Rangers v NK Maribor Predictions & Betting Odds – 9th August 2018

Gers to edge tight first leg at Ibrox

Europa League Betting

Rangers v NK Maribor Betting Preview – UEFA Europa League 9th August 7.45pm

Rangers are still looking for an extra edge going forward as that is something which has been missing from them. They are now at the third qualifying round stage of this season’s Europa League though and they get a tough tie now against Maribor. The Slovenian side also started at the first qualifying round like Rangers did and much like the Gers, have shown a lot of defensive strengths. This should be tight.

Rangers News and Form

Rangers conceded late to settle for a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen on the weekend, in their first game of the new Scottish Premiership season. That was actually their fifth game of the season though as they have been plodding through the Europa League qualifiers. In the first qualifying round, Rangers beat Shkupi 2-0 on aggregate, before getting past Osijek 2-1 in the second qualifying round. It has all been tight for Rangers though, who have come up with only the three goals in their last four games now.

Their defence has been solid with three clean sheets in five games though and their strengths are at the back, not so much going forward. Under 2.5 goals is at 29/40 with bet365* (Betting Odds were taken from August 5th, 2018 at 11:02 p.m.) for this one. If you were looking at Rangers getting a home win in this first leg, then there is a temptation to back them to do it to nil. Frankly, they are going to have to show some initiative in his one because they will have a tough away game to follow and don’t want to be chasing for goals.

NK Maribor News and Form

Maribor saw off Partizani Tirana 3-1 on aggregate in the first qualifying round of this season’s Europa League and then beat Rudar Velenje 2-0 on aggregate. They have completed three games for their new domestic season too. So far really the stand out performers in goalscoring for them this season have been Luka Zahovic and Jasmin Mesanovic which are ones to look out for in the anytime goalscorer market perhaps. Of the five games played they have taken four clean sheets so the comparisons with Rangers are there.

In the bet365 correct score market you are looking at a price of 15/2 on the 0-0 cropping up while a Rangers 1-0, given they are on home soil is at 11/2* (Betting Odds were taken from August 5th, 2018 at 11:02 p.m.). So the Slovenians look decent enough at the back which could be a problem for Rangers’ lightweight attack. But this will also be Maribor’s toughest game so far. Last season they were in the Champions League qualifiers and made it to the group stage posting a W4 D4 L4 record in their European campaign. Their last Europa League campaign was ended at the playoff qualifying round in 2016/17.

Rangers v NK Maribor Head to Head

Rangers and Maribor have met before. In the 2001/02 they were paired up in the Champions League and Rangers won both games comfortably, scoring exactly three goals in each. Then it was in the 2011 Europa League that they next met up with Maribor winning through 3-1 on aggregate on that occasion.

Rangers v NK Maribor Betting Odds*

Rangers 4/5
Draw 5/2
Maribor 7/2
* (Betting Odds were taken from August 5th, 2018 at 11:02 p.m.)

Rangers v NK Maribor Predictions

This is a tight game to call because they look to be shaping up in pretty similar fashion to each other. The Gers really have to get something on the board in this tie and we are just going to back them to edge their way through the first leg and a 1-0 correct score in their favour appeals.