Will Sparta spring a surprise in Glasgow?
In Group A of the Europa League, Olympique Lyon are already confirmed as group winners after four wins. Behind them, Sparta Prague, Glasgow Rangers and Brøndby IF are fighting for the free places in the intermediate rounds of the Europa League and Conference League. The winner of this match will definitely go into the sixth and all-important matchday as the runner-up in the group.
In the run-up to the match between Glasgow Rangers and Sparta Prague, the odds are clearly in favour of the Scots, although the Gers have been in poor form of late following their change of manager.
In addition, the Czechs have not only already won the first leg, but have also come out on top in two of their three competitive matches against the Scots. Accordingly, there is a lot of value to be found in Glasgow Rangers vs Sparta Prague in tip 2.
It is not advisable to hedge the bet with a “Draw No Bet”, as the risky bet could just as easily fall through because of a home win for the Scots. If you are looking for a little more security instead, you could use a free bet.
Glasgow Rangers – Statistics & recent form
Nine years have passed since the lights went out at traditional Scottish club Glasgow Rangers in what was arguably the darkest hour in the club’s history: Insolvency and relegation to the fourth division.
But after three promotions in four years, the Gers returned to the Scottish Premiership, where this summer they secured the national championship again at the fifth attempt. With vigour. In the end they finished 20 points clear of arch-rivals Celtic.
Misfiring competitive debut of van Bronckhorst
However, this success also aroused desires. Successful coach Steven Gerrard, for example, had just moved to Aston Villa, which put a small damper on the Light Blues in the middle of the season. Giovanni van Bronckhorst and co-coach Roy Makaay took over as coach and got off to a bad start on their competitive debut on Sunday. However, it must be noted that the Dutchman still had to watch the game from the stands.
At home in Ibrox, they lost 3-1 to Hibernian in the League Cup. Nationally, it was the first home game lost since 4 March 2020, when they lost 1-0 to Hamilton Academical in league action. Gers supporters are suitably concerned.
Only five defeats in last 29 European home games
Adding to that, things haven’t exactly gone smoothly in the Europa League either for the Scots, who have picked up just four points from a possible 12 from their opening four games and have the difficult away game at Olympique Lyon still to come on matchday six.
True, the Gers have lost only five of their last 29 European home games (18 wins, six draws). But because three of those five defeats have also come in their last five games, it is all the more surprising that the Light Blues go into the game so heavily favoured.
Predicted line-up of Glasgow Rangers:
McGregor – Barisic – Balogun – Goldson – Tavernier – Arfield – Kamara – Davis – Kent – Aribo – Morelos
Last matches played by Glasgow Rangers:
League Cup
11/21 2021 – Rangers 1 – 3 Hibernian
Premiership
11/07 2021 – Rangers 4 – 2 Ross County
Europa League Grp. A
11/04 2021 – Brøndby Kopenhagen 1 – 1 Rangers
Premiership
10/31 2021 – Motherwell 1 – 6 Rangers
10/27 2021 – Rangers 2 – 2 Aberdeen
Sparta Prague – Statistics & current form
Sparta Prague are one of the most successful clubs in the country with a total of 36 national championships, but last won the Czech title in the summer of 2014.
Nevertheless, the Rudi (the Reds) are permanent guests in UEFA competitions and are in their 39th season on the international stage. They have even reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League in their best ever run in the 2015/16 season.
Four points out of a possible twelve from the first four games
At the moment, Železná Sparta still have a good chance of reaching the knockout stage, but they need a point in Scotland if they are to make the leap to second place in their clash with Brøndby in a fortnight’ time.
The Czechs, however, who made a complete mess of their dress rehearsal in the league on Sunday with a 4-0 defeat at FC Slovácko, have not fared too well in Group A of the Europa League so far either. Only the first leg against the Gers was won 1:0. From the other three games, the Rudi scored only one more point.
Lost ten of last twelve international away matches
The Czechs’ away record in particular reads extremely poor. They have lost ten of their last twelve international matches away from home (one win and one draw).
But at least the record against the Scots is in favour of the Rudi, who won two of the three matches against the Gers. With this in mind, too, it’s not so far-fetched to risk the underdog bet and go for tip 2 on Glasgow Rangers vs Sparta Prague.
Predicted line-up of Sparta Prague:
Nita – Hancko – Celustka – Panák – Wiesner – Krejci – Pavelka – Sácek – Haraslín – Pesek – Minchev
Last matches played by Sparta Prague:
1st league
11/21 2021 – Slovacko 4 – 0 Sp. Prague
11/07 2021 – Sp. Prague 4 – 2 Teplice
Europa League Grp. A
11/04 2021 – Lyon 3 – 0 Sp. Prague
1st League
10/31 2021 – Banik Ostrava 2 – 2 Sp. Prague
Cup
10/27 2021 – Teplice 0 – 2 Sp. Prague
Glasgow Rangers – Sparta Prague Direct comparison / H2H balance
Head to head: 1 – 0 – 2
Three times both teams have faced each other in a competitive match so far and with two wins the Czechs lead the direct comparison. In total, Sparta have visited Scotland four times for a competitive match and have returned home with a win on three occasions.
Glasgow Rangers – Sparta Prague tip
When it comes to Glasgow Rangers against Sparta Prague, our prediction is largely influenced by the change of coach at the Scottish side. Under van Bronckhorst, they suffered their first home defeat at national level in over 20 months on their competitive debut at the weekend. In addition, the Gers have lost three of their last five international home games and are certainly vulnerable.
This is of course an underdog bet, as the Czechs are anything but strong away from home. The value for this tip is nevertheless extremely high and can also be justified by the fact that the Rudi have won three of their four previous visits to Scotland.
