Europa League 
/ Michael Lintorn / 08 March 2012 / 1 Comments 
Athletic Bilbao star Fernando Llorente will go to Euro 2012 with Spain
"Athletic Bilbao have netted nine times in their last five away outings despite winning less than half of those, conceding the same number."
Opta reveal that Manchester United's collisions with Spanish clubs are rarely goal-heavy, but Michael Lintorn expects this to be an exception...
Manchester United v Athletic Bilbao, Thursday 20:05, Five, Match odds: Manchester United [1.53], Athletic Bilbao [7.6], The Draw [4.5]
Manchester United fans must wonder why they were so sceptical about the Europa League. After last month's visit to Amsterdam, there is now a trip to Bilbao - albeit a costly one - to look forward to, as well as a chance to check out a team who have set tongues wagging across Europe this season.
Athletic Bilbao are led by one of South America's most lauded coaches, Argentine tactical innovator and attractive football advocate Marcelo Bielsa, and after a troubling start, the results have been fairly spectacular.
The Basque club topped a Europa League group featuring big-spending Paris St-Germain, will meet Barcelona in the Copa del Rey Final and sit fifth in La Liga, their momentum causing them to be rated [2.02] frontrunners in the wide-open race for the final Champions League place.
With Spain internationals Andoni Iraola, Javi Martinez, Iker Muniain and Fernando Llorente at their disposal and all seemingly buying into Bielsa's elaborate ideas, the future appears promising for the well-liked Lions, however they are [7.6] outsiders for this test.
They head to England on a high after completing a derby double over Real Sociedad at San Mames - one of the continent's most atmospheric stadiums - at the weekend, but it is their recent away form that is evidently under closer scrutiny ahead of this round-of-16 clash.
Athletic are winless in three on the road, losing two of those, since beating third-tier Mirandes in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, and have lost their last two Europa League games overseas. They have taken just one point from a possible nine away to top-six rivals domestically too.
There are question marks over Manchester United after costly draws at home to Basel and Benfica in the Champions League were followed by defeat to Ajax in their first Europa League tie as hosts, yet the above stats seem to vindicate their status as favourites, even if odds of [1.53] look a touch short.
The standout Opta insight into this fixture is that, excluding games on neutral territory, Manchester United's last eight matches against Spanish sides in Europe have produced a total of only four goals.
Odds of [1.78] on over 2.5 suggest that trend is unlikely to continue though and the evidence of the season so far support that price. Six of the Red Devils' last seven home European encounters have featured three goals or more, as have three of Athletic's four on their travels in this competition.
This writer has a hunch that Bielsa's boys will upset the odds and qualify at [3.35], but even if that suspicion proves misguided, there is a strong case for backing both teams to score here at [1.87].
Athletic have netted nine times in their last five away outings despite winning less than half of those, conceding the same number, while Manchester United have leaked in seven of their last eight at Old Trafford in continental action, shipping seven in the last four.
A 2-1 triumph for Sir Alex Ferguson's side appears the most appealing correct score option at [9.4], having been the end result in three of their last five games. Two of the Spaniards' last three away fixtures have finished that way, with it also the result in half of their six defeats as visitors.
Best Bet: Both teams to score @ [1.87]
Other Recommended Bet: Manchester United to win 2-1 @ [9.4]
As always, all the headlines about Manchester City this week revolve around Mario Balotelli, but the Italian is far from certain to start away to Sporting Lisbon on Thursday......
Manchester United had yet another bad European night at Old Trafford but thankfully for them they did enough in the first leg to progress. Elsewhere, Stoke crashed out at the hands of Valencia....
Betfair was the place to be for correct score betting in the Europa League this week, particularly on the matches involving Premier League teams......
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