Thursday's Europa League quarter-final tips: Barca can ease past Frankfurt

We are down to the last eight teams in the Europa League, with sides from seven different countries still standing. Here are our tips for this week’s quarter-final first legs.

RB Leipzig vs Atalanta

5.45pm, BT Sport

RB Leipzig warmed up for this match with a 4-1 thumping of Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. Their turnaround under Domenico Tedesco has been remarkable. Only Bayern Munich have amassed more Bundesliga points than Leipzig since Tedesco was handed the reins in December.

In the Europa League, Leipzig eliminated Real Sociedad before their last-16 tie with Spartak Moscow was cancelled following the expulsion of all Russian sides from European competition.

Atalanta have been consistently excellent under Gian Piero Gasperini. Like Leipzig, they are an attack-minded side with plenty of firepower up front. Goals are a near-certainty here.

Recommended bet: over 3.5 goals @ 2.72

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Barcelona

8pm, BT Sport

Barcelona have been flying in La Liga of late, but they only squeezed past Galatasaray in the round of 16. That should serve as a warning to those who have already crowned the Blaugrana this season’s Europa League winners.

Barcelona certainly deserve to be the favourites in this tournament, but they are not the only good side remaining. They should, however, make light work of an Eintracht Frankfurt team that has won just two of its last seven matches in the Bundesliga. Frankfurt failed to score in five of those games and will struggle to find the net here too.

Recommended bet: Barcelona to win to nil @ 3.1

West Ham manager David Moyes will be hoping to add Lyon to the list of big sides his team have beaten at home this season

West Ham United vs Lyon

8pm, BT Sport

Despite a 2-1 win against Everton at the weekend, West Ham’s top-four hopes are over in the Premier League. That arguably makes them more dangerous in this competition. David Moyes’ side can now prioritise the Europa League, a tournament the club has never won before.

Lyon have been plagued by inconsistency all season long in Ligue 1, as their position in mid-table indicates. Yet Peter Bosz’s side have performed well in Europe. Their two-legged defeat of Porto in the last round was impressive.

The London Stadium is a tough place to go, though. West Ham have seen off Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Sevilla on home turf this term. Thursday’s meeting with Lyon may well go down as another famous night at the new ground.

Recommended bet: West Ham to win @ 1.95

Braga vs Rangers

8pm, BT Sport

A 2-1 defeat in the Old Firm derby on Sunday has left Rangers’ title chances hanging by a thread. Celtic’s six-point lead at the summit will probably prove insurmountable, leaving the Gers to focus on continental competition.

They have had a brilliant run in the Europa League up to now, beating Borussia Dortmund in the knockout round playoffs before dispatching Crvena Zvezda in the last 16. This was an ideal draw for Rangers, with Braga arguably the weakest side remaining in the tournament.

The Portuguese outfit should not be underestimated, but Rangers will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet in the first leg.

Recommended bet: Both teams to score @ 1.8

Recommended bets

Leipzig/Atalanta over 3.5 @ 2.72

Barcelona to nil @ 3.1

West Ham @ 1.95

Braga/Rangers BTTS @ 1.8