Rangers Glasgow take on the visitors Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of UEFA Europa League quarterfinals. The match will be played on Thursday, April 10th at Ibrox Stadium (Glasgow).
Rangers Glasgow have yet to find a worthy successor to Steven Gerrard, under whom they finally clinched a long-awaited league title — and they haven't come close to repeating that success since. There were even recent rumors suggesting the club tried to bring Gerrard back after parting ways with Philippe Clement. Whether negotiations fell through or the rumors were exaggerated remains unclear. What is certain is that Clement was replaced by Barry Ferguson. And under his leadership, Rangers managed to eliminate a strong opponent in Fenerbahçe to reach the Round of 16. After a stunning 3-1 away win in Istanbul, they allowed two goals at Ibrox, which sent the tie to a penalty shootout. That worked in their favor, as José Mourinho’s side — notorious for poor shootout results — once again crumbled under pressure. Rangers remain inconsistent in domestic play, and with the league title slipping away, Europe may be their best shot at silverware this season.
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Athletic keep growing stronger. The Basques have flourished under Ernesto Valverde. The experienced coach was welcomed back in 2022, and while his first season post-reunion didn’t bring tangible success, it laid a solid foundation. That work paid off last season with a long-awaited Copa del Rey triumph — their first in 40 years — and a fifth-place La Liga finish. This season, they exited the domestic cup early but managed to overtake a fading Girona and cement a top-four spot by spring. Athletic’s return to the Europa League has also gone well. They matched Lazio for the best group-stage record and then impressed in the Round of 16 by overcoming Roma. After a narrow away loss in Italy, they secured a confident 3-1 win at San Mamés, eliminating Claudio Ranieri’s side. The team looks increasingly balanced, with a solid back line and attacking depth led by the Williams brothers.
Though both clubs are historic giants in their respective countries, this will be their first-ever competitive meeting. Veteran coach Valverde and his Basque side appear more prepared for success. Expect them to claim a victory on Scottish soil.
Prediction for the match: Athletic Bilbao to win.
