Rangers v FC Midtjylland
Thursday, 19:45
Live on Rangers TV
Gers aiming to see it through
Rangers welcome Danish side FC Midtjylland to Ibrox on Thursday night for the second leg of their Europa League qualifying third round. The hosts have one foot in the play-offs following a stunning 4-2 away win last week but are experienced enough to know their opponents remain a danger.
The hosts are favourites to win this match and qualify, moving to within one round of the all-important group stages. These sides served up a six-goal thriller at the MCH Arena in the first leg, however, and if the visitors score first, we’re in for a tense evening. Neutrals hope this match lives up to the excitement of the first leg.
Rangers oozed class in Herning
Rangers oozed class when batting their way to an emphatic 4-2 win over FC Midtjylland in Herning. Steven Gerrard set his side up to sit back and take what their opponents had to throw at them during the early stages. After feeling their way into the contest, the Gers hit back in devastating fashion. Alfredo Morelos scored the opener just before half-time, Aribo and Katic grabbing a quick-fire double not long after the re-start. The Scots were coasting at 3-0 but seemed to get too comfortable out in front and within five minutes it was 3-2 thanks to Onyeka and Kaba.
A stroll in the park quickly developed into a nail-biting evening but it was Rangers who held their nerve. They reorganised at the back and continued to play on the counterattack, fans’ favourite Scott Arfield scoring the final goal to make it 4-2. The second leg will be all about protecting that cushion for Gerrard and his troops. They’ve proven they can score against Midtjylland but must tighten up at the back and show they have what it takes to see the game out.
FC Midtjylland pulled into a gun fight
FC Midtjylland were well aware their best chance of seeing off a talented opponent in Rangers came from making home advantage count. Not many sides will lose four goals in front of their own fans in the first leg and find themselves in the next round. The Wolves were beaten by a hungrier and more organised team on the night and could do nothing more than admit it at the end of the contest. They were pulled into a gun fight and shot down on their own patch.
Leaking four goals at home is disastrous but the tie remains live thanks to the two they scored. FC Midtjylland must score, at least, three in Glasgow to have any chance of upsetting the odds and going through, but if they break the deadlock on Thursday night and silence the home support there’s no reason why they can’t go close. They rattled Rangers in Herning to make it 3-2 and had chances to equalise. This one is going to be just as interesting.
Home win better than expected
The Betfair Exchange has Rangers priced as firm favourites, and there’s no surprise there, but at [1.62] there’s still reason to back them and that’s a little more competitive than was expected. Barring that five-minute collapse last week, the light blues completely dominated FC Midtjylland on their own patch, both tactically and physically. They will build from there and do it again at Ibrox with the backing of a full house.
FC Midtjylland shot themselves in the foot by conceding four at MCH Arena and will be aware of the damage done. They are a talented team, however, full of good players, and will have confidence in their ability to get something here. Making Rangers work for their place in the play-offs will be the aim and they can save face by winning the second leg, even if they don’t progress. Score the first goal of the game and it’ll knock their opponents off their stride. The away win is a lively [5.4] on the Betfair Exchange, the draw trading at [3.9].
Both score sure to be popular
Both teams to score will be a popular bet on Thursday, following last week’s result, and backers can get their hands on a decent [1.7]. It makes more sense than taking a chance on no at [2.1]. Both score and Rangers win is available to those looking for a bigger price, offered at 11/5 by the Betfair Sportsbook.
The total goals market is another that should prove interesting, especially to punters eager to avoid picking a winner on Thursday night, or to those building accumulators. Over 2.5 seems a worthwhile investment at [1.7], Rangers keeping things tight in a match producing less than three goals is [2.14].
Source: Betfair Europa League
