Rangers v Progres Niederkorn
Thursday, 19:45
Live on Rangers TV
Gerrard eager to prove a point
Two years have passed since Rangers fans looked on in dismay as their side were knocked out of the Europa League by Progres Niederkorn. The Bears scraped a 1-0 win at Ibrox but were stunned in the return when ending on the wrong side of a 2-0 result that made headlines across the continent. It proved to be the beginning of the end of Pedro Caixinha.
Much has changed in Govan since, with Steven Gerrard taking the wheel, making sweeping changes to the team he inherited. The Liverpool legend will see this as a perfect chance to prove how far the blues have come under his guidance and the bad blood between the teams will ensure Ibrox is sold out, fans packing the stands hungry for revenge.
Free-scoring Morelos attracting attention
The locals oozed class in the previous round when racking up a sublime 10-0 aggregate score over the minnows of St Josephs. The Gibraltar Premier League bronze medallists held firm for 50 minutes of the first leg at home but collapsed inside three minutes before a bumper Ibrox crowd. Star striker Alfredo Morelos has been attracting attention from Premier League and Bundesliga sides of late and he boosted his stock with four goals in two games vs The Saints. The Columbian netted a second leg hattrick, added to by Defoe and Aribo.
Progres represent a step up in class for Rangers but The Bears proved they are ready for the challenge. Joe Aribo looks the pick of the summer arrivals and the 22-year-old Londoner will be asked to do a job in the midfield again on Thursday. He can break down opponents, set-up attacks and has already proven he knows the way to goal. Betfair traders have a home win priced as 1/25 favourites against the 28/1 of Progres Niederkorn and 10/1 the draw. Rangers -3 on the handicap makes more appeal at 2/1.
Chikhura Sachkhere v Aberdeen
Thursday, 17:00
Traders oppose the home win
Georgian side Chikhura Sachkhere finished fourth in the Erovnuli Liga last season and enjoy home advantage in the first leg over Aberdeen, who ended fourth in the Scottish Premiership, dropping two places from the year before. The hosts booked their place in the second round thanks to a 4-2 aggregate win over CS Fola Esch, following a 2-1 away win with a 2-1 home cheer.
The latter was more convincing than the scoreline suggests, Chikhura opening the scoring on 24 minutes thanks to an Ardazishvili goal before Sardalishvili doubled up on 73. The tie was dead and buried by the time Sinani struck a consolation from the penalty spot in the final minute of play. A similar result on Thursday would give The Dons hope. Get 7/2 on the Sportsbook for a home win.
Dons prove their mental strength
Aberdeen also enter on the back of a couple of 2-1 first round wins, beating Finish side RoPs home and away. They battled to a narrow victory at Pittodrie, achieved thanks to goals from McGinn and Cosgrove, before heading to Rovaniemen Keskuskentta for more of the same. Kada made things interesting in the return leg when breaking the deadlock inside two minutes but the Scots showed their stomach for a fight, Cosgrove and Ferguson helping fire Aberdeen to a 4-2 aggregate lead.
Manager Derek McInnes was full of praise for his side at the conclusion of the match in Lapland, believing it showed their mental strength. He’ll want to see more of that on Thursday from his young team and the betting tells us he’ll leave with the desired result. An away win for Aberdeen has been priced as an 8/11 jolly on the Betfair Sportsbook, the draw 23/10. Over 2.5 goals would’ve been a shrewd approach when betting on both teams in the last round and there’s 5/4 about Thursday’s clash falling into line.
Source: Betfair Europa League
