Rangers relish Rapid challenge
Rangers
Rangers have been dominant at home this season. They’re undefeated, having won 9 of 10 in all competitions, including an opening day defeat of top of the table Hearts.
They’ll want to grab as many points as they can at home
Their first match in this season’s Europa League saw them away to a Villareal side that is brimming with quality. They went down twice exposing weaknesses, but also showed strength of character to fight back and earn a vital draw.
Steven Gerrard’s team are in a difficult group that also contains Spartak Moscow and they’ll want to grab as many points as they can at home. They need to seize the tactical nouse and desire that has seen them keep seven clean sheets at Ibrox.
Rangers’ record at home:
- Hearts (h) 2-1 ✅
- Kilmarnock (h) 1-0 ✅
- FK Shkupi (h) 2-0 ✅
- Osijek (h) 1-1 ➖
- Maribor (h) 3-0 ✅
- St Mirren (h) 2-0 ✅
- FC Ufa (h) 1-0 ✅
- Dundee (h) 4-0 ✅
- St Johnstone (h) 5-1 ✅
- Ayr (h) 4-0 ✅
Rapid Vienna
Rapid Vienna on the other hand have struggled away from home. Despite a surging victory at home to Spartak Moscow two weeks ago they’re enduring mixed form in the Austrian Bundesliga.
That will be a blow for the new manager’s backline
Rapid arrive in Glasgow for new manager Dietmar Kühbauer’s first game in charge. The Viennese outfit sacked their previous manager Goran Djuricin at the weekend. Kühbauer is back at his old club after playing 140 games during the mid-late 1990s.
Gerrard is more than aware of the immediate impact a new boss can have a club but is preparing well.
Rapid are missing key defender Max Hofmann who is out for two months with a knee injury. That will be a blow for the new manager’s backline.
Match Tips
Rapid arguably represents Rangers toughest challenge at home this season and it’s not altogether unlikely that with a new manager Rapid will have a boost.
Post bet chat Adam's Tips:
They took their time but the 'Gers got the job done as expected. They fought back from 0-1 down and then another 2 late goals sealed it 👊