Rangers vs Aris Limassol Prediction: Home win will push the Gers through

Europa League action returns on Thursday with another exciting night in Govan. Rangers target a revenge win over Limassol, and Betfred’s Frank Monkhouse expects everything to go to plan…

Round five of the Europa League group stages sees Rangers host Aris Limassol at Ibrox from 20:00 GMT on Thursday. The home team start second in the pile behind current pool leaders Real Betis, but Rangers beat the La Liga outfit in their opening game. They also bettered Sparta Prague here and aim to complete the set with a home win over Limassol. Three points would ensure the Gers qualify for the knockout stages.

Limassol jet to Ibrox stuck to the bottom of Group C with one win and three defeats on the board. Interestingly, their only pool win to date came at home against the Scots, and the visitors know a double would breathe life back into their campaign. Limassol needs all three points to remain in the running, but will they get the result? That’s easier said than done in such an intimidating atmosphere.

Team News

As Rangers’ injury worries continue to improve, manager Philippe Clement has more options available in squad rotation. The Belgian wants competition for places, hoping that will enhance efforts and lead to success domestically and on the continent. The Gers claimed their first Europa League win under Clement when they beat Prague 2-1 at this venue before the international break. It was a fantastic effort, and another home win is expected when Aris comes calling on Thursday.

Despite enjoying an unbeaten run since Clement arrived at Ibrox to replace former boss Michael Beale, Rangers dropped two vital points at Aberdeen on Sunday. After seeing Celtic draw at home with Motherwell, that trip to Pittodrie was a chance to slash the champion’s advantage. The Rangers' attack failed to convert their chances on a frustrating afternoon in the Granite City, and fans now demand a response in the Europa League.

Aris poor form continues

Aris Limassol arrive in Govan following back-to-back Europa League defeats, losing 1-0 at home to Real Betis and 4-1 on the road. They are now bottom of the pool with just three points collected from the dozen available, scoring five goals but conceding nine. Results suggest they’re stronger at home than they are on their travels.

Aris warmed up for this game in Scotland with a hard-fought 1-0 win over APOEL FC on Saturday. The winning goal in that fixture came from Artem Shumanskiy with 75 minutes on the clock, meaning they travel with confidence. Doing the double over Rangers, even if it doesn’t secure them progress to the next round, would prove Aris belongs at this level.

Rangers v Limassol Odds

New and existing Betfred account holders enjoy pre-match and in-play betting odds on Thursday evening’s game from the Europa League. They play will be live on TNT Sports from 20:00 with a capacity crowd in attendance at Ibrox, creating a unique atmosphere. Will it drive the locals to an important victory and spot in the next round?

Traders working at Betred believe so, offering a win for Rangers at 3/10. That’s sure to be popular in midweek accumulators, and it looks a strong shout. The draw would set up a grandstand finish in the pool, and you can back a level finish at 9/2 while victory for Aris Limassol is 17/2. Rangers are the strong pre-match favourites, and we’re not in a rush to argue the point with traders who appear to have the market spot-on.

Bet 1: Rangers -1 handicap @ 5/6

Rangers lost their only previous game against Aris when suffering a shock 2-1 defeat last month. The Cypriots claimed a narrow victory that day against the odds, but Rangers were between managers with Northern Ireland and Rangers legend Steven Davis in the dugout. It was a poor show from the Gers last time, but much better is expected here.

Having created enough chances to win several games on Sunday but still ending level with Aberdeen, there’s serious pressure on the Rangers' attack, including the misfiring Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers. A strong showing is required to win over the fans and coaching staff following Sunday’s below-par performance. We expect a fightback with Rangers creating chances and scoring goals.

Bet 2: Rangers win to nil at 23/20

After seeing the Rangers' defence split apart for Aberdeen’s goal on Sunday and remembering Limassol scored two when hosting Rangers in a win, backing Rangers to keep a clean sheet may seem like a strange call. But the defence is under just as much pressure as the attack with the likes of Borna Barisic and Conor Goldson needing a huge effort. Clement will demand his backline work hard to eliminate mistakes and help build an attack from the back.

Despite losing that goal at Pittodrie, the Gers rearguard is moving in the right direction. They kept a clean sheet against Livingston and Dundee in November and Sparta Prague, Hibs, and St Mirren in October. Back a strong home win for Rangers, with the home fans appreciating an improved performance in defence and attack.

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