Thursday’s Football Bet of the Day see’s me delve into both the Europa League and the Conference League and I fancy goals in both of the Old Firm’s matches.
Bodø/Glimt vs Celtic
🇪🇺 Conference League
⏰ Thursday 24th February, 17:45
Celtic face a huge battle to keep their European hopes alive, as they must overturn a two-goal deficit in Northern Norway. The hosts won 1-3 at Celtic Park and are favourites to qualify for the last 16.
Bodø/Glimt surprised many, including myself last week, as they deservedly defeated Celtic 1-3 in the East End of Glasgow. The back-to-back Norwegian champions had lost a few key players and had not played a competitive match since the middle of December, but were by far the better side. As well as winning their three Conference League qualifiers at home, Kjetil Knutsen’s side won their three group-stage matches at home, scoring 11 goals. The Norwegians did concede in four of their six group games, only keeping a clean sheet in their two matches against bottom of the group CSKA Sofia.
Celtic showed their defensive vulnerabilities in Europe once more last Thursday evening, meaning they’ve now conceded 18 goals in their last seven European matches. Ange Postecoglou’s side conceded twice at home to bottom side Dundee at the weekend and have conceded in 10/14 of their league matches away from home. The Hoops have found the back of the net in six of their last seven European matches, finding the back of the net on 14 occasions. That win over Dundee at the weekend now means Celtic have won each of their last eight in the league, scoring 13 goals in their last four.
Rangers vs Borussia Dortmund
🇪🇺 Europa League
⏰ Thursday 24th February, 20:00
Rangers produced arguably the result of the round last Thursday evening, with their victory over Borussia Dortmund in their own backyard. The Scottish champions welcome the Bundesliga side to what will be an atmospheric Ibrox with a two-goal advantage.
Rangers stunned both Borussia Dortmund and plenty of punters, as they left Signal Iduna Park with a mighty impressive 2-4 victory. That now means Rangers have found the back off the net in each of their last five matches in Europe, scoring 10 goals. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have won their last two matches at home in Europe 2-0, and have won each of their last eight in the league at Ibrox, scoring on 20 occasions.
Dortmund bounced back from their first-leg defeat, as they thumped Borussia M’Gladbach 6-0 to stay within six points of league leaders Bayern Munich. Marco Rose’s side have found the back of the net in 28/30 of their league and European fixtures this season, findiong the back of the net on 73 occasions. The Black and Yellows do struggle defensively, registering just six clean sheets, with just one of them coming away from home.
Bet of the Day
Celtic must score at least twice just to force extra-time in Northern Norway and that should lead to an open match. Celtic’s six Europa League matches featured 28 goals and given the Norwegians found the back of the net 11 times in their three group matches on home, I’m happy to back goals here and we should see at least three strikes at the Aspmyra Stadion. Rangers recorded a mighty impressive 2-4 in the first leg but that second Dortmund goal may have kept the tie alive. Marco Rose’s side have scored in 28/30 of their Bundesliga and European matches this season and I can’t see them not scoring in Govan. However, the Black and Yellows do struggle defensively, keeping just one clean sheet on their travels this season and given it’s likely both sides will get on the scoresheet, I’m happy to back over 2.5 goals in what should be an open game at an electric Ibrox.
- Bodø/Glimt vs Celtic – Over 2.5 Goals
- Rangers vs Borussia Dortmund – Over 2.5 Goals
- Double Pays 13/10 (William Hill)
In December 2020 we sadly 
