RANGERS and Aberdeen have had plenty of criticism this season, but there are signs both have turned the corner and they could provide a tasty encounter on Saturday at Ibrox.
Michael Beale appears to have come through a tsunami of criticism after wins over Real Betis in the Europa League, Motherwell in the league and Livingston in the Viaplay Cup. They previously won at St Johnstone too.
But when you're Rangers manager, even wins don't make you immune and his side were still booed because of the manner of their narrow success against Well.
Beat Livingston 4-0? Doesn't matter because it was ‘nervy' and the first goal shouldn't have stood!
So it's imperative that Rangers raise their game when a Dons side with increased confidence visit Govan.
Dons boss Barry Robson got his tactics bang on in Germany against Bundesliga stalwarts Eintracht Frankfurt and they could have easily snatched a draw in a game where every Aberdeen fan was fearing the worst.
Their 4-0 thumping of Ross County was much more like it although their midweek win in Dingwall against the Staggies wasn't pretty against ten men for the vast majority of the game.
They tend to raise their game against better sides and this should be a trademark bruising encounter between clubs with no love lost.
How the bookies view it
Rangers are firm odds-on favourites here at 2/7 with 888Sport.
Aberdeen can be backed at 11/1 with bet365 and the draw is 5/1 with McBookie.com.
Recent head to heads
The sides met five times in all competitions last season and Aberdeen won once at Pittodrie and also blew a lead by conceding twice in injury time in the other game in the north east.
Rangers won twice at Ibrox and after extra time in the semi-final of the League Cup at Hampden.
Players to watch
With Kemar Roofe seemingly crocked yet again, it's time for much-maligned striker Cyriel Dessers to step up. He has only scored one league goal and is 13/10 to score anytime with William Hill.
Bojan Miovski has scored seven goals already this season and managed to net twice against Rangers last season too. The North Macedonian striker is tempting at 17/5 to score anytime.
Anything else catch the eye?
This could be a tight encounter with few goals in it – Rangers have now kept clean sheets in a row after losing to Celtic and Aberdeen have struggled to score many, apart from last Sunday.
Rangers hefty squad could count here and they have more options on the bench than Aberdeen will. The hosts can sneak this by a one-goal winning margin at UniBet at 3/1.
That squad depth may prove valuable if someone is needed late on. Only twice this season have the Dons gone through a second half without conceding. Go for a draw at half time and a Rangers win at full time at 7/2 again with UniBet.
There are usually full-bloodied affairs and Serbian stopper Slobodan Rubezic is a card magnet. He has collected six yellow cards already this season – five of them coming in eight domestic games. He is 21/20 to add to his collection at Ibrox with bet365.
This Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Aberdeen will be played on Sep 30, 2023 and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best Rangers vs Aberdeen prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
