Rangers vs Fenerbahce prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2025-03-12 20:00.
[p]A place in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) quarter-final seemingly awaits Rangers, who return home for the second leg against Fenerbahçe after securing a commanding 3-1 victory in Istanbul last week. Should they see the tie out after not playing at the weekend, reaching the last eight would represent their best performance in this competition since reaching the final in 2021/22.[/p]
[p]Entering this match, Rangers have lost just two of their last 14 UEL home games (W9, D3), but interim boss Barry Ferguson has food for thought ahead of this clash as they have an Old Firm derby against Celtic to look forward to at the weekend. Getting the job done here will be their primary focus for now, and their unbeaten record at Ibrox against Turkish opponents (W3, D2) suggests they should do just that.[/p]
[p]Also without league action over the weekend, Fenerbahçe could afford to fully focus on this encounter, which is “not over” according to head coach JosĂ© Mourinho – an optimistic claim given that Rangers have progressed from 24 of their 25 major European ties when leading by 2+ goals after the first leg. That’s not to mention the fact that the Yellow Canaries will arrive in Glasgow on the back of just one win from their last 11 away European knockout phase clashes (D3, L7).[/p]
[p]Mourinho’s defiance may stem from the fact that his side had put together an 18-match unbeaten run until that desperately disappointing first leg (W13, D5). An emulation of any of the last six of those victories would at worst force extra time in Glasgow, so Fenerbahçe will believe that they can turn this tie around, although both of their historical meetings on the road against Scottish opponents have ended in a draw. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Cyriel Dessers has registered five goal contributions in his last three games (G4, A1) after scoring and assisting before half-time in the first leg, while he also had two more goals that evening ruled out by VAR. Fenerbahçe’s Youssef En Nesyri (UEL: G6 in 2024/25) can make it his best-ever scoring season in a major European competition with another goal here – four of his last five UEL scoring appearances came away from home. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Each of Fenerbahçe’s last three UEL away games have seen both teams score before half-time. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]