Rangers will look to finally claim their first win in the league phase of the Europa League on Thursday night as they welcome perennial Bulgarian champions Ludogorets to Ibrox.
Rangers have endured a humiliating Europa League league phase campaign, as they have picked up a solitary point across their six encounters (W0-D1-L5), meaning they are already eliminated.
However, things have been going far better domestically for Danny Rohl’s men, with their 0-2 victory at Pittodrie against Aberdeen two Sundays ago making it five consecutive wins in the Premiership, leaving them just six points behind leaders Hearts.
The Teddy Bears also advanced to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup last Friday, as they cruised to a 5-0 victory over lower league Annan Athletic.
Ludogorets’s hopes of winning a record-breaking 15th consecutive Bulgarian First League title are in serious doubt, as they currently lie seven points behind leaders Levski Sofia despite taking 13 points from their last five matches.
Per-Mathias Hogmo’s visitors failed to make it back-to-back 3-2 victories in the Europa League last time out, as they conceded in the 90th minute to draw 3-3 at home to PAOK.
That draw leaves the Bulgarian champions just inside the knockout places in 23rd spot in the league phase table, above 25th-placed Dinamo Zagreb only on goal difference.
How the bookies view it: Gers favourites
Despite failing to win any of their opening six league phase matches, Rangers have been installed as favourites for this clash, with bet365 pricing a home success at 17/20.
Ludogorets are 3/1 to leave Govan with all three points, whilst the draw is 11/4.
Head to head: First-ever meeting
Thursday night will be the first-ever meeting between these two clubs.
Players to watch: Theo to find the Target again?
Thelo Aasgaard rounded off Rangers’ 5-0 victory over Annan Athletic in the Scottish Cup last Friday as he scored an absolute beauty of a free kick.
The Norwegian international is starting to look more like a Rangers player, as he has scored four goals and provided one assist across his past seven appearances for the Glasgow giants, and the 7/5 on offer at William Hill for him to Score or Assist appeals to me.
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:
Rangers will be missing a few players here, with Derek Cornelius, Dujon Sterling, John Souttar, Connor Barron, Nedim Bajrami and Bailey Rice all injured, whilst new signings Tuur Rommens, Tuchi Chukwuani and Andreas Skov Olsen are ineligible.
Ludogorets only appear to have one player missing through injury, with Georgi Terziev suffering an ACL injury.
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Fernandez, Djiga, Meghoma, Raskin, Diomande, Aasgaard, Gassama, Moore, Chermiti
Ludogorets: Bonmann, Son, Nachmias, Almeida, Nedyalkov, Naressi, Duarte, Vidal, Stanic, Erick, Duah
Anything else catch the eye?
Ludogorets’ league-phase fixtures in the Europa League have been full of goals, with their opening six clashes averaging an impressive 4.17 goals per game.
Over 2.5 Goals has paid out in five (83%) of those encounters – with each of their last four matches even producing a minimum of four goals – and the 4/5 on offer at bet365 for a repeat appeals to me here.
The reigning Bulgarian champions have shipped 14 goals across their six league-phase fixtures, shipping two or more goals in each of the last five, and the 5/6 on offer at William Hill for the Teddy Bears to continue that trend also appeals to me.
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