Rangers to hold their nerve
Young Boys visit Ibrox with everything on the line in qualification terms from Group G, no one has qualified yet and no team cannot qualify meaning it will be an enthralling Thursday evening of action. Young Boys inflicted Rangers’ only defeat of the campaign in the reverse fixture with Christian Fassnacht’s 93rd minute winner separating these two. Steven Gerrard’s side come into this one with a point to prove having lost out in the Old Firm derby last time out, and having slipped down into second place in the Scottish Premier League in recent weeks, the success of their season could be hinging on the Europa League.
Ones to Watch
To start with the visitors, centre forward Jean-Pierre Nsame has been their standout player this term, with a break-taking return of 21 goals and four assists in 27 appearances. The Cameroon international has set the Swiss Super League alight with 15 strikes in 17 matches and will definitely be the back-to-back champions’ biggest threat in Glasgow. He is 23/10 to score at anytime with Bethard. Connor Goldson and Filip Helander managed to keep the 26-year-old relatively quiet in the reverse fixture despite the defeat and it seems certain that Gerrard will have a plan on how to deal with him on Thursday evening just the same.
Nsame’s opposite number has also been an animal in front of goal in 2019/20, Colombia international Alfredo Moreloshas been freakishly consistent in banging them in this campaign. The livewire has scored 25 goals this season before the new year in 31 appearances in all competitions, with 9 assists in total meaning he is averaging more than one goal involvement every single time he pulls on the shirt.
Another member of Rangers’ attacking contingent Jermain Defoe has gone under the radar having an excellent season, equaling Morelos’ SPL goal tally of 10 however he has found starts hard to come by recently, which is testament to the form of the Colombian. Expect him to come on and make an impact if required.
Recent fortunes
The hosts are clear favourites to get over the line with the bookmakers, however they are just one point above the Swiss champions and will need to be far more clinical than they were on Sunday in the Scottish League Cup final. They failed to find the net and lost 1-0 despite having seven shots on target to Celtic’s one, the floodgates may open if they can score early in the piece.
Young Boys have been leaky at the back of late, letting in 11 in their last five, a run that saw them record back-to-back 4-3 wins. They will not be so lucky against Rangers who will be on their game knowing the implications on their season should they fail here.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
An 89th minute Borna Barisic own goal lost this bet, with qualification sealed for Rangers with a 1-1 draw.