RANGERS start their first Champions League group stage campaign for 12 years when they go the Netherlands to play Ajax, but you could be forgiven for forgetting about that such is the doom and gloom that surrounds them.
That win in Eindhoven a couple of weeks ago seems a long time ago after a disastrous Old Firm hammering by Celtic at the weekend. The manner of their 4-0 crushing could hardly have been worse with an acceptance early on of defeat unforgivable in such a huge game.
Yet this is the same team who impressed so much in Europe last season on their incredible march to the Europa League Final and who have already gone to Dutch soil and won against a PSV side who beat Ajax earlier this season in the Johan Cruyff Shield.
So the question is which Rangers will turn up?
Ajax are motoring along nice under new boss Alfred Schreuder. They bounced back from that curtain raiser defeat from PSV to make it five wins out of five in the league.
But no club in Europe was more impacted than them in the transfer window – they lost the likes of Antony, Lisandro Martínez and Sebastien Haller for a combined total of £194 million, but brought in players like Rangers' Calvin Bassey, Steven Bergwijn from Spurs and RB Leipzig's Brian Brobbey.
How the bookies view it
Ajax are warm favourites at 2/5 with Paddy Power. Rangers are available at 6/1 with UniBet and the draw is 21/5 with SBK.
Recent head to heads
The clubs have met four times…and Ajax have won them all. The last time was in the group stages in 1996 and the Dutch won 1-0 at Ibrox and 4-1 in Amsterdam.
Players to watch
Steven Bergwijn is in outstanding form. He's arguably too good for the Eredivisie and has already scored six goals in five starts. He is 7/4 with Boylesports.
If Rangers are going to score, their European specialist Antonio Colak is surely the man. His goal sent Rangers to the group stages and he is 11/4 with SBK.
Anything else catch the eye?
Rangers must be in a bad place after their mauling, but they ahev raised their game on plenty of occasions in Europe. However, they may have to settle for a battling defeat here against a classy Ajax side who have goals in their locker. The call would be for Ajax to win and both teams to score at 7/4 with 888Sport.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's will surely not be as passive as they were against Celtic and that's how they won against PSV Eindhoven by taking the game by the scruff of the neck and attacking. They won five corners both home and away against PSV so bet365's over 3.5 Rangers at 6/5 corners should be backed here.
This UEFA Champions League match between Ajax and Rangers will be played on Sep 7, 2022 and kick off at 17:45. Check below for our tipsters best Ajax vs Rangers prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
AJAX VS RANGERS
I think Rangers will find it tough in the Netherlands following their 4-0 thrashing by Celtic. Rangers have been playing well in Europe though so can’t be completely ruled out. There’s a few bets I like the look of, I’m on both Goldson (7/2) and Tavernier (5/1) to be booked. I feel fairly confident that at least one of those players will be booked. Anyone who knows will know that I enjoy backing longshots. Sometimes the bookies get it wrong though and give you a price way bigger than it should be. Take Dusan Tadic, the Ajax captain hits the free kicks and has scored several. BetVictor have totally overlooked this and have him priced at 80/1. Another one is Tavernier for Rangers. Rangers best chance may of a goal may come from a set piece. Tavernier hits some free kicks and also likes to have a pop at goal from outside the box and is way overpriced at 70/1 with Paddy Power to achieve this. It highlights the importance of checking odds considering he’s only 16/1 with Hills for the exact same bet.
Recommend Bets:
Goldson to be booked @ 7/2 (Unibet)
Tavernier to be booked @ 5/1 (Unibet)
Dusan Tadic to score a free kick @ 80/1 (BetVictor)
Tavernier to score from outside box @ 70/1 (PPower)
BARCELONA VS VIKTORIA PLZEN
Barcelona are incredibly short at 1/16 at home so I was trying to find some decent value. Lewandowski is sure to get on the score sheet but odds are extremely tight. Rather than backing him for first goalscorer at a best 15/8, take a punt on Bet365’s bet boost of Lewandowski to score a header @ 7/1 (Bet365). He’s only 5/2 to score a header elsewhere.
Recommended Bet:
Lewandowski to score a header @ 7/1 (Bet365)
Good luck everyone.