Rangers – Athletic Bilbao

Rangers won’t take any risks

On Thursday, 10 April, Rangers will play at home against Athletic. The Scottish club was definitely not expected this far in the second most important European Cup. Athletic, on the other hand are considered almost the main favourites. The Europa League final will take place in Bilbao. Athletic, it seems, will need to prioritise the tournament during a key stretch of the season. The Basques have yet to challenge for a top-four finish in La Liga, but are six points clear of Villarreal and Betis. They can afford to use rotation in league matches. Erneste Valverde did so in the previous meeting: Berrenger and Sunset came on the pitch only after the break, Iñaki Williams was taken off in the 63rd minute. The match with Villarreal turned out to be difficult: the visitors defended more, and had only two shots on goal. It was a tough zero draw. Atletico have obvious difficulties with the attack. Still, before that they could not score to Osasuna. Two zero draws in a row. In the last seven meetings, the team has scored six goals. And the Williams brothers are always expected to have special moments in attack. Unfortunate news is the injury of defender Juri Berchiche. The player was replaced just in the last match. There are no other significant problems with the squad. Rangers got a positive impetus after the change of coach. The team veteran Barry Ferguson was able to increase the motivational component. To help the coach - the absence of any important tasks in the Scottish championship. Rangers can quietly prepare for matches in European cups. This is what they are doing, judging by the dynamics of results. For example, at the weekend at home managed to lose to Hibernian - 0:2. The club will not miss the second place, and the championship race has long been completed. Celtic are too far behind. Earlier, Rangers sensationally passed Fenerbahce in the play-offs. The Scots were the clear outsiders in the pairing. The line-up is very modest in terms of names. The first match at home will be very important for Rangers. In Bilbao to hold on without a solid handicap is an almost impossible task. Now the difference in the transfer value of players between the clubs is about 300 million euros. Rangers have a clear trend for a higher total; Atletico for a lower total. It is probably the pattern at the Basques that is more important here. Athletic will take control of the ball in Scotland and will play with more pressure on the opponent. The Basque defence is unlikely to allow the hosts to mount many dangerous counterattacks. Rangers will focus on defence - a close match is likely. Right now, the odds on the total are almost equal. It is not excluded that the layout will change closer to the game. Still, it is difficult to expect open football in the quarter-finals with Atletico.