RANGERS carry a comfortable 3-0 lead to Serbia after an incredible first leg display in the Europa League Round of 16 clash, but their Red Star Belgrade hosts will be desperate to give them a Marakana mauling to keep the tie alive.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side admittedly had every piece of good fortune land on their side at Ibrox after Red Star had three goals disallowed for offside, missed a penalty and conceded a spot kick that no fan in the stadium claimed for.
However, there's no taking away from the fact that Rangers have been outstanding in the Europa League and are huge favourites to finally progress to the quarter-finals.
If they can sweep past Borussia Dortmund and Red Star Belgrade, they will rightly be spoken about as dark horses to win it and they can backed at 20/1 with bet365 to do what Celtic couldn't do in 2003 and lift the trophy in Seville.
But Red Star will throw everything at them at a sold-out and extremely hostile Marakana and remain optimistic of overturning the deficit.
Rangers were in Scottish Cup action on Sunday and cruised to a 3-0 win at Dundee with the minimum of fuss to make four games in a row without conceding.
Red Star had to wait until Monday before their game against Metalac and they managed a comeback 2-1 win.
How the bookies view it
The hosts are 13/10 with SportNation to win the game in 90 minutes. Rangers can be backed at 11/5 with Coral to win again. While the draw is 13/5 with SBK.
Rangers are obviously massive favourites to qualify at 1/20 with SBK. You can get 12/1 with bet365 for Red Star to overturn that three-goal deficit and somehow qualify.
Recent head to heads
Here's that astonishing, action-packed first leg at Ibrox last week where Rangers won 3-0 below.
Rangers have also won two of the last three ties between the clubs stretching back to 1964.
Players to watch
Alfredo Morelos is now the third all-time top scorer in the competition after his goal in the first leg and he is 7/4 to score in the Balkans.
Aleksandr Katai had one of those nights at Ibrox. He missed a penalty and had a goal disallowed, but he's a class act and could be value at 21/10 with bet365.
Anything else catch the eye?
It's hard to see Rangers implode in Serbia given how excellent they have been on the road in Europe. They are experienced, won't get intimidated and the wide open spaces of the Marakana should actually suit them with Ryan Kent ready to exploit those spaces.
Red Star couldn't deal with Rangers' width in the last game and they looked hugely suspect defensively. Rangers should certainly score here and if they can score four in the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, they can net twice here at 13/8 with bet365.
Red Star should at least score this time and the 11/10 with bet365 of both teams to score and over 2.5 goals looks to have a good chance.
Rangers won't sit back either and they can rattle up some corners with their use of the flanks – they managed six in the first leg and xxx
This UEFA Europa League match between Red Star Belgrade and Rangers will be played on Mar 17, 2022 and kick off at 17:45. Check below for our tipsters best Red Star Belgrade vs Rangers prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
