Rangers will end their Europa League campaign on Thursday night with a tough trip to the Dragao to take on an impressive Porto side.
Rangers have endured a poor Europa League league phase campaign, but they did finally manage to get their first win in this season’s edition last Thursday, as they defeated perennial Bulgarian champions Ludogorets by a goal to nil.
Despite that victory, the 2022 finalists are already eliminated and travel to Northern Portugal having lost each of their past five continental clashes on their travels.
However, Danny Rohl’s men do come into this clash in good form, with their 3-0 victory over Dundee in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday being their eighth consecutive win in all competitions, moving them within four points of Premiership leaders Hearts.
Porto are on a far better run themselves domestically, with their 3-0 success over fifth-placed Gil Vicente on Monday night made it 11 straight wins in the Primeira Liga and 18 overall (W18-D1-L0), to remain seven points clear of reigning champions Sporting CP.
However, the Dragons currently find themselves outside of the top eight in the league phase of the Europa League on goal difference despite their late leveller in Plzen last Thursday night.
How the bookies view it: Porto clear favourites
As expected, Porto are heavy favourites to clinch the win they need to seal a place in the last-16, with bet365 pricing a home success at just 2/9.
Rangers are 17/2 underdogs to back up last Thursday’s victory over Ludogorets, whilst the draw is also unfancied at 5/1.
Head to head: Four unbeaten for the Gers
Rangers are unbeaten in each of their previous four meetings with Porto (W2-D2-L0), drawing 1-1 on both of their last two visits to the Dragao in the group stages of the Champions League in 2005/06 and in the Europa League in 2019/20.
Players to watch: Samu to strike again?
Samu Aghehowa has enjoyed a superb season for Porto so far, as he has fired in 20 goals across his opening 28 appearances in all competitions for the Dragons.
The Spanish striker missed a penalty in Porto’s draw in Plzeň last Thursday, but has scored three goals in Porto’s last two Europa League matches at the Dragao against Nice and Malmo respectively, and pays 5/6 at bet365 to score in a Porto victory.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Porto will be without the injured Nehuen Perez and Tomas Perez, veteran striker Luuk de Jong is a doubt, and the experienced Thiago Silva is ineligible.
Rangers will be missing a few players here, with Derek Cornelius, Connor Barron and Bailey Rice all injured, Dujon Sterling, John Souttar and Youssef Chermiti are doubts, whilst new signings Tuur Rommens, Tuchi Chukwuani and Andreas Skov Olsen are ineligible.
FC Porto: Costa, Costa, Bednarek, Kiwior, Fernandez, Rosario, Froholdt, Mora, Gomes, Sainz, Aghehowa
Rangers: Butland, Aarons, Fernandez, Djiga, Meghoma, Raskin, Diomande, Aasgaard, Gassama, Moore, Miovski
Anything else catch the eye?
Porto require a win to give them a high chance of finishing in the top eight in the league phase table and advance to the last-16, and should do so against a Rangers side already eliminated from the competition and one who may have an eye on their crucial league match at Easter Road on Sunday.
Francesco Farioli has turned the Dragao into a fortress this season, with the Dragons winning 11 of their 12 Primeira Liga and Europa League contests in front of their supporters (W11-D1-L0), only failing to win in a goalless draw against Benfica back in October.
Nine of those 11 victories at the Dragao have featured fewer than four goals – including all three in the Europa League – and a repeat pays an appealing 1/1 at Ladbrokes.
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