Rangers vs Royale Union SG prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-01-29 20:00.
[p]The UEFA Europa League (UEL) knockout round play-offs seemingly beckon for both Rangers and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, although a win for either side could send them straight into the last 16 if there are some favourable results elsewhere. The picture could’ve been a bit brighter for Rangers had they not conceded in stoppage time against Manchester United in the last round (L 2-1), although they followed that up by beating Dundee United 3-1 on Sunday.[/p]
[p]Manager Philippe Clement has come under pressure given how far they are behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, so the UEL has been a saving grace for the Gers this season (W3, D2, L2). Having only ever lost two home UEL group/league phase games (W10, D6), they also boast a perfect record at home to Belgian clubs (W6), a statistic they’ll be eager to maintain and finish the league phase on a high.[/p]
[p]Royale Union visited Ibrox in 2022/23, losing 3-0 in a Champions League qualifier but they’ll be confident of a better showing here after beating Braga 2-1 last matchday and hammering Beerschot 4-0 in the league on Sunday. That was their fourth-straight victory in all competitions and they’re unbeaten in the UEL since matchday three (W3, D1) with those victories all coming via one-goal margins.[/p]
[p]All three of their UEL away games this term were decided by single-goal margins (W1, L2), so the Belgians are used to scrapping on foreign soil, but they’re still seeking their first ever goal in any European competition in Scotland (L2). They’ve only ever scored in one of their four visits to the British Isles, losing on each occasion, so a result here would mark a historic breakthrough.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Hamza Igamane completed Rangers’ scoring in both of their last two UEL home games and has six goal contributions across his last six appearances in all competitions (G5, A1). Franjo Ivanović has now scored each of Royale Union’s last four UEL goals, three of them after half-time, while he has netted twice in each of his side’s last two games.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: An opposing player has been sent off in each of Royale Union’s last three fixtures.[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]