Athletic Bilbao v Rangers: Tam McManus predicts exact scoreline
Tam McManus has issued his prediction and the exact scoreline as Rangers look to beat Athletic Bilbao at San Mames.
The La Liga side came to Ibrox on Thursday night and, despite having a man advantage for most of the game, failed to score a single goal and the game ended 0-0.
Liam Kelly saved a penalty and all but earned himself a place in the eleven for the second leg.
McManus backs Athletic Bilbao to make it through to the semi-finals
McManus believes the Spanish side are favourites going into the game and has backed them to get the job done.
He does not see it being a one-sided affair and even fancies Gers to score a goal away from home.
In his view, the game will be interesting if the Scottish side are the ones to open the scoring.
| Opponent | Result |
| Dundee (A) | 3-4 W |
| Hibernian (H) | 0-2 L |
| Athletic Bilbao (H) | 0-0 D |
| Aberdeen (A) | 2-2 D |
However, if the hosts score first, then McManus sees them winning the game convincingly.
Predicted a 2-1 victory, he told PLZ Soccer on 14 April at 30:02: “I think that they’re [Bilbao] favourites to go through. They’re one of the favourites to win it.
“There’s not a lot of pressure on Rangers. But if Rangers get the first goal, it’ll be interesting to see how they react.
“If Athletic Bilbao get it, I think they’re going to win the game comfortably. I think Athletic Bilbao will just nick it, 2–1.”
Barry Ferguson needs a win if he wants to prove he deserves the Rangers job
Barry Ferguson, as Gers’ interim manager, will likely focus on a disciplined, counter-attacking strategy to secure a win against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League quarter-final second leg.
With the tie poised at 0-0, he’ll emphasise defensive solidity, leveraging Kelly’s recent heroics and organising a compact backline to neutralise Bilbao’s attacking threats like Inaki and Nico Williams.
Ferguson will drill his players on precise game-plan execution, encouraging quick transitions to exploit Bilbao’s high pressing with pacey attackers like Vaclav Cerny.
He’ll also rally his squad’s mentality, drawing on their strong European away form to foster belief in a tough atmosphere.
This win is critical for Ferguson to prove he deserves the permanent Rangers job.
A victory would showcase his tactical acumen and ability to deliver in high-stakes European matches, silencing doubts about his experience after mixed domestic results.
Beating a La Liga giant like Bilbao would bolster his credibility among fans and the board, signaling he can restore Gers’ European prestige and lead them forward, especially with the club seeking a permanent appointment soon.