Rangers vs Viktoria Plzen Prediction: Back the Home side to win at 11/10

Runners-up in the Premiership face the second-best team in the Czech league at Ibrox on Tuesday evening. Rangers enjoy the home advantage over Viktoria Plzen and know they must make it count following a poor showing on Saturday.

Betfred’s Scottish football writer Frank Monkhouse offers his Rangers vs Viktoria Plzen Predictions in his match preview for us here at Betfred Insights...

*You can check out all of the Football Odds from the plethora of games available to bet on over on betfred.com

Rangers host Czech First League side Viktoria Plzen in a hugely important Champions League third qualifying round first leg in Glasgow. The locals find themselves with a point to prove so early in the season after managing only a draw at Motherwell on Saturday evening.

Gers took the lead, but reverted to type when failing to kill the game off. New manager Russell Martin took no prisoners in his post-match interview, remarking that his team were lucky to escape Fir Park with a point.

Viktoria Plzen travel from Doosen Arena following a battling 3-2 aggregate win over Servette in the previous round. The six-time national champions won 3-1 in Switzerland less than a week ago, and now aim for another upset in Scotland.

Plzen opened their domestic campaign with a big win and enjoyed a weekend off to ensure the players arrive in Glasgow fit, fresh, and ready for action. Will it pay off?

Rangers vs Viktoria Plzen TV:

As of the time of publication, there is no broadcast TV partner for this Champions League tie. Rangers TV will provide a Live Stream for all subscribers to this service.

Rangers vs Viktoria Plzen Odds

It would be polite to label it a false start from Rangers away to Motherwell at the weekend. The manager went with an almost identical team to the one that battled past Panathinaikos in Greece just three days earlier. Did fatigue play a part, or does Martin’s team need time to gel? Both may be true, but too many players in blue were out-fought, out-muscled, and out-worked by the Steelmen, something Russell knows is unacceptable at this club.

The home players face a challenge to return to winning ways following back-to-back draws, showing they deserve a place in this new-look Gers. The home win is priced at 11/10 with Betfred, and is sure to appear in a few midweek accas.

Viktoria Plzen would’ve, undoubtedly, benefited from having the weekend off, allowing the team to sit back and watch their opponent scramble to a draw. Visiting manager Miroslav Koubek would’ve taken plenty of encouragement from a Rangers defence riddled with mistakes and a toothless attack. But the former Sparta Prague goalkeeper also takes heart from how his team has performed lately.

Plzen beat FK Pardubice 5-1 in the league opener, and drew 2-2 with Jablonec in their second start. In the Champions League, Viktoria lost 1-0 at home to Servette in the first leg, but responded to win the second leg 3-1. The away win will attract attention at Betfred’s 21/10 while a third draw for Rangers in three games trades at 23/10.

Rangers win

I expected Rangers to beat Motherwell on Saturday, and the Glaswegians started well enough, creating chances, forcing corners, and eventually scoring thanks to a James Tavernier header.

Once in front, too many were guilty of taking their foot off the gas or settling for a safe pass, all too happy to hide in the heat of battle. Those who chose to coast the second 45 minutes ultimately cost their team a winning start.

Martin’s criticism of some of his players’ efforts and their inflated egos would’ve been echoed in the meeting room on Sunday before turning their attentions to this match.

The Gers have the quality to win this, and an electric atmosphere inside the historic Ibrox will drive them to a first-leg lead. Anything less would be viewed as a failure by fans. Having scored three goals in the previous round, conceding only one, I’m backing the home team to steady the ship, and you can follow at Betfred’s 11/10 price tag.

Gassama to score

It’s always difficult to find any worthwhile trends this early in the season, but Rangers’ summer arrival Djeidi Gassama stands out. The former PSG man has hit the ground running at Rangers, scoring two beautiful goals against a strong Panathinaikos side. The 21-year-old winger netted a peach at Ibrox before following it up with a crucial goal in Athens.

Gassama started the game at Motherwell and wasn’t slow in dragging his team forward, but he did look a little tired near the end. The youngster was eventually replaced by Oscar Cortes, ensuring he’ll be ready to head back into battle on Thursday.

Always eager to take a defender on and have a shot at goal, I’m picking the new fans’ favourite to add to his Champions League tally, again proving his pedigree.

Frank Monkhouse Scottish Football P/L

25/26 Season:

• Points Placed: 8
• Points Returned: 2.47
• P/L: -5.53

24/25 Season:

• Points Placed: 257
• Points Returned: 252.25
• P/L: -4.75

Frank Monkhouse covers Scottish Football for us here at Betfred Insights. You can check out all of his work along with that of the rest of our Football Betting Tips desk on our main Football page...