Atletico Madrid

A cursory look at recent meetings between these sides and barely a cigarette paper separates them, although totesport has installed Atletico as the 11/8 favourites (draw 23/10, Athletic Bilbao 2/1 – 90 Minutes) for the National Arena showpiece.

This season Athletic won the home La Liga fixture 3-0 in October but Atletico then turned the tables when consigning their rivals to a 2-1 loss at the Vicente Calderon in March.

Marcelo Bielsa’s Atheltic have accounted for the prize scalps of Manchester United, FC Schalke 04 and Sporting Lisbon to reach their first European showpiece since 1976/77 and the San Mames outfit will also contest the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on May 25.

Arguably the highlight so far in a compelling European adventure for Los Leones was embarrassing Sir Alex Ferguson’s side over two legs with a breathtaking display of attacking football, while Spain striker Fernando Llorente’s 88th-minute goal, which sealed a 4-3 aggregate win at the expense of Sporting, raised the roof in Bilbao.

Llorente has scored seven goals in 13 Europa League appearances so far and at 11/8 to score anytime rates exceptional value to continue his hot streak.

Prolific pair Adrian Lopez (13/8) and Falcao (11/10) have wreaked havoc helping Atletico record 11 successive wins in Europe and cannot be dismissed at odds-against to help repeat the club’s triumph of 2010.

The winter arrival of coach Diego ‘El Cholo’ Simeone – a member of Atletico’s 1996 La Liga and Copa del Rey-winning squad – has transformed Los Rojiblancos and they have not lost in all competitions since a 4-1 humbling by champions Real Madrid on April 11.

Juanfran said the celebrations will run for some time on the banks of the Manzanares river if Los Colchoneros can end the season on a high.

He said: “We had to overcome a lot of obstacles to get through to this deciding match, it was something we all dreamed about. History and tradition say that Atletico should be up there fighting for trophies like these.

“We want to continue reaching landmarks so we have to win this one for ourselves and for our fans.”

A notoriously difficult fixture to call between two teams of such attacking prowess, the advice here is to stick with Llorente and Falcao to deliver.

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Bournemouth v Huddersfield (Sat/Weds)

Huddersfield will go into the play-offs as the favourites to seal a place in the Championship having finished highest in the league, but how many times have we seen the third place team miss out?

Lee Clark’s men go into their semi-final on a 25-game unbeaten league run, which, amazingly, stretches all the way back to December. That run would have normally have sealed a top-two finish, but Southampton’s fantastic form saw them hold-off the Terriers.

Despite Bournemouth having an impressive recent record of just one defeat in five games, everything looks to point to Huddersfield. As well as current form, the recent head-to-head record also points to the West Yorkshire outfit, who have not lost a match against the Cherries since 1993 – 17 matches.

Both games in the regular season ended in draws, 1-1 at Fitness First Stadium and 2-2 at the Galpharm Stadium.

Huddersfield to qualify @ 4/9

MK Dons v Peterborough (Sun/Thurs)

Goals look to be the key to this League One semi-final clash, with Peterborough having the greater firepower and the more likely to reach Old Trafford.

Darren Ferguson’s men were the top home scorers in the regular season, with 69 goals, and in Craig Mackail-Smith, have the league’s leading scorer. Posh have lost just one of their last nine games, in contrast to their opponents.

MK Dons have been a surprise package this term and despite beating Peterborough back in March, look to be up against it. Karl Robinson’s men, who were beaten 2-1 at London Road earlier in the season, have lost two of their last four matches but in-form striker Sam Baldock is a threat.

Peterborough to qualify @ 4/6

League Two

Torquay v Shrewsbury (Sat/Fri)

Torquay sneaked into the play-offs on the final day of the regular season but will be looking to beat a Shrewsbury team still reeling from missing out on automatic promotion.

The Gulls form though is poor, stumbling into the top-six having failed to win any of their last five games, although they did hammer the Shrews 5-0 at Plainmoor back in March.

The contrast in form is there for all to see though, with Shrewsbury losing just one of their final ten league games of the season and winning four of their last five matches.

Shrewsbury to qualify @ 8/13

Accrington Stanley v Stevenage (Sun/Fri)

Accrington could be heading for their most famous moment since the ‘milk advert’ should they reach the play-off final, and they look a decent bet to achieve that.

John Coleman’s men go into the semi final on a 13-game unbeaten run, with their defence shining in recent weeks, Stanley have conceded just two goals in their last five league games.

Accrington have clocked up 15 draws on their travels and will confident of avoiding defeat in the first leg at Broadhall Way, with Stevenage recording the fewest home wins (nine) of any team in the top half of League Two.

Accrington to qualify @ 4/5

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