Kick-off: 1945, 02/08/2018
Stadium: Ibrox
Rangers had to ride their luck at times when beating NK Osijek in Croatia but are now in pole position to progress from this tricky Europa League tie.
The Glasgow giants have looked strong at the back since Steven Gerrard’s arrival at Ibrox and are fancied to narrowly extend the 1-0 advantage on home turf.
Punters can get 9/10 for the Scottish outfit to come out on top again this week and that is our first Rangers vs NK Osijek prediction.
A Look At Rangers’ Betting Odds
Gerrard was given cause for concern as an Osijek side who beat PSV Eindhoven home and away last term sliced through Rangers three times within the opening 15 minutes.
But having survived that early storm, Rangers hit their hosts with a sucker-punch as Alfredo Morelos headed in a James Tavernier cross from close range.
The last time Gers claimed victory inside 90 minutes away from home in European competition was against Sporting Lisbon in 2008.
Gerrard said: “I thought the performance was strong. Defensively we were very good and I thought there were some heroic individual performances in amongst that.
“I’m happy and satisfied – but at the same time I have a lot of respect for the opposition and know there is still work to do. We’ll need another display like that.”
Looking at the Rangers vs NK Osijek odds, it is 11/2 for another hard-fought 1-0 victory in the return fixture.
A Look At NK Osijek’s Betting Odds
Osijek have since started their domestic campaign with a 4-1 defeat of Hajduk Split and will take heart from having beaten both PSV and Austria Vienna 1-0 away from home in this competition last term.
However, they couldn’t quite break down a Rangers rearguard inspired by keeper Allan McGregor and centre-backs Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic.
Gerrard was also pleased with the work-rate shown by his more attacking players in Croatia, including under-fire goalscorer Morelos.
The former Liverpool star told RangersTV: “I thought his performance was selfless. He ran his socks off for the team.
“His goalkeeper and defenders are thanking him and giving him credit for the work and shift that he put in for us. He should be proud of himself.”
Gerrard has clearly had a positive impact on a squad which sometimes lacked focus last term, so the signs are promising for the season ahead.
Let’s add 14/5 for a home win and under 2.5 goals in the game to our Rangers vs NK Osijek betting tips.
Additional stats
First-leg result:
NK OSIJEK 0-1 RANGERS – Alfredo Morelos
Previous head-to-head: N/A
Join bwin today and receive up to £10 money back as a FreeBet if your first wager at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater is a loser! Terms and conditions apply.
Stay close to the action with the bwin app. Access more markets than any other betting provider and scan our in-depth football statistics menu to find and make your bet selections fast. Download now the best betting app.
