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Rangers must bounce back from opening day defeat
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Goals shouls flow at Ibrox
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Servette knocked out Genk for Rangers tie
Rangers v Servette
Wednesday; 19:45
Live on BBC Scotland
Bears must bounce back
The 2023/24 Scottish Premiership season is a game old, and Rangers fans have already had their fill of disappointment. The new-look Scottish Premiership challengers were shot down by Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Saturday evening, with the Ayrshire club winning 1-0.
In his post-match interview, Gers boss Michael Beale said fans had every right to make their feelings clear at the end of the play. Although the Englishman denied his players lacked effort. The thousands of expectant fans that crammed the away end on Saturday evening disagree.
The win and three points went to the team that wanted it more and worked harder. Back-to-back defeats in his opening two games of the campaign would be a disaster for Beale. The Bears must bounce back against Servette at Ibrox on Wednesday in this UEFA Champions League qualifying third-round tie.
European nights hit hard at Ibrox
Qualifying for the Champions League group stages for the second season on the bounce would prove Rangers are back where they belong. The Govan side enjoyed a torrid European campaign last term, finishing bottom of Group A behind Napoli, Liverpool, and Ajax.
The Gers suffered painful beatings in their six games but reached the Europa League final the previous year. To be back challenging Celtic, Ibrox needs regular Champions League football.
To remain in the running for the groups, Rangers must come through two qualifying rounds, starting with a doubleheader against Swiss Super League runners-up Servette. It's a potential banana skin, especially after Saturday's loss at Rugby Park, but everyone connected to Ibrox knows another defeat would be damaging. Rangers must win, kill the tie in the first leg and put on a show by scoring a few.
Beale admitted Saturday's loss at Killie tempered the summer excitement but recognised his team created enough chances to win the game and expects his attack to be more clinical on Wednesday. The Englishman's team enjoys a clean bill of health heading into this early-season drama.
Maroons score a weekend win
Knowing they are the underdogs, Servette will walk out before a packed Ibrox Stadium to continue their Champions League adventure. But that was true in the previous round against Genk, and the Swiss team battled through.
Most football pundits expected the Belgian Pro League runners-up to be at Ibrox, but they were beaten by a battling Maroons who progressed on penalties.
With the first leg locked at 1-1, the teams couldn't be separated as the second leg ended 2-2. It was close, and 180 minutes of Champions League qualifying football followed by extra time couldn't separate the pair, meaning penalties were required. Servette won 4-1 from the spot to book a trip to Scotland, where the underdogs hope to cause another upset.
Rene Weiler masterminded a weekend draw with Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy, managing something their opponents couldn't. Servette fell behind in that game but leveled deep into stoppage time thanks to a goal from German attacker Patrick Pflucke who clambered off the bench to help his team avoid defeat. Confidence is sky-high in the away dressing room, but will that be enough to get a result on Wednesday evening under the lights at Ibrox?
Rangers to get the result
Rangers toiled on Saturday against a well-organised and hard-working Kilmarnock. They created chances to score, but the attack needs time to gel following sweeping summer changes.
A home game at Ibrox in the Champions League allows Gers to flex their muscles and land a morale-boosting and impressive win. Back Rangers to win at 1.538/15 or take -2 on the handicap at 4.67/2.
Servette impressed in that win over Genk but needed extra time and penalties to get through. They also had French attacker Enzo Crivelli red-carded early in that game with six others booked.
That leaves players suspended for the journey to Scotland and a few others on bookings and walking a tightrope. The 6.25/1 available on the Betfair Exchange tells how bettors expect this game to go, while the draw will net backers 4.67/2.
Rangers invested heavily in Beale's idea of an attack for this season, including a massive outlay for Brazilian striker Danilo from Dutch champions Feyenoord. He was brought in for the big occasions and will lead the scoring in midweek. Over 2.5 goals at 1.738/11 is worth considering as midweek accumulators return. Both teams to score trades at 1.865/6.