Rangers vs Napoli prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-09-13 19:00.
From Dutch delight to disaster for Rangers, who beat PSV to qualify for the UEFA Champions League (UCL) group stage for the first time since 2010/11, only to open it with a 4-0 hammering by Ajax. The passing of Queen Elizabeth II means they haven’t played since and now face another tough task as they welcome Napoli to Ibrox, albeit without any away fans in attendance due to the state funeral arrangements.
As they’ve only lost one of their last nine home games against Italian clubs (W5, D3), they’ll be keen to show what they can do in Glasgow, where over the years they’ve beaten Inter Milan and Juventus! Returning home will be a boost after suffering consecutive 4-0 defeats on the road, the other coming against rivals Celtic, also the last team to beat Rangers in a competitive home fixture (W9, D1 since).
After beating Liverpool 4-1 last week, Napoli defender Mário Rui said the win would “lose importance” if they couldn’t beat Spezia on Saturday, which they managed thanks to a late Giacomo Raspadori strike (W 1-0). Now unbeaten in seven matches (W5, D2), they travel for their first ever UEFA competition game against Scottish opponents in decent form.
However, despite that fine win over Liverpool, in which they scored at least three first-half goals for just the second time in the UCL, they’ll be wary as they’ve never won a UEFA competition fixture in the United Kingdom (D4, L7). As they’ve only won one of their last ten UCL road games anywhere (D4, L5), they’ll likely find the lack of travelling support uncomfortable.
Players to watch: Antonio Čolak has scored six times between the 35th and 65th minute across Rangers’ last six home matches, while Napoli forward Raspadori’s last four club goals have been match-openers, two of them away from home.
Hot streak: The moving of this match by a day might be a bonus for Rangers, who haven’t lost at home on a Wednesday since March 2020 (W7, D1).