Rangers vs. Real Betis Betting Tips, Prediction & Preview

Excitement is building for the upcoming clash in the Europa League group stage as Rangers prepare to host Real Betis at Ibrox on Thursday evening. This matchup marks their first competitive meeting, and both teams are eager to advance from Group C, alongside Aris Limassol and Sparta Prague.

Rangers are fueled by the desire to surpass last season’s Europa League campaign, where they narrowly missed out on the title, succumbing to Eintracht Frankfurt in a penalty shootout during the final. Their journey into this competition comes after a setback in Champions League qualification, where they faced a 7-3 aggregate loss to PSV Eindhoven. Despite a somewhat shaky start in the Scottish Premiership, currently holding the fourth spot and two losses in their initial five games, Rangers aim to shine on the European stage.

Their most disheartening result thus far was a 1-0 home defeat to Celtic, a match marked by the controversial disallowance of Kemar Roofe’s goal in the first half. Nonetheless, they rebounded with a convincing 2-0 victory over St Johnstone, with goals credited to Danilo and Rabbi Matondo. Nevertheless, a formidable challenge awaits them against Real Betis.

Real Betis earned their Europa League spot by finishing sixth in La Liga the previous season. While their current campaign has started solidly, it hasn’t been breathtaking, amassing seven points from their initial five games. Notable victories include a 2-1 triumph against Villarreal and a 1-0 win at home against Rayo Vallecano. In the prior Europa League season, Real Betis progressed to the knockout phase after navigating a group that included AS Roma, HJK Helsinki, and Ludogorets. However, their journey ended in the round of 16 with a 5-1 aggregate loss to Manchester United.

Real Betis faced a harsh 5-0 defeat against Barcelona in their recent fixture, underscoring the need for improvement ahead of their encounter with Rangers. The absence of key players like Nabil Fekir, Claudio Bravo, and William Carvalho due to injuries poses a significant challenge. Additionally, Aitor Ruibal, Youssouf Sabaly, and Rui Silva are sidelined with injuries, with Francisco Vieites expected to step in as the goalkeeper in Silva’s absence.

Injuries & Team Updates

On the Rangers’ side, central midfielder Todd Cantwell’s knee injury will keep him out, while Steven Davis and Kieran Dowell remain sidelined. Danilo’s recent injury, requiring surgery, leaves a gap in the lineup, likely to be filled by Abdallah Sima. Both teams grapple with injury concerns that may impact their starting formations.

Expected Lineups

Anticipated Rangers’ starting lineup features Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Yilmaz, Raskin, Lundstram, Matondo, Roofe, Lawrence, and Sima. Meanwhile, Real Betis’ probable lineup includes Silva, Bellerin, Bartra, Riad, Miranda, Altimira, Roca, Henrique, Isco, Perez, and Willian Jose.

Match Prediction

Though Rangers have had an inconsistent run in the Scottish Premiership this season, they closely match Real Betis, who have stumbled in their recent away fixtures. As such, a draw looms as a plausible outcome in this eagerly awaited showdown.

Rangers vs Real Betis Betting Tips
Selection	Odds	Bookie
Draw	13/5
1-1	11/2
BTTS	8/11