Rangers will look to finally get off the mark in the league phase of the Europa League as they welcome Portuguese side Braga to Ibrox on Thursday night.
Rangers have endured a nightmare start to their Europa League campaign, as they have lost each of their opening four league phase matches in Europe’s secondary competition.
The latest of those defeats came at Ibrox three weeks ago, when they were beaten 0-2 by Serie A leaders Roma on an evening when both of my selections cruised in.
One bit of positivity for Danny Rohl’s side is that they made it four consecutive wins in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, as they defeated Livingston 2-1 in Govan, moving them within nine points of leaders Hearts, with a game in hand.
Braga made a flying start to their Europa League campaign, as Carlos Vicens’ visitors won each of their opening three league phase matches, including a 1-2 victory across the city against Celtic at the beginning of last month.
However, a crazy half an hour spell in their home match against Genk on MD4, in which they conceded four times, put an end to their 100% record, with that 3-4 defeat seeing them drop down to fifth in the league phase table.
Braga have saved most of their performances in Europe, as Os Arcebispos have won just two of their last nine Primeira Liga matches, leaving them in seventh position, seven points behind Gil Vicente in fourth.
How the bookies view it: Braga favourites
Braga are favourites to make it back-to-back victories in Glasgow in the space of eight weeks, with bet365 pricing an away success at 5/4.
Bet365 have Rangers at 11/5 to claim their first victory in the league phase this season, whilst the draw is 12/5.
Head to head: Fond memories for the Gers
These two have crossed paths in both the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons in the Europa League, with Rangers progressing on both occasions – with the latter coming in their fairytale run to the final.
The Teddy Bears have won three of their four meetings with Braga, including both at Ibrox (3-2 & 3-1).
Players to watch: Horta to hurt Gers?
Ricardo Horta has been in sensational form for Braga in the last month or two, with the Braga captain scoring six goals and providing four assists across his last 10 matches for Os Arcebispos.
That includes three assists across his last two Europa League matches – as well as a long-range strike against Celtic on MD2 – and the 6/4 on offer at Paddy Power for another goal involvement on Thursday night is far too large to ignore.
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Predicted line-ups:
Rangers will be missing a few players here, with John Souttar, Derek Cornelius, Mikey Moore, and Youssef Chermiti all injured, whilst Clinton Nsiala, Dujon Sterling and Nadim Bajrami all ineligible.
Braga only appears to have the one absence, with Jonatas Noro missing.
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Djiga, Fernandez, Meghoma, Diomande, Raskin, Antman, Aasgaard, Gassama, Miovski
Braga: Hornicek, Gomez, Lagerbielke, Arrey-Mbi, Lelo, Moutinho, Gorby, Horta, Zalazar, Martinez, Navarro
Anything else catch the eye?
Braga’s matches have gone goal-crazy in recent weeks, with their last six in all competitions averaging a whopping 4.67 goals per game, with Over 2.5 Goals landing in each of them.
The same has also landed in eight of Rangers’s previous 11 matches in all competitions, meaning I like the 19/20 on offer at Unibet for Over 2.5 Goals.
The visitors have scored 2+ goals in six of their last seven matches in all competitions – as well as in each of their previous three in the Europa League – and are an appealing 5/4 at William Hill to bag another brace against a patched-up Gers defence that has shipped multiple goals in each of their past three continental clashes.
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