2025 Europa League Quarter Finals: Look Out For These Player Props
How did the teams get this far?
We probably shouldn’t be too surprised to see Athletic Club in the final four. Even back at the beginning of the season, with the final of this competition due to be held in Bilbao, and with players such as Euro 2024 star Nico Williams in their ranks, the Basque were well fancied to go deep, and go deep they have.
The men who play their home games at the final venue of San Mames finished the league phase in second place, before seeing off AS Roma and Rangers in the last-16 and quarter finals.
Like the Spaniards, Man United and Spurs were both always fancied to do well. Sure, the two English teams left in the competition have both endured horrendous domestic campaigns, with both set to finish comfortably outside of the top half of the Premier League table, but we’re talking about two big clubs, and the early-season betting market had both installed as strong Europa League contenders. Regardless of their league form, both have proved the early market to be right by reaching the semi-finals.
For both teams, the league phase of the competition was fairly straightforward. The Red Devils made it through as part of the top eight, finishing third, a point in front of Spurs, who finished fourth.
The first knockout round posed a few issues for both, with neither side winning first-leg ties, before Man United made light work of beating Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, booking their quarter-final place thanks to a 4-1 victory, while Spurs overturned a first-leg deficit to beat AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands by three goals to one in North London, setting up a quarter-final tie with Frankfurt.
It was never going to be easy for a team that has stuttered all season long to get the better of one of the Bundesliga’s best, and it was certainty tight, with Ange Postecoglou’s men tying 1-1 at home, before edging ahead on the road, winning by a goal to zero thanks to a penalty-sport strike from Dominic Solanke.
United’s quarter-final with Lyon was action-packed and drama filled in equal measure. A 2-2 tie in France brilliantly teed up what was a class at Old Trafford, where it looks for all to see that the French side has dealt the Red Devils a fatal blow when taking a two-goal lead in extra time, but in rather old-school fashion, the United players refused to lay down, scoring three times in the final seven minutes of the additional period to triumph.
For Bodo/Glimt, the story is a little different. The early-season betting didn’t exactly suggest that the Norwegians would make the final four, but that’s exactly what they’ve done.
Taking advantage of having a team made up largely of Norwegians, Kjetil Knutsen has masterminded a superb cup run, making the knockouts thanks to a 6-4 aggregate play-off win against Twente, before making it beyond Greek outfit Olympiacos, thanks largely to a strong home win in the first leg.
Bodo’s ability to make life hard for their opponents in Norway once again came to the fore during the quarters as they beat Lazio at Apmyra Stadium by two goals to zero. There was work left to do in Italy, though, and when the Romans went three goals to the good in extra time, it looked like the end of the road, but Andreas Helmersen had other ideas, scoring a 109th-minute goal to set up a penalty shootout that eventually went the way for the 2024 Norwegians champions.
Chart toppers on show in the semi finals
It’s perhaps not that surprising that some of the Europa League’s best individual performers are due to feature in the semi final.
Each of the four teams left in the competition boast players that rank very, very highly in a number of individual areas.
Here are a handful of top Europa League performers to watch out for during the semi finals:
- Bruno Fernandes (Man United) - Ranked 1st in the Europa League this season for expected goals, passes into the penalty area, progressive passes and through balls.
- Yuri Berchiche (Athletic Club) - Ranked 1st in the Europa League this season for passes into the final third.
- Jostein Gundersen (Bodo/Glimt) - Ranked 1st in the Europa League this season for progressive carrying distance and clearances.
- Nico Williams (Athletic Club) - Ranked 1st in the Europa League this season for successful take-ons.
- Alejendro Garnacho (Man United) - Ranked 1st in the Europa League this season for carries into the penalty area.
- Jens Petter Hauge (Bodo/Glimt) - Ranked 1st in the Europa League this season for progressive carries and progressive passes received.
- Oscar de Marcos (Athletic Club) - Ranked 1st in the Europa League this season for crosses into penalty area.
- Kasper Waarst Hogh (Bodo/Glimt) - Ranked 1st in the Europa League this season for non-penalty expected goals per shot and goals.
Right, at this point, the question is are there any viable player props ahead of the semi-finals? Looking at the early lines, you bet there is.
Tottenham vs Bodo/Glimt: Kasper Waarst Hogh Over 0.5 Shots on Target
As we can see from the above, Kasper Waarst Hogh, as the competition's top scorer, has enjoyed a very fruitful continental campaign. The Norwegian forward has scored seven Europa League goals this season.
Given that the visitors do offer a clear threat on the break, considering also that Spurs have given an awful lot away this season, even at home, the in-form forward looks quite generously priced to shoot on target at least once at odds of +100.
After all, this is a man not shy to shoot, while he’s hit the target at least once in each of his last four away games, including in Rome against Lazio, as well as in Piraeus against Olympiacos.
Tottenham vs Bodo/Glimt: Jens Petter Hauge to Score or Assist
In the same game, Bodo/Glimt winger/forward Jen Petter Hauge also looks nicely priced to register a goal or an assist against a weak Spurs defense. Interestingly, no goalkeeper has conceded more goals per 90 minutes than Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario in the Europa League this season.
Jen Petter Hauge has been one of the very best in the competition this time around at receiving the ball in dangerous areas, while he’s also carried the ball menacingly in the final third, getting into some hugely promising areas, which is probably why he has five goals and assists to his name.
Hauge provided a key assist against Lazio in the last round, while he also assisted against Olympiacos in the last-16. Don’t be too surprised if he makes a telling contribution against an under-pressure Spurs team on Thursday.
Athletic Club vs Man United: Nico Williams to Score or Assist
Last but certainly not least we come to one of the most impressive performers not just in the Europa League but in the European game overall right now. That’s right, it’s the man who lit up Euro 2024 with his dazzling runs and fine end-product.
The younger Williams brother has had another fine season for Athletic Club, scoring and assisting ten in LaLiga, as well as contributing eight goals and assists in 12 Europa League appearances.
We all know how weak Man United’s defense has been this season, in all competitions, while we also know that Williams can easily take advantage of poor defensive play, making odds of +180 look too big in my opinion.
In terms of goals and assists on the continent this season, Williams averages 0.72 per 90 minutes. Again, that simply makes odds of +180 look far too sizable.
