Directive duel in Group A

Sparta Prague certainly can’t complain about unattractive opponents in the current European Cup season. Next Thursday, the reigning Czech runners-up will face the next big-name heavyweight. Glasgow Rangers will then be guests at the Generali Arena in the group phase. Coach Pavel Vrba’s team has already faced Rapid Wien, AS Monaco and Brøndby IF in the group stage.

The match against the Scottish title holders has now already a trend-setting significance as the home side started the preliminary round with a goalless draw and the “Gers” even lost 0:2 against Olympique Lyon in their opener. Ahead of Sparta Prague’s game against Glasgow Rangers, it is therefore not too far-fetched to predict that the loser of the clash will suffer a major setback in the race to progress.

Because the German-licensed bookmakers cannot name a clear favourite and the odds are therefore relatively even between Sparta Prague and Glasgow Rangers, placing a bet on the number of goals is possibly the best option

Given the already mentioned high sporting importance of this match, it would be quite surprising in our eyes if the fans present in the Czech capital on Thursday evening should see a lot of goals

Czech Republic Sparta Prague – Statistics & current form

Starting with the aim of possibly qualifying for the Champions League group stage, Sparta Prague suffered an elimination in the third qualifying round against Monaco. Before that, the Czechs had narrowly beaten Rapid Wien (1:2, 2:0) after first and second legs, before finally losing both matches against Niko Kovac’s team. Nevertheless, Vrba’s team won a ticket to the Europa League and now faces tough challenges there as well.

The blue and yellow reds had to be content with a 0-0 drawat Danish champions Brøndby, although the Czechs were the dominant team for long stretches of the game, had more possession and also had more shots on goal. Nevertheless, two points were wasted due to an offensive performance that was too harmless on the bottom line.

Home strength vs. tight personnel situation

In total, Prague have only scored four goals after five international matches this season. In return, keeper Nita had to make seven saves. On average, the capital club has scored just over two goals per European Cup match. In as many as three out of five cases a bet on the under 2.5 would have gone through From a purely statistical point of view, therefore, there are definitely arguments for taking a closer look at the odds on under-goals between Sparta Prague and Glasgow Rangers.

In a second step, we can even imagine the home side winning their home match in the second matchday on Thursday evening. In the Sparta Prague vs. Glasgow Rangers clash, betting on a home win is favoured, among other things, by the fact that 13 of a possible 15 points have been taken from five games at home in the league.

At international level, for example, Rangers’ city rivals Celtic were beaten 4:1 in the pre-season. Lukas Julis, Ladislav Krejci, Casper Hojer and Borek Dockal are all missing due to injury. The hopes in the offensive will therefore once again rest on youngster Adam Hlozek.

Predicted line-up of Sparta Prague:
Nita; Wiesner, Panak, Stetina, Hancko; Sacek, Pavelka, Soucek; Moberg Karlsson, Hlozek, Pesek

Last matches played by Sparta Prague:

Scotland Glasgow Rangers – Statistics & current form

Steven Gerrard, Liverpool FC playing legend, has long since earned a cult status in Scotland’s football capital Glasgow too. After all, it was the 41-year-old Englishman who gave the “Gers” the almost forgotten feeling of a national championship. Even though Rangers missed out on a return to the big international stage in the summer, they want to do 2021/22 (even) better in the Europa League than they did last year.

Last season, the Scots reached the round of 16 but benefited from a lot of luck of the draw along the way. In the last 16, Sparta’s city rivals Slavia were too big for them. Will the Blue and White Reds now throw away all chances of advancing against Sparta of all teams?

Effectiveness is Gerrard’s top priority in 2021/22

At least that’s what it looks like as the islanders lost 2-0 at home to Olympique Lyon in their opener. The pressure is not getting any less, so a defeat on Thursday must be avoided at all costs.

It is quite possible that coach Gerard will once again opt for a somewhat defensive approach. If we exclude the national cup games, the “Gers” have only scored more than one goal of their own in three of twelve competitive games. The fact that the defending champions once again lead the domestic league standings is due more to their stable defence than to their prolific attack (twelve goals in seven games).

Consequently, the forecast for the Sparta Prague vs. Glasgow Rangers clash is also 2.5. In four of the last five encounters involving the record champions, such a bet would have paid off. With Ryan Kent, Filip Helander and Ryan Jack, three potential regulars are also out injured. However, coach Stevie Gerrard and his team would not have objected to a result similar to the 1-0 win in Dundee at the weekend.

Predicted line-up of Glasgow Rangers:
McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic; Kamara, Davis, Aribo; Hagi, Morelos, Roofe

Last matches played by Glasgow Rangers:

Sparta Prague – Glasgow Rangers Direct Comparison / H2H Record

In 1991/92, the two teams met in the first round of the UEFA Champions League, which at that time did not have a group stage to kick off the competition. The home team won 1-0 after normal time. In the necessary extra time, Rangers finally had the home advantage and the longer breath on their side in the second leg.

Sparta have lost only three of their eleven matches against Scottish clubs. Glasgow’s record against representatives from the Czech Republic, on the other hand, is narrowly negative, with three wins compared to four defeats and a draw.

Czech Republic Sparta Prague – Glasgow Rangers Scotland Tip

In Group A of the UEFA Europa League, it comes to the duel Sparta Prague against Glasgow Rangers on Thursday evening from 18:45. According to the betting odds, the Scots have the slightest advantage, although it would be presumptuous to call them favourites.

In any case, the three-way market is not our preferred betting market. Instead, we take a look at the quotes for a maximum of two goals in the course of the match. One of the reasons for a relatively low-scoring encounter is that this is a landmark match in which both teams are actually forbidden to lose. Therefore, neither team will take excessive risks.

Statistically, there are also arguments that point in the direction of the Under 2.5. The Scottish champions, for example, have scored more than one goal in only three of their twelve games this season. Three of Prague’s five European Cup matches also ended with a maximum of two goals in the course of play.