Ferencvaros vs Rangers Prediction: 11/5 Barron booking the best bet in Rangers reverse

Rangers’ long search for victory in this season’s Europa League comes to its sixth hurdle on Thursday when they visit Ferencvaros at the Groupama Arena (17:45 GMT, live on TNT Sports 4).

While their Scottish Premiership form has improved markedly under Danny Rohl, the Gers have had a European campaign to forget so far. My Ferencvaros vs Rangers predictions are below, complete with team news and Betfred’s match odds.

Team News

Ferencvaros boss Robbie Keane is without first-choice keeper Denes Dibusz and is also sweating on the fitness of midfielder Alex Toth and defender Stefan Gartenmann, both of whom have suffered knocks recently and are touch-and-go for Thursday’s clash.

On-loan midfielder Krisztian Lisztes is also facing a race against time to prove his readiness.

Danny Rohl is without Mohamed Diomande following the midfielder’s red card in the dying moments of the 1-1 draw with Braga a fortnight ago.

Nedim Bajrami went off early in the 3-0 win at Kilmarnock at the weekend with a hamstring strain but is ineligible anyway having been omitted from Rangers’ European squad along with Clinton Nsiala, Rabbi Matondo and Kieran Dowell.

Rohl is still without centre-backs John Souttar and Derek Cornelius, while Bailey Rice and Oliver Antman are long-term absentees.

Mikey Moore returned from injury to score as substitute in the win at Rugby Park and could be considered for the starting line-up. Dujon Sterling may also play a part after proving his fitness in training.

Ferencvaros vs Rangers Odds

The Hungarian side are 5/6 for the victory on home soil, with Betfred quoting Rangers at 16/5 to win for the first time in nine European games since their 3-0 Champions League qualifying win over Viktoria Plzen in early August.

It’s 13/5 about the draw, while you can make the most of Betfred’s 2-Up Early Payout offer by backing Ferencvaros at 4/5 for an automatic return should the home side go two goals ahead.

Today's Football Fixtures

Ferencvaros to Win to Nil @ 2/1

Since Rohl came in at the back-end of October, Rangers have won five and drawn two Scottish Premiership games. That’s seen them climb four places in the league and cut the gap from leaders Hearts by four points while gaining a game in hand.

But for all their domestic progress, the Bears’ continental campaign has taken a mental back seat following further disappointments.

The defeats to Brann and Rangers extended their European losing run to seven straight games, and while they did halt that streak against Braga at Ibrox the performance was pretty insipid – particularly at 1-0 up against 10 players.

So now that they sit five points adrift of the final play-off spot, the Europa League has become of secondary importance in the grand scheme of things. And even if it hadn’t, you’d have to fancy an unbeaten Ferencvaros to continue their great form under former Celtic loanee Keane.

Given how blunt the Gers have been in front of goal for most of this campaign, the 2/1 about the home side winning without a concession looks like a punter’s dream.

Football Odds

Connor Barron to Receive a Card @ 11/5

His sensational goal-line clearance when tracking back from a Rangers corner he himself took at Kilmarnock on Saturday summed up the work-rate of the former Aberdeen midfielder. And he’s a feisty little player, with a bustling running style which can get him into plenty of 50/50s.

His six yellow cards this season leave him behind only the injured Souttar among Rangers players on the disciplinary charts this season.

So I like the look of the 11/5 Betfred are offering on the number eight to be carded during Thursday’s Budapest date. That’s an implied probability of 31.3%.