Back this 8/1 UEFA Europa League acca on Thursday

Our third accumulator of the week centres on Thursday's fixtures in the Europa League. 

Lazio and Bilbao look to build on the foundations laid down in their opening matches two weeks ago, while Rangers face a considerable step-up in opposition at Ibrox. 

Odds Now's Brad Walker runs you through his selections.

Brad Walker's best Europa League bets for Thursday, October 3rd, 2024

Lazio to beat Nice (8/9) - 1 pt

Athletic Bilbao to beat AZ Alkmaar (5/7) - 2 pts

Lyon to beat Rangers (9/5) - 1 pt

Lazio, Athletic Bilbao & Lyon treble (7.73/1) - 0.5 pts

Selection #1 - Lazio to beat Nice (8/9)

Lazio head into this one with a superb home record.

Le Aquile are unbeaten in their last nine at the Stadio Olimpico in all competitions, having most recently beaten Verona 2-1 last month. 

Marco Baroni's side have also lost just one of their last five matches in the Europa League (W2, D2). 

A comfortable 3-0 victory away at Dinamo Kiev saw them get off to a perfect start on matchday one of this competition two weeks ago. 

Baroni's side are in strong form on their own patch. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)

When compared with Nice's record on the road, it's hard to make a case for an away win here. 

The French club have picked up just one win in their last four and their 0-0 draw at Lens was the first time they'd kept a clean sheet in seven away matches.

Nice also have just one win in their last 10 in the Europa League.

In fact, they've lost six consecutive away fixtures in the competition heading into Thursday evening.

Selection #2 - Athletic Bilbao to beat AZ Alkmaar (5/7)

Ernesto Valverde's Bilbao got off to a shaky start in La Liga, winning just one of their first four, but have since found their feet. 

Lehoiak are now unbeaten in four matches, three of which have ended in victory. 

Bilbao also got off to a solid start in the Europa League with a 1-1 draw away at Roma, after Aitor Paredes' strike rescued a point in the Italian capital with five minutes remaining.

Given their imperious home form, Valverde's men will also be confident of continuing their positive run in this one. 

Bilbao have lost just one match in their last 27 home matches in all competitions - the only blemish being a 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid at the end of August. 

Paredes celebrates a late equaliser against Roma on matchday one. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)

In fairness to Alkmaar, they've also done well so far this term. 

The Dutch club have won five of their first seven Eredivisie outings while losing just one, and are also unbeaten in four away fixtures so far. 

Alkmaar haven't been quite as convincing in the Europa League, though. 

Pascal Jansen's side stumbled through a 3-2 home victory against IF Elsborg on matchday one, and have lost five of their last six away games in the competition. 

With all this in mind, I just can't see Alkmaar taking anything considering Bilbao's recent form at home. 

Selection #3 - Lyon to beat Rangers (9/5)

The Glaswegians have been left disappointed by their start in the Scottish Premier League, where they already trail bitter rivals Celtic by five points.

A 3-0 loss at Celtic Park last month is largely at fault for the gap but, to be fair to Rangers, they have since rebounded with four victories on the trot. 

Philippe Clement's side haven't even conceded a goal during that time - a run which includes a 2-0 win away at Malmo to get them off to a winning start on matchday one of this competition.

The victory was the third in their last seven in the Europa League.

Rangers will also be buoyed by Lyon's stuttering start to the new campaign. 

Rangers forward Ross McCausland celebrates netting his side's second goal in a 2-0 win over Malmo on matchday one. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)

Pierre Sage's men have won just two of their opening six Ligue 1 matches, though they did pickup a last-gasp 2-1 win away at Toulouse on the weekend. 

The victory followed a 2-0 home win against Olympiakos in their opening Europa League encounter - a win I expect them to build on in Scotland on Thursday. 

Sure, Lyon have been far from convincing so far this term, but they still boast the higher quality of these two sides. 

Recent results also suggest they have turned a corner. Having won their last two matches in all competitions, Lyon were also unfortunate to suffer a 3-2 defeat versus Marseille last month - a game which saw Jonathan Rowe secure all three points for Les Phoceens deep into injury time. 

And while Clement may have banked some credit with the Malmo win, the Belgian remains under intense pressure at Ibrox given their poor start on the domestic front.

Getting the Frenchman at a generous odds-against 9/5 looks a solid pick in my eyes.