Rangers and Athletic Bilbao face off in a crucial Europa League match, with both teams eager to advance in the competition. Rangers, playing at home, have shown a solid performance this season, averaging 1.9 goals per match and maintaining a 70% rate of both teams scoring. Their offensive capabilities are highlighted by Vaclav Cerny, who has netted 6 goals this season. However, their defense has been less robust, conceding an average of 1.3 goals per game.
Athletic Bilbao, on the other hand, boasts a slightly better defensive record, conceding only 1 goal per match. Their possession stats are impressive, averaging 53.6%, which could be crucial in controlling the game's tempo. Iñaki Williams leads their attack with 5 goals, supported by Nico Williams with 4 goals. The team's ability to maintain possession and create opportunities through key passes and successful crosses could be pivotal.
Head-to-head statistics favor Athletic Bilbao, given their higher CompaScore Rating of 2537.34 compared to Rangers' 2300.47. Tactical approaches will likely see Rangers focusing on counter-attacks, leveraging their dribbling skills, while Athletic Bilbao may opt for a possession-based strategy to exploit Rangers' defensive vulnerabilities.