Legia Warsaw v Rangers
Thursday, 19:00
Live on Rangers TV
Gers have a pop at the Pepsi Arena
Legia Warsaw host Rangers at the Pepsi Arena in a play-off to reach the group stages of the Europa League. Both sides impressed when collecting wins in the qualifying third round but know any previous efforts in this competition will count for nothing if they fall at the final hurdle.
The pressure is on Warsaw to make home advantage count and take a lead to Ibrox next week, but Steven Gerrard is experienced enough to know anything can happen in European football. His Rangers side secured a stunning 4-2 win over Midtjylland in Demark and travel with confidence in the camp. Do they have what it takes to turn this tie on its head and grab a first leg lead? The current betting believes so.
Warsaw struggled at home
Legia Warsaw finished second in the Polish Ekstraklasa last season and entered this competition with a third-round win over Greek side Atromitos, claiming a 2-0 aggregate victory. The sides played out a goalless draw at this venue in the first leg and that handed an advantage to Atromitos Anthens, but they couldn’t make it count in front of their own fans. Legia Warsaw rallied to win 2-0 at Peristeri Stadium, achieved thanks to goals from Stolarski and Gviliia.
Aleksandar Vukovic’s side go into Thursday’s challenge on the back of an important league win over Zaglebie Lubin at the Pepsi Arena. It wasn’t pretty, the hosts stumbling to a 1-0 in a match they were expected to win comfortably, but they got the desired result and head into this Europa League qualifier believing they have what it takes to stop Gerrard’s light blues. The Betfair Exchange has a home win priced at [3.1] and that’s sure to attract a fair share of attention.
Rangers raged to stunning 7-3 win
Rangers brushed past Danish side Midtjylland in the last round, making a mockery of what was expected to be a competitive contest. The Scottish Premiership silver medallists cruised to a 4-2 away win in the first leg before finishing the job at Ibrox, winning 3-1 to rack up a jaw-dropping 7-3 aggregate score against a capable opponent. That sent out a message of intent to their rivals, both in Scotland and on the continent.
That success was topped up with a run of the mill win over East Fife in the League Cup on Sunday. While Legia Warsaw where struggling to a hard-fought 1-0, The Gers were able to rest a few players against lower league opposition, giving star striker Alfredo Morelos and captain James Tavernier the day off. That means they board the plane to Poland fully rested, focussed and ready to take care of business. The away win is favourite on the Betfair Exchange, backers able to get their hands on a decent [2.44]. Those eager to follow the trends can back both teams to score at [1.97]. That would’ve been settled as a winner in four of Rangers last five starts.
Celtic v AIK
Thursday, 19:45
Live on Celtic TV
Bhoys must bounce back
Celtic drop into the Europa League play-offs following the bitter disappointment of being knocked out of the Champions League. It was a result that shook the Glasgow club to its very foundations, with Scott Brown, Neil Lennon and the board coming in for criticism from fans who believe a lack of ambition in the transfer window cost the club.
To get fans back onside the Hoops must complete nine league titles in-a-row, go close to a fourth domestic treble on the bounce and make a dent in this competition. To have any chance of achieving the latter they must pass AIK over two legs, starting at Parkhead on Thursday evening.
Celtic shot themselves in the foot
Celtic had the advantage over Romanian champions Cluj after battling to a 1-1 draw away from home in the first leg but they shot themselves in the foot, failing to capitalise in front of their own support last Tuesday. Forest, Edouard and Christie were on the scoresheet but that was bettered by Cluj who progressed thanks to goals from Deac, an Omrani double, and a 97th minute winner from Tucudean against the run of play.
The Hoops weren’t any more convincing on Saturday when needing extra-time to get past Championship side Dunfermline at home in the League Cup. That result certainly didn’t win Lennon any new friends and a banner in the near empty stands showed those who had turned up were furious with the board. A Johnston opener was cancelled out by Beadling for The Pars, Forrest hitting a winner on 114 minutes following a spell of heavy pressure. The home win is [1.5] favourite on the Exchange.
AIK beaten at the weekend
AIK trip to Glasgow on the back of a shaky run of form. They drew with Tiraspol at home in the third qualifying round of the Europa League but snuck through thanks to a 2-1 win achieved at Complexul Sheriff in the previous leg. The visitors have won four of their last six but followed that draw with a 2-1 home defeat to Kalmar in the Swedish Allsvenskan on Sunday.
That result did little to impress punters and users of the Betfair Exchange will find an away win available at a chunky [7.4]. That’s big, but it deserves to be. The draw is judged to be a little more likely, carrying a [4.4] price tag, but there shouldn’t be too much attention on that one either. Celtic have a point to prove and should do it in style. Back them -1 on the handicap at 17/10.
Source: Betfair Europa League
