Football Bet Of The Day: James Milton has an 11-5 selection from the Europa League

Racing Post Sport’s resident football tipster James Milton has locked onto an 11-5 (2.20) wager from Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first-leg tussle between Freiburg and Celta Vigo, and the selection centres on striker Igor Matanovic to score at any time.

Matanovic, 23, was kept on the bench for last weekend’s dramatic 3-2 Bundesliga loss to Bayern Munich, leaving him fresh for European duty. Although the Croatia international was used exclusively as a substitute until mid-January, he has still plundered eight goals in Germany’s top flight this term. His only start since the turn of the year, at St Pauli, brought a two-goal haul from five attempts, underlining his eye for chances.

The forward has already tasted Europa League success on home soil, scoring in each of his last two outings at the Europa-Park Stadion against Maccabi Tel Aviv and Genk. In January’s win over the Israeli side he managed seven shots, evidence of the service Freiburg can provide.

Celta Vigo, meanwhile, arrive in Germany on the back of back-to-back La Liga defeats in which they shipped six goals against struggling Alaves and Valencia. Those defensive frailties have encouraged Milton to make Matanovic the day’s standout wager at 11-5.

James Milton’s best bet: Igor Matanovic to score at any time v Celta Vigo at 11-5 with bet365.

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