Will Rangers make a comeback?

Sporting Braga are on course for the semi-finals after their 1-0 quarter-final first leg win over Rangers FC. The archbishops from the northwest of Portugal already set the course for a place in the next round with a nil win in the first leg. Nevertheless, the semi-final ticket will still be hard-fought in the second leg.

After all, the away goals rule does not apply, so a narrow home win will be enough for Glasgow Rangers to at least force extra time against Sporting Braga in the second leg. Internationally, the Scottish record holders have only lost one home game in the Europa League this season – will it be the same?

Bookmakers have Rangers FC as favourites for the quarter-final second leg against the Portuguese visitors. For Glasgow Rangers vs. Braga, odds of only 1.95 are offered for tip 1. The last time the two clubs met in a UEFA Cup tie at the Ibrox Stadium, Rangers FC recorded a 3-2 win over Braga.

An attacking spectacle tends to be ruled out this time. Even the first leg between the two clubs was defensively dominated. Over 90 minutes, Glasgow Rangers did not even have a single successful shot on goal.

Glasgow Rangers – Statistics & current form

The championship in the Scottish top flight will be difficult to achieve for Glasgow Rangers. After all, two matchdays before the start of the Championship round, there was a defeat in the six-point game against Celtic, who thus extended their lead to six points.

Last week, Rangers FC completed the final matchday in the Premiership regular season with a 4-0 win over St Mirren. Head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side warmed up for their quarter-final second leg against Sporting Braga.

Rangers are under pressure to win the match against the Portuguese side. The Scottish record champions lost the first leg 1-0 away from home and were particularly disappointing in their attacking play. Compared to the last two rounds, where Rangers also defied BVB at times, the attacking department presented itself far too harmless.

Ibrox Stadium – Rangers’ fortress

Nevertheless, there is a chance to make amends at home. So far, Rangers have lost only one match at home in the current UEFA competition. That defeat came in the group stage against Olympique Lyon, and since then the Scottish record holders have gone unbeaten at home.

Across the competition, there has been only one defeat in the last 21 home games at Ibrox Stadium. The home defeat came in the explosive city derby against Celtic, and before that the record holders from Glasgow had gone 20 home games without defeat. It is quite possible that this will be continued against Sporting Braga.

Against teams from Portugal, Rangers FC have lost only four times in 21 matches on the international stage. One of those four defeats came against Braga, but Glasgow Rangers nevertheless also lead the direct comparison against the Archbishops.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst will still have to do without Hagi, Lowry, Morelos and Ofoborh for the quarter-final second leg against Braga due to injury. A similar starting eleven to the one used in the Premiership last matchday is therefore an obvious choice.

Predicted line-up of Glasgow Rangers:
McGregor – Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Bassey – Kamara, Jack – Aribo, Ramsey, Kent – Roofe

Last matches played by Glasgow Rangers:

Premiership
10/04/2022 – St Mirren 0 – 4 Rangers

Europa League Final Stage
08/04/2022 – Braga 1 – 0 Rangers

Premiership
03/04/2022 – Rangers 1 – 2 Celtic Glasgow

20/03/2022 – Dundee FC 1 – 2 Rangers

Europa League Final Stage
18/03/2022 – Red Star Belgrade 2 – 1 Rangers

Braga – Statistics & current form

Sporting Braga are targeting the semi-finals of the Europa League. The Portuguese side, just like in the last round against AS Monaco, have successfully mastered the home leg on the international stage and thus go into the second leg confident. Even a draw in the quarter-final second leg would be enough to secure a place in the final of UEFA’s second most important European Cup.

Looking at the Archbishops’ recent run of form, another win against their Scottish quarter-final opponents cannot be ruled out. Sporting Braga have won four matches in a row in recent seasons, including at home to Benfica Lisbon in the Liga Portugal.

Braga also went without conceding a goal in two of their last four competitive matches. In the match against Glasgow Rangers in particular, the Portuguese defence made a positive impression. Throughout the entire match, not a single shot was fired at the Archbishops’ goal. The aim now is to build on that in the second leg.

Braga vulnerable away from home

To do that, however, the Portuguese visitors will have to work on their recent record away from home. Internationally, Braga have not only failed to win any of their last three away games. Sporting Braga have even lost two of their last three away games. Only in the last EL away match against AS Monaco was there no defeat.

If you want to bet on Glasgow Rangers vs. Braga, you can get odds of up to 4.00 in case of success. However, SC Braga have only won two of their seven competitive matches on the international stage against teams from Scotland.

One of the two victories came against Glasgow Rangers. Head coach Carlos Carvalhal is now aiming for the next success and can draw on as many resources as possible. The Portuguese will only have to do without Fernandes, Gorby and Sequeira in the quarter-final second leg due to injury.

Projected line-up of Braga:
Matheus – Fabiano, Carmo, Tormena – Couto, Musrati, Horta, Gomes – Horta, Medeiros – Ruiz

Last matches played by Braga:

Liga Portugal
11/04/2022 – Vizela 0 – 1 Braga

Europa League Final Stage
08/04/2022 – Braga 1 – 0 Rangers

Liga Portugal
02/04/2022 – Braga 3 – 2 Benfica

21/03/2022 – Portimonense 1 – 2 Braga

Europa League Final Stage
18/03/2022 – AS Monaco 1 – 1 Braga

Glasgow Rangers – Braga Direct comparison / H2H record

This is the fourth time the two clubs have met on the international stage. So far Rangers FC lead the head-to-head comparison against Sporting Braga with a record of 2-0-1, with the only defeat coming in the most recent meeting. The two clubs previously met in the last 32 of the 2019/20 Europa League.

On that occasion, Rangers FC beat Braga by an aggregate score of 4-2. The Scottish record champions won both the first and second legs.

Glasgow Rangers – Braga Tip

Sporting Braga have already set the course for the semi-finals with a 1-0 win in the first leg. Because even a draw in the second leg is enough to reach the next round, it stands to reason that the Portuguese’s main focus in Glasgow will be on their defensive play. The strength of Braga’s defensive bulwark was already felt by Rangers FC in the first leg.

It would therefore come as no surprise if the Scottish record holders’ attacking line-up were to find Braga’s defence a tough nut to crack. At the latest in the course of the game, Rangers will have to risk more against Braga. A high-scoring second half can therefore not be ruled out.

As in the first leg a week ago, we expect a match of equals between the two clubs. Because Braga have stumbled away from home recently – at least on the international stage – we think betting on the 1X2 market is risky. However, the visitors are 1-0 up and have the potential to win the second leg as well.

For Glasgow Rangers vs. Braga, our betting odds are on “More goals in the 2nd half”. We are using six units for this bet.