DUNDEE UNITED are heading for another set of fixtures against the Pars next season after crashing to a 3-2 home defeat in the first leg of their semi-final play-off against Livingston.

The bookmakers see the return at the Almondvale Stadium on Friday as United’s last match of the season; Livi are 19/20, a draw 5/2 and the Terrors 11/4. Dundee United are 13/2 to cover the -1 handicap that would ensure their qualification; Livingston are 2/7 and the tie 9/2.

The Scottish Premiership finishes its programme at the weekend and prior to the fixtures tonight (Wednesday) it is a three-way battle for second place; Rangers and Aberdeen having one game to play and Hibernian two. Skybet priced up a ‘top 2 finish’ market ahead of the Hi-Bees’ midweek trip to Hearts and Rangers are evens, Aberdeen 5/2 and Hibs 11/4.

Celtic host Aberdeen on Sunday (Sky Sports Football, 12.30pm) and are 2/5 to destroy the Dons’ hopes of finishing runners-up; the draw is 4/1 (Betfair Sportsbook) and Aberdeen 15/2 (Boylesports).

Hibernian play Rangers in the other televised fixture (BT Sport 1; 12.30pm) and are 6/4 to emerge with the three points, the ’Gers are 9/5 and a stalemate 5/2. At the other end of the pecking order, Cowdenbeath are fighting to stay in the league after a goalless draw in the first leg of their play-off match against Cove Rangers. The Blue Brazil are 9/10 (Betvictor), a draw 14/5 (Betway) and the Toonsers 3/1 (Bet365).

The Groupama Stadium in Lyon is the venue for the Europa League final next Wednesday but the bookmakers predict that Atletico Madrid will be victorious over their French counterparts Marseille. Los Rojiblancos are 3/4 (Betfred) to win the tie in 90 minutes; Marseille are 9/2 (Betfred) and a draw 13/5. Atletico are 4/11 to lift the trophy, Marseille 9/4.

Cove Rangers and Aberdeen might be playing their hearts out to achieve success but the reality is they are bit-part players this weekend, playing second fiddle to Eurovision (BBC1, 8pm). As usual, the United Kingdom have a bye to the final and are still 200/1 no-hopers to win the event. Sometimes 200/1 is fantastic value; on other occasions you can stick 10 noughts on the end and still not get near the true probability. Sadly, the UK’s chances of winning Eurovision belong in the latter category.

At the realistic end of the market (at the time of writing, one semi-final has been completed) Cyprus and Norway are 7/2 joint favourites, France 6/1, Israel 7/1 (Coral), Lithuania 12/1, Estonia and Sweden 20/1, Czech Republic and Bulgaria 25/1 and Finland 33/1. Most bookmakers offer each-way ¼ odds 1,2,3,4 but Paddy Power are ? odds 1,2,3,4,5.