Schalke travel to Athletic Bilbao

With the Germans needing to score to keep their hopes in the competition alive, Phil Kitromilides is predicting goals galore in Bilbao tonight.In last week's first leg, Athletic Bilbao produced another exceptional European performance away from home to bring a 4-2 lead back to San Mames. This result was not in keeping with the Basque outfit's recent run of form, which has seen them fail to win any of their last five domestic games.Yet in that time they have beaten Manchester United home and away as well as recording that highly impressive result in Germany against a Schalke side currently third in the Bundesliga. Athletic are priced at 17/20 (1.85) with Sporting Bet to claim another win this evening, while Schalke are available at 3/1 (4.00) to get the victory they need to have any hopes of progressing to the semi-finals.Athletic are unbeaten in the six Europa League matches they have played at home this season, winning four and conceding just four goals. Their cauldron-like stadium, will once again be filled this evening with an expectant crowd and an early goal for the home side would see Schalke needing to score three times to go through.With the Basques wanting to kill off the game, and the Germans desperately needing to score, there should be goals. The price of 11/20 (1.55) on over 2.5 goals looks a little short, while the 9/20 (1.45) offered on both teams to score doesn't offer the best value.What seems a more attractive bet is over 3.5 goals which is priced at 6/4 (2.50). It is a bet which has paid out in four of Schalke's last six games and given the respective firepower of the two sides it is well worth considering.Speaking of firepower a small investment on a first goalscorer seems the best way forward for a value bet, and there are of course plenty of players who will fancy their chances of finding the back of the net.Last week's first leg is the only game in his last six in which Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has failed to score and given his excellent form, plus the fact that Schalke will be going all out for goals, take the 6/1 (7.00) offered for him to open the scoring.