Rangers v Braga predictions: Home advantage may help Gers turn tie around

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Rangers v Braga in the Europa League quarter-final second leg.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Thursday

Best bet

Rangers
1pt Evs BoyleSports

Team news

Rangers
Rangers will again be without Alfredo Morelos and Ianis Hagi. John Lundstram and Filip Herlander must be assessed after limping off in Sunday’s 4-0 win at St Mirren.

Braga
Carlos Carvalhal is expected to stick with the same starting 11 from last week with Nuno Sequeira, Jean-Baptiste Gorby and Roger Fernandes the only notable absentees.

Match preview

Rangers trail their Primeira Liga opponents Braga 1-0 following their Europa League quarter-final first-leg trip to Portugal but, spurred on by an electric Ibrox atmosphere, the Gers should fancy their chances of reversing the form.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side failed to register a shot on target at the Municipal Stadium, as they struggled to manage the absence of first-choice striker Alfredo Morelos, and they saw first-hand the threat that Braga carry going forward.

However, home advantage can be decisive in European competitions and while Gers have barely put a foot wrong at Ibrox, Braga have plenty to prove on their European travels.

It should not be forgotten that Rangers knocked out Bundesliga big boys Borussia Dortmund 6-4 on aggregate in the playoff round before overcoming Serbian side Red Star Belgrade 4-2 courtesy of a convincing 3-0 win at Ibrox.

Red Star beat Braga to take top spot in Group F, with the Portuguese side losing 2-1 in Serbia and then suffering a 3-2 defeat against Midtjylland in Denmark.

Carlos Carvalhal’s side have dumped out Sheriff Tiraspol and Monaco in the last two knockout rounds. However, they had lost the first leg in Moldova 2-0, while they pinched a 1-1 draw against their French victims despite having just 35 per cent possession and losing the shot count 14-9. Monaco had also racked up 11 corners.

Given Braga's narrow advantage, this tie remains in the balance and Rangers, who won at home and away against these opponents in this competition two years ago, can at least force extra time by obliging in 90 minutes.

Key stat

Braga have lost six of their last ten Europa League away games.

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