Athletic Club vs Viktoria Plzen Prediction: Hosts can finish with a flourish

With the Opta Supercomputer giving Athletic Club a 99.9 per cent chance of finishing in the top eight of the Europa League’s league phase and landing an automatic spot in the last 16, there is a chance the Basque outfit take their foot off the gas against Viktoria Plzen.  

However, the next round is seeded, and the higher a side finishes the less likely they are to face a better side in the last 16, meaning Bilbao should be focused on victory. They will not be the only side playing to win in the Basque Country, with Plzen in with a small shout of breaking into the top eight, but a strong home record means the hosts are the pick in Thursday’s Europa League clash (20:00, discovery+).

Athletic Club vs Viktoria Plzen Odds

The hosts are the 8/11 favourites for this clash, with Viktoria Plzen 4/1 and the draw 12/5.  

Over 2.5 goals can be backed at an odds-against price of 6/5, with both teams to score also decent odds at 11/10.  

Bilbao hotshot Gorka Guruzeta is the 9/2 favourite to open the scoring.  

Football Odds

Team News

While Ernesto Valverde may rotate for this clash due to his side's position in La Liga - they are just nine points off the leaders, Real Madrid - Athletic Club have enough strength in depth to see off Viktoria Plzen at San Mames.  

The Basque side have won five of their last six Europa League games and an excellent record on their own patch, which has seen them lose just two of their 16 home matches this season, makes them worthy favourites on Thursday.  

Viktoria Plzen's spot in the play-offs is practically as guaranteed as Athletic's is in the top eight as the Czech side would require a number of slip-ups to break into the automatic places, meaning neither team is likely to be at full tilt.   

With that in mind, a low-scoring home win appeals and the 13/2 available for a 2-0 Athletic win is also tempting.  

Athletic Club to win @ 8/11

Inaki Williams anytime goalscorer @ 13/5

Offers

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