Shkupi Skopje v Rangers Predictions & Betting Odds – 17th July 2018

Low scoring second-leg on the cards for Gers

Europa League Betting

Shkupi Skopje v Rangers Betting Preview – UEFA Europa League 17th July 4.55pm

Rangers gave Steven Gerrard a win in his first competitive game in charge. They banked a 2-0 win at Ibrox over Skopje in the first leg of this first qualifying round in the UEFA Europa League. Last season Rangers embarrassingly fell to Luxembourg minnows Progres Niederkorn during qualification. Have the Scottish side done enough to avoid any scares back out in Macedonia this week? Watch out for the early kick-off time and read our Shkupi Skopje v Rangers Predictions for more.

Rangers News and Form

Rangers looked as if they were going to get out of the first leg of the with nothing more than a 1-0 scoreline which would have left them just a little bit nervous. Last season a 1-0 win at home proved to not be enough to overcome the challenge of Luxembourg’s Progres Niederkorn. They did come out of the gates pretty well to be fair and their opening goal came in the 23rd minute when Jamie Murray hit the back of the net. They couldn’t sustain much of anything after the halftime break through and the whole affair just fell really flat. So it will have been a bit disappointing that they couldn’t find another gear after the break against their Macedonian opponents. They did look comfortable at the back though and Rangers to win to nil is at 21/20 odds* (Betting Odds were taken from July 15th, 2018 at 7:16 p.m.).

Fortunately for them, they got a bigger cushion as their second goal came in the 92nd minute of the game when James Tavernier, the best player for Rangers on the night, stepped up and slotted home a penalty. That will leave them feeling much better for their trip to Macedonia in midweek, but are still going to have to employ a bit of game management. We don’t see the second leg being high scoring either and under 2.5 goals at 27/20 for the match* (Betting Odds were taken from July 15th, 2018 at 7:16 p.m.) even though Skopje do have to come out and try to get something going. It was only when Rangers’ levels dropped off in that second half it did allow Skopje to get a couple of chances.

Shkupi Skopje News and Form

This is the first ever European campaign that Shkupi have been in involved in and it may all come to a bit of a premature conclusion for them. They took fourth place in their domestic league last term to put themselves in this position and the reason they don’t have European history behind them if because they haven’t been going that long. FC Shkupi was established after a merge back in 2012 between two other clubs. Like Rangers this was their first outing of the summer and having to play away in the first leg was always going to likely leave them chasing this tie. Will they be able to turn it around? We didn’t see enough in the first leg to suggest so as they didn’t create Rangers too many problems, so we are going with Both Teams NOT To Score for 3/4 odds* (Betting Odds were taken from July 15th, 2018 at 7:16 p.m.) for the second leg. This is just going to be about game management for the Gers.

Shkupi Skopje v Rangers Head to Head

The first leg was the first-ever meeting between the two sides. The winner of the tie will face either Petrocub Hînce?ti or Osijek in the second qualifying round.

Shkupi Skopje v Rangers Betting Odds*

Rangers 3/10
Draw 4/1
Shkupi Skopje
* (Betting Odds were taken from Ladbrokes on July 15th, 2018 at 7:16 p.m.)

Shkupi Skopje v Rangers Predictions

We are expecting Rangers to hold out and get through the tie on this one. The Macedonians didn’t raise too much of a threat and Rangers will just need to be steady and solid more spectacular. Tough game to call them because of that, so we are simply looking under 2.5 goals.