EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI-FINALS: The Ultra previews ATHLETIC BILBAO v MANCHESTER UNITED and TOTTENHAM v BODO/GLIMT both with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
ATHLETIC BILBAO V MANCHESTER UNITED
8pm It’s Semi-Final time in the Europa League and we have two cracking games on BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE! It’s a great shame that both fixtures kick off at the same time, especially when the 5-45pm kick off is used so often early in the Europa League too but here we are. We kick off the evening with Athletic Bilbao hosting Manchester United in the highlight of the night in my opinion. Athletic Bilbao are having an excellent season; they are sitting in fourth in La Liga and they will be getting Champions League football next season. With Sevilla so far off the pace now, and Girona were definitely one season wonders, there’s an excellent chance for Bilbao to make that fourth spot their own for the next few years. Manchester United have been having a dreadful season in the Premier League, but it’s clear that their full focus is on this tournament now looking at the team selection from Ruben Amorim recently. The big question here is; with United being so poor this season can they cope with a very impressive Bilbao side? Athletic Bilbao come into the game as the favourites at 2.12 with Manchester United 4.0 and the draw is 3.5 at the time of writing.
I said this prior to the Quarter-Finals that I believe United under Ruben Amorim are better away from home, and I still feel that. They face an exceptionally strong side here though – Bilbao have been rock solid at the back; they are conceding less than a goal a game on average in La Liga this season and they have the second best defensive figure only behind Barcelona. With home advantage, they are going to be a tough nut to crack – I backed United to win away from home in the Quarter-Final but they don’t make the same appeal here at 4.0. Bilbao have only been beaten once here in La Liga all season, and that was early against Atletico Madrid – they haven’t been beaten here in the Europa League either! United have been really struggling to create good quality chances this season too – they have a mid-table attacking figure in the Premier League and they aren’t even converting those chances. I’m not going to go crazy with the stakes here because I do feel United perform better away from home, but looking at the under-lining numbers here there’s a huge gulf in class between the sides and I can’t see past Bilbao here. They are worth backing at 2.12 in my opinion.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Athletic Bilbao to beat Manchester United at 2.12 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/AthMun
TOTTENHAM V BODO/GLIMT
8pm Next we have Spurs hosting Bodo/Glimt. Spurs are another side having a terrible time in the Premier League, but they might just save their season here – actually winning any trophy would be a huge success for Spurs who have gone so long without success. Ange Postecoglou has fallen out with some of the Spurs fanbase and it will actually be very interesting to see how that plays like if Spurs get to the Final. On paper, this is a game that they should definitely be winning given the gulf in class between the sides, but obviously Spurs have had a lot of issues this season. To be honest; Spurs got extremely lucky with this draw – to face a side like Bodo/Glimt in a major Semi-Final is one of the easiest draws you could get really. Spurs come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.32 with Bodo/Glimt 11.0 and the draw is 6.4 at the time of writing. Bodo/Glimt have had a dramatic Europa League to be honest – the last time they faced a Premier League side they lost 3-2 away to Manchester United in the Group stage. They were flattered by the score line, United had 72% possession and over double the xG figure.
Since the knockout stage, they have survived on their home form. They lost 2-1 away to Twente before winning the home, beat Olympiakos before losing the away leg and then won 2-0 at home against Lazio but lost 3-1 away and won on penalties. From a Spurs point of view, you’d be aiming to put the tie to bed here. The way Spurs have defended this season, you clearly wouldn’t be confident if they took a one goal lead to Norway – or even a two goal lead! Obviously Spurs can be delighted with the draw, but I wouldn’t be rushing to take the 1.32 on the home win here the ways things have gone for Spurs this season. We’ve actually had a lot of entertainment with both sides this season, and this game screams goals. Over 2.5 goals is trading 1.52 and Both Teams To Score is 1.88. I couldn’t put anyone off either bet to be honest, but I do feel that Both Teams To Score offers the best value at 1.88 in what should be an end-to-end game.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Both Teams To Score at 1.88 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/TotBod
