Rangers can stop Niederkorn making progress

Europa League first qualifying round second leg
Premier Sports, 6.45pm Tuesday

Progres’ players were almost celebrating as they left Ibrox last Thursday, glorying in the fact they hadn’t been battered by Rangers in the first leg of their Europa League first qualifying-round tie.

The 1-0 defeat would have been considered a victory by the Luxembourg outfit, who had crawled into the competition courtesy of finishing fourth in their domestic league.

Having dodged a hammering in Scotland they may even believe they can make it an anxious night for Pedro Caixinha’s men back in their homeland, although the tie goes ahead at the Stade Josy-Barthel rather than on their own patch.

The layers dispute that – Rangers are 3-10 to win the second leg and daft odds to qualify – though it might not be a routine night for the Scots.

Progres were well disciplined in Glasgow if utterly unambitious and they took advantage of the fact that the Scottish outfit have undergone a sizeable summer rebuild. Five of Rangers' new players had pitch time at Ibrox and it showed.

A Rangers win and under 3.5 goals at 6-5 could be a shrewd play.

Certainly Progres aren’t easy to like as an attacking unit. Last season’s top goalscorer, 24-goal Remy Laurent, has joined Vitre in France and the hosts are also trying to integrate new bodies into their side.

Their record in 13 European ties reads 11 defeats and two draws with just one goal scored in those 13 ties and 41 conceded. That rate of concession has bottomed out in more recent campaigns and Rangers are unlikely to roll them over having failed to do so at home.

Recommendation
Rangers to win & under 3.5 goals
1pt 11-10 BoyleSports

Key stat
Progres have scored one goal in 13 European ties.