Aberdeen V Rangers
Wednesday 4th November 2019 – 19:45 (kick-off)
Scottish Premier League
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: MoPlay
Scottish Premier League Betting with 22Bet
(All betting odds displayed were correct as of 2nd December 2019 at 14:55)
Preview: A second meeting of the season for these teams. Rangers comprehensively won the first exchange 5-0 at Ibrox Stadium, which leaves Aberdeen with it all to do if they are to close the gap on a team nine points better off than themselves in the Scottish Premier League table.
Aberdeen Vs Rangers Live Stats & Betting Odds
Aberdeen Preview – Resurgent Dons sensing an upset?
It comes as no surprise that Aberdeen (3rd – W8 D4 L3, GF23 GA17) have been left behind by the ‘Big Two’ in the Scottish Premier League, with that pair now nine points clear despite playing a game less. Dropping points on a regular basis will do that. Standards have improved recently, however, registering four wins from the last five (W4 D1) to climb back into third and thus assuming the role of ‘best of the rest’.
The Dons went their opening ten league games without stringing consecutive wins together, which does illustrate how hit and miss Derek McInnes’ team have been. Something has clicked lately, though, maximising a soft set of fixtures to claim 13 of the last 15 available points. St. Mirren were dispatched last weekend in what was a second successive win at Pittodrie, after easing past Kilmarnock (3-0) at the beginning of last month.
Prior to winning the last two at home, Aberdeen went three said matches without doing so, which included a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Celtic. The Reds were four goals down before half-time, with the gulf in class very quickly and ruthlessly exposed. It was a very similar story at Ibrox when losing 5-0 to Rangers in September. Those humiliating scorelines could have created an inferiority complex. Either way, a huge performance is needed.
Rangers Preview – Adrenaline carrying them through congested period?
The games continue to come thick and fast for Rangers (2nd – W12 D1 L1, GF43 GA8). Last Thursday they were in The Netherlands earning a useful 2-2 draw with Feyenoord, while less than 72 hours later Steven Gerrard’s men were smashing Hearts 5-0 at Ibrox to move back level on points with Celtic. This trip to Aberdeen will mean a third competitive fixture in less than a week and with crucial games around the corner, some changes in personnel could be imminent.
Goal difference could prove decisive in this season’s title race – it is currently the only factor separating the top two at this moment in time – which made that big win last time out important. It also means Rangers can never really afford to let up in any league fixture, although this one with Aberdeen might be a rare exception. Two of the three previous visits to Pittodrie would result in points being dropped (W1 D2), making victory imperative and anything else an added bonus.
The other factor is the potential for fatigue creeping in, what with every game carrying almost the same weight of significance. Adrenaline certainly helps and The Gers should be able to boast plenty of that after a scintillating run of seven wins from the last eight games in all competitions, winning the last five in the SPL. In the league, a 1-1 draw at Hearts remains their only dropped points on the road so far (W6 D1) having scored in all seven away encounters.
Aberdeen Vs Rangers Key Facts:
- Aberdeen are five games without defeat in the SPL (W4 D1); they’ve scored in six of seven home fixtures (W4 D2 L1).
- Rangers have won all of their previous five SPL matches and have scored in all seven away from home so far (W6 D1 L0).
- Last season’s meeting at Pittodrie produced six goals and two red cards, although ultimately the spoils went to Rangers following a 4-2 victory.
Betting Summary
Just one goal separates the top two in the Scottish Premier League. Rangers (8/15 BetFred) are of course among that elite company, and can ill-afford any slip ups before the next Old Firm game. This is one of their more tricky assignments, though, and will be a third game inside six days. It would still require a brave punter to oppose a team in such excellent form; progressing well in Europe, Steven Gerrard’s imperious charges are on a five match winning streak in the league which includes putting five past Hearts on Sunday.
Already it feels like Aberdeen (11/2 Ladbrokes) are playing for third place. Derek McInnes’ side are simply too inconsistent and too far behind the Big Two, although this isn’t to say they cannot have an impact on the bigger picture. Their recent form, winning four of the previous five SPL fixtures (W4 D1), is their best spell of the season thus far. Furthermore, it is two wins from the last two inside Pittodrie, where they have scored in every encounter except the chastening defeat to Celtic.
Rangers are deservedly classed as favourites for this, but are short enough. Recent workload, along with the resurgent form of Aberdeen, means I wouldn’t be comfortable tipping them at those odds. Instead, back goals. Aberdeen have scored in 6/7 at home while Rangers are 7/7 for this statistic on the road. So the potential is there for another cracking affair between these two, who produced six goals in this same fixture last season.
