Rangers vs Ludogorets Prediction: 9/2 Fernandez the Manny for goals

Rangers are in the Europa League’s last-chance saloon on Thursday as they need to beat Ludogorets at Ibrox (20:00 GMT, live on TNT Sports 2) and hope other results keep them in the competition.

Danny Rohl might have turned the Gers’ form around in the Scottish Premiership, but he is yet to record a win in Europe and needs two from two and then some. Below are my Rangers vs Ludogorets predictions, as well as full team news and Betfred’s latest match odds.

Team News

Rangers boss Rohl has revealed that John Souttar is out for Thursday’s game as well as Sunday’s clash with Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

Dujon Sterling is still out, so the German will likely have to go with Nasser Djiga alongside Manny Fernandez at the heart of defence.

Connor Barron is out until March with a knee issue, while Oliver Antman is yet to return from a hip problem. New signings Tochi Chukwuani, Tuur Rommens and Andreas Skov Olsen join Nedim Bajrami, Derek Cornelius and Rabbi Matondo on the ineligible list.

Ludogorets are missing Aguibou Camara, who is out long term with a muscle tear, but otherwise have a full squad to choose from in the club’s first fixture in a month.

Rangers vs Ludogorets Odds

The Teddy Bears are backed to pick up a first win of the Europa League campaign, with Betfred pricing up a home victory at 19/20. That implies a 51.3% probability.

The Bulgarian side are 11/4, with the draw 13/5.

Following his hat-trick in the 5-0 Scottish Cup win over Annan Athletic, Bojan Miovski is 4/1 to fire the first goal in this clash. Youssef Chermiti and Danilo are both 9/2.

Today's Football Fixtures

Match Result & Both Teams to Score: Rangers & Yes @ 5/2

Having seen off Aberdeen twice and Annan without conceding, it is now 341 minutes of competitive action since Rangers were breached.

But the probable return of Djiga at centre-back alongside a still-raw Fernandez will make for a more uncertain experience for Gers fans. The duo have paired up for some key victories already this season, but they’ve not been without their heart-stopping moments.

Rohl has got Rangers firing of late, but they still lack compelling quality in the final third and are prone to lapses defensively.

The return to form of Miovski and improved displays of Chermiti have helped them move up to joint-second in the Premiership, but that needs converting to Europe if they are to make the most of their slender hopes of progression.

I think they’ll have just enough to get past Ludogorets, who haven’t played in a month due to Bulgaria’s winter break.

I’m banking on the away team scoring, but Rangers doing just enough from set pieces to make their visitors pay. At 5/2, that’s punter-friendly.

Football Odds

Manny Fernandez Anytime Goalscorer @ 9/2

Speaking of which, new set-piece coach Scott Fry has made a blinding start to life at Ibrox, with Fernandez being a key beneficiary.

The former Peterborough United defender has scored four goals in six home games since Fry transferred from Lincoln City in November, while there have also been goals for the likes of Nico Raskin and Thelo Aasgaard from well-worked corners.

Fernandez looks even taller than his 6’4” frame, thanks in part to his excellent timing in the air, and I think 9/2 for him to net at any time on Thursday is a huge price for a player who has become such a wonderful weapon in the opposition box.

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