Are the Teddy Bears convincing internationally after an unsuccessful start to the season?

The decision on which teams will get the six remaining places available for the UEFA Champions League group stage is nearing completion. Only 22 teams are still in the running for one of the coveted starting spots that promise big money. Glasgow Rangers host Servette Geneva in the third round of qualifying and predictions from the best bookmakers are for a Scottish win in the first leg. The Teddy Bears went without a title last season. If that isn’t painful enough, fans had to watch city rivals Celtic win both the Championship and lift the Scottish Cup.

The Swiss go into this clash with the small advantage of having already played a few competitive games. The domestic Super League started the new season a few weeks ago and the Garnets also entered the international competition in the last round. Here, the men from French-speaking Switzerland caused a surprise and knocked the Belgians from Genk out of the Champions League. The visitors also find themselves in the underdog role in the upcoming clash. In the match between Glasgow Rangers and Servette Geneva, betting on the Grenats is rewarded with odds of 6.20 at the top

After last weekend’s league opener, the home side will have to prove themselves against the Swiss in this important fixture. Last year they reached the group stage, something the Blue-White-Red can be expected to do again this year. We will find out on Wednesday from 20:45, when kick-off takes place, whether the foundations for progress will be laid at home in the Ibrox Stadium.

Glasgow Rangers – Statistics & current form

Glasgow Rangers are the most successful club in the Scottish Premiership alongside city rivals Celtic. They have won the national championship 55 times and the national cup 34 times. The Gers are also regularly represented on the international stage.

Last season, the Teddy Bears only managed to finish as runners-up to the Bhoys, which must have been anything but satisfactory for the fans. After all, there is a bitter rivalry between the supporters of the two teams from the south of Scotland. Thirteen points difference lay between the two teams in the end.

Rangers with a false start to the league

The start into the new season was not very promising either. The blue-white-reds entered Kilmarnock as clear favourites, but a goal by Brad Lyons in the 65th minute directly put a damper on Rangers in the first game. A very unsuccessful dress rehearsal for the important first leg in the Champions League qualifiers next Wednesday.

As a result, the Gers find themselves in the bottom half of the still meaningless table. In the last season, the home side was convincing both offensively and defensively. 81 goals scored were the second best in the league. James Tavernier, who scored sixteen times, was the most successful goal scorer for his team. An astonishing quota for a defender, who is, however, his team’s regular penalty taker.

Can Rangers rely on their defence again?

The defence has usually been reliable. An average of one goal conceded per game was recorded. Only champions Celtic conceded less at the back. Now the important first leg for the group stage play-offs is on the agenda. Here, the best bookmakers see the hosts at an advantage. In the duel between Glasgow Rangers and Servette Geneva, odds of 1.53 are paid at the top for bets on the Teddy Bears.

Head coach Michael Beale’s side also competed in the Champions League last season. However, in a group with Napoli, Liverpool and Ajax Amsterdam, there was little to be gained for the blue and white. With six defeats, Rangers ended up at the bottom of the table.

Predicted line-up of Glasgow Rangers:
Butland – Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic – Lundstram, Raskin, Dowell – Lammers, Dessers, Sima

Servette Geneva – Statistics & current form

The reigning runners-up from Switzerland travel to Scotland. The account of the Garnets also already shows several national titles. Seventeen times the men from Romandie have been champions and seven cup victories have been won. Last season’s second-place finish enabled them to reach the qualifying phase for the Champions League. In the end, head coach Rene Weiler’s team was clearly behind Young Boys from Bern, but just ahead of FC Lugano.

Geneva with a good start to the season

Geneva have made a good start to the new season. After three match days, the Grenats are still without defeat. In addition to the 3:1 away win at the Grasshoppers from Zurich, there were point divisions against FC Zurich (2:2) and at Stade Lausanne-Ouchy (1:1). However, the performances were not necessarily convincing. Against FCZ, the visitors were trailing 0:2 for a long time and only managed to equalise shortly before the end of the 90 minutes.

It was even more dramatic last weekend, when the goal for the draw was only scored in the 96th minute of the game. Servette are currently in fifth place in the standings. They are two points behind the leaders. At this early stage of the season, major shifts are of course possible after each matchday.

Last season, Geneva had its problems in the exploitation of scoring chances. 53 goals scored were only the sixth-best figure in the ten-team league. This year, things are starting to look up. After three match days, the Grenats’ account shows an average of two goals scored per game. Chris Bedia, the man from the Ivory Coast, is his team’s most prolific scorer with six.

Servette surprised in Genk

The visitors entered the qualifying phase already in the last round. The Garnets had to deal with KRC Genk. Completely surprisingly, the Swiss prevailed. After a 1-1 draw at home, Weiler’s team drew 2-2 in Genk, so that a penalty shoot-out had to decide the match. In the end, Geneva had the better nerves and progressed to the next round. In Scotland, too, the Garnets were initially the underdogs. In the clash between Glasgow Rangers and Servette Geneva, odds of 6.20 are paid for bets on the Grenats.

Predicted line-up of Servette Geneva:
Mall – Vouilloz, Rouiller, Severin, Mazikou – Kutesa, Douline, Ondoua, Cognat – Bedia, Guillemenot

Glasgow Rangers – Servette Geneva Direct Comparison / H2H Record

The semi-final first leg is the first meeting between these two teams. Although both the Gers and the Garnets are regulars on the international stage, they have successfully avoided each other so far. In the first clash between Glasgow Rangers and Servette Geneva, bookmakers’ predictions have the hosts at an advantage, with odds of 1.53 at the top.

Glasgow Rangers – Servette Geneva Tip

This week sees the final push for the last Champions League places. For a place in the play-offs, Rangers must down Servette Geneva after a messed-up start to the season. The dress rehearsal did not go to coach Beale’s liking and it now has to be seen whether his team is ready for the international tasks at this early stage of the season. Actually, they can be expected to reach the group stage.

The visitors already have a few more matches under their belt and are in full competition mode. They like the role as underdogs, in which the Garnets surprised Genk in the last round. The Scots should be warned and not underestimate their opponents. In the league, the Swiss are still unbeaten after three matchdays.

Despite this, we see slight advantages for the hosts, at least in the first leg. At the Ibrox Stadium, the almost 50,000 spectators will stage a huge atmosphere in the stands for their team.

The guests were convincing in Genk and didn’t hide there. We think they are capable of scoring a goal on Wednesday as well, so betting on a match in which both teams score is an interesting alternative in the match between Glasgow Rangers and Servette Geneva at maximum odds of 1.82.