Napoli vs Rangers prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-10-25 19:00.
Napoli extended their unbeaten Serie A start (W9, D2) and secured an 11th-straight win in all competitions at the weekend with a 1-0 victory against Roma. Itâs been much the same on the European front for the Italians too, with four wins from four so far in their UEFA Champions League (UCL) group stage meaning they are already through to the knockout rounds, although another victory here against Rangers would strengthen their bid for top-spot in Group A.
Topping the group should in theory give Napoli a more âfavourableâ draw in the next round against a second-placed side from another group, and considering theyâve never progressed beyond a UCL last-16 this may be high on Luciano Spallettiâs agenda. Napoli could even secure that feat by bettering Liverpoolâs result against Ajax, and the Italians should feel confident of holding up their end of the bargain given theyâre unbeaten in ten UCL home games (W7, D3).
Rangersâ UCL journey has been far less fruitful, losing all four of their group games with their elimination from Europeâs top-tier competition already assured. The Scots could still secure third spot in Group A and a place in the UEFA Europa League, but that would likely rely heavily on bettering Ajaxâs result against Liverpool now H2H records are the first deciding factor, with the two sides meeting on the final matchday after Rangers were drubbed 4-0 in the reverse.
The prospects look fairly bleak for Rangers however, with just two of the last 15 British sides to visit Napoli coming away with a victory (D2, L11). Four points behind table-topping Celtic in the Scottish Premier League, itâs not like Rangers can take much heart from their domestic form either, with a 1-1 draw against Livingston at the weekend heaping more misery on under-fire boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Key battle: Napoliâs Giacomo Raspadori has netted in their last three UCL outings, scoring the second goal of the game each time. Trying to keep him out, Rangersâ Allan McGregor had faced more shots on target (29) and conceded more goals (12) than any other UCL goalkeeper after four group stage rounds in this edition.
Hot stat: Rangers have lost on nine of their 12 visits to Italy in European competition (W1, D2).