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UEFA Cup Betting: No reason why Rangers can't progress

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John Girvan isn't expecting too many goals or a great game as Rangers travel to Fiorentina but he's not putting anyone off backing Rangers to be contesting the UEFA Cup final in Manchester....

Rangers travel to Florence on Thursday for their hugely important UEFA Cup Semi-Final 2nd leg clash with Fiorentina. After a goalless first leg it's the hosts who are favourites to progress with the 'To Qualify' market pricing Rangers out at [2.88] whilst The Viola currently trade at [1.51].

The prospect of reaching the final is massive for both of these clubs, they are exactly the kind of sides who can only go so far in the Champions League and for some of the personnel within the respective squads, the dream is about to become a reality.

Rangers David Weir is certainly one such player. The veteran centre back turns 38 between this game and the final and with only one major honour to his name before joining Rangers last January (1998 Scottish Cup) the prospect of this year's UEFA Cup Final must be awesome. Rangers might have to make do without his services at the Stadio Artemio Franchi however as Weir limped off during Sunday's Old Firm defeat at Celtic Park. Despite scans showing no muscle tear, Assistant Manger Ally McCoist told BBC Sport "He's still feeling his groin so he is extremely doubtful and there's no magic wand"

At this stage it is widely expected that Christian Dailly will continue in the centre of defence alongside Carlos Cuellar, who returns to the side having served a one match suspension at the weekend. Kevin Thompson also returns after suspension and will have a big role to play in the middle of the Park along with Captain Barry Ferguson. These two both missed the home leg last week and Rangers will certainly be more of a threat from this area than they were at Ibrox. Jean Claude Darcheville is also expected to return as the lone striker in place of Daniel Cousin.

With three Serie A matches remaining, Fiorentina sit 4th in the table and look good for denying 5th placed AC Milan Champions League football next season. After 18 home matches this season their record reads W11 D4 L3 F32 A17. From this we can see that they are not impermeable at the back and in fact lost two goals in a 2-2 draw when sixth-placed Sampdoria travelled to Tuscany on Saturday night. They have won 61% of their home ties this season however and are [1.67] in the match odds for Thursday. For Rangers backers, an away victory is on offer at [7.0] with the draw trading at around [3.8]

A Rangers opener would leave the home side requiring two goals to book a place in the final and conversely if the home side are to bag the first then The Gers may be forced to ditch the 4-5-1 policy and things would surely open right up. Either way, there are several options in the HT/FT market where Fiorentina/Fiorentina is the market leader at [2.7]. Those who look at repeat outcomes may be on Draw/Rangers - this was the outcome in Lisbon and can be backed at [14.0]. Fiorentina/Draw at [19.0] would mirror events for Rangers in Athens and would also be enough to send them through, as would Rangers/Draw at [26.0].

It's difficult to see [5.6] being snapped up for Draw/Draw in this market however. For this to occur it would most certainly be via a 0-0 score line and this can be backed in the 'Correct Score' market at a more lucrative [8.8]. 1-1 was enough for Rangers in Athens after an identical 1st leg score line and can be taken here at odds of [8.2]. It's not really a match for certainties but, when pushed, Under 2.5 goals looks good at [1.67].

The question on everyone's lips at the moment is: can Rangers make the Final? Looking at their achievements so far this season there cannot be a reasonable argument to say that they can't. Whether they will however, is a different matter and supporters of the boys in royal blue will be hoping that the adrenalin of such an occasion will carry them over the finish line first here and all the way down the M6 to Eastlands.