitting second in the Scottish Premiership, the Gers are coming off a disappointing 2-0 loss to Hibernian over the weekend – a result that halted their run of back-to-back league victories and raised fresh concerns ahead of this high-stakes tie.
In Europe, however, Rangers have shown plenty of resilience. Despite three defeats on their road to the final eight, they’ve recorded five wins and two draws in a campaign that’s been anything but straightforward. Their Round of 16 clash with Fenerbahce had all the drama of a classic European tie: a 3-1 win in Istanbul was followed by a 2-0 loss in Glasgow, forcing the tie to penalties, where the Gers held their nerve to advance 3-2 in the shootout.
Interim manager Barry Ferguson, just two matches into his temporary tenure, faces his first major test on the European stage. While his side may still be adjusting to change in the dugout, Thursday’s atmosphere at Ibrox could provide the spark needed to rally the squad.
Standing in their way are an in-form Athletic Bilbao side, unbeaten in their last five outings across all competitions (W3, D2). They played out a goalless draw away to Villarreal over the weekend, but remain in the La Liga top four and firmly on track for Champions League qualification.
Ernesto Valverde’s men have impressed in Europe too, losing just twice throughout the competition. In the previous round, Bilbao recovered from a 2-1 first-leg loss to Roma in Rome, turning the tie around with a dominant 3-1 home win to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Head-to-Head
This will be the inaugural competitive encounter between Rangers and Athletic Bilbao.
Betting
Rangers 23/10
Draw 5/2
Athletic Bilbao 12/10
Verdict
Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the club, it’s unclear whether Rangers can recover from their recent setbacks – and I remain unconvinced. This feels like an ideal opportunity for Athletic Bilbao to capitalise, especially knowing that the hosts suffered a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox in the previous round. If Valverde’s side can adopt a similar approach, they’ll be well positioned heading into the return leg.
Suggested Bet: Full Time Result – Athletic Bilbao at 12/10
LYON v MANCHESTER UNITED – Click here to bet
The Parc Olympique Lyonnais plays host to a heavyweight Europa League quarter-final this Thursday, as French hopefuls Lyon welcome Manchester United for a first-leg clash that could set the tone for a potential semi-final berth.
Lyon come into this contest riding a wave of momentum after a 2-1 victory over Lille at the weekend, marking their eighth win in their last ten outings across all competitions. Under the guidance of Paulo Fonseca, the French side currently sit fifth in Ligue 1 with six games left to play. With only the top three securing Champions League qualification, the pressure is on for Les Gones to maintain form—just two points currently separate them from third spot.
In Europe, Lyon have been a model of consistency. They’ve lost just once in ten Europa League games, winning six and drawing three, while failing to score only once. Their Round of 16 tie against FCSB was nothing short of emphatic—crushing the Romanian side 7-1 on aggregate, asserting their credentials as genuine contenders for continental silverware.
Meanwhile, Manchester United arrive in France in contrasting domestic circumstances. While they showed marked improvement in a gritty 0-0 draw against rivals Manchester City over the weekend, Ruben Amorim’s side remain stranded in 13th in the Premier League—a position far below expectations for the 20-time English champions.
That said, United have been a different beast in Europe this season. The Red Devils are unbeaten in the Europa League with six wins and four draws, growing stronger as the tournament progresses. After a sluggish start featuring three consecutive draws, United have now won six of their last seven in Europe, showcasing far more cohesion and clinical edge.
Their Round of 16 clash with Real Sociedad saw them dig deep away from home to earn a 1-1 draw, before blitzing the Spaniards 4-1 at Old Trafford to cruise through 5-2 on aggregate. With European success now a clear priority, United are likely to field their strongest available XI as they look to gain a crucial away advantage.
Head-to-Head
Lyon and Manchester United have met four times in European competition, with United holding the advantage, having won twice and drawn twice. Their most recent encounter came in the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 playoffs, where the Red Devils triumphed 2-1 on aggregate. After a 1-1 draw in France, United secured a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford to progress.
Betting
Lyon 31/20
Draw 5/2
Manchester United 7/4
Verdict
With both teams performing strongly in Europe, this match has all the makings of a tightly contested affair that could very well go down to the wire, with the second leg likely deciding the outcome. While United remain unbeaten in the competition so far, my preference would be to back the hosts to avoid defeat in France in what promises to be a low-scoring encounter.
Suggested Bet: Double Chance and Total – Lyon/Draw and Under 3.5 at 1/1
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
