Europa League: Progres Niederkorn v Rangers predictions and other Thursday games

Progres Niederkorn v Rangers
Premier Sports 1, 6.30pm Thursday

Anyone doubting the progress Rangers have made under Steven Gerrard should watch the Gers take on Luxembourg minnows Progres Niederkorn in the second leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie.

Two years ago the Gers suffered a humiliating 2-1 aggregate defeat to Progres in the Europa League first qualifying round but they returned to continental competition last season - Gerrard's first at the helm - and qualified for the group stage.

After a fruitful summer Rangers are targeting further improvement in Europe and they began with a dominant 2-0 success over Progres at Ibrox last Thursday.

Gerrard may use the second leg to hand a competitive debut to Swedish defender Filip Helander, who signed from Bologna earlier this month, but he is expected to name a largely full-strength side.

The second leg looks a formality - Rangers are 1-4 to chalk up another victory and 1-750 to qualify for the next round.

It should be another comfortable night for the Glasgow giants and they look decent value to win to nil.

Wolves will also be defending a 2-0 lead when they take on Northern Irish side Crusaders in Belfast.

The opening match was extremely one-sided with Wolves winning the shot count 29 to one and more of the same can be expected at Seaview with Nuno's outfit a week further along in their pre-season preparations.

Wolves's recent signings Jesus Vallejo and Patrick Cutrone are ineligible and Matt Doherty (knee) misses out but they should breeze through and are red-hot 1-11 favourites to get the win.

Aberdeen are well placed to advance after holding Chikhura to a 1-1 draw in Georgia last Thursday.

The Dons are likely to be without Ash Taylor, who sustained a hamstring injury during the first leg, but are 1-4 to go through with a victory at Pittodrie.

Liechtenstein outfit FC Vaduz trail 1-0 after last Thursday's trip to Hungarian side Fehervar but the tables could be turned in the Alps and the home side look overpriced.

The opening leg was well balanced with Fehervar winning the shot count 14 to 13.

It is reasonable to expect Vaduz to be stronger at home and they may advance to the third qualifying round for the first time since 2015.

Moldovan champions FC Sheriff are in a strong position after winning 1-0 at Albanian side Partizani but the return leg may not be as straightforward as markets anticipate.

Partizani competed well in the opening leg – restricting Sheriff to just six shots – and are decent value to avoid successive defeats.

Recommendations
Rangers win to nil
1pt 10-11 BoyleSports
FC Vaduz
2pts 13-5Betfred, Sky Bet
Partizani or draw double chance
1pt 9-5Betfair, Hills

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