Match bet
The start of the new season has extended Rangers' unsuccessful previous campaign. Rangers are without a win in three consecutive competitive matches, although they have scored in each of them. While the 1:1 draw with Dundee United can at least partly be explained by a lack of sharpness, the 1:2 defeats to Jagiellonia Białystok and Hibernian are a serious failure for McInnes' coaching staff. In Białystok, the Blues made a lively start thanks to a Montoya own goal, but the Scottish giants were already behind by the 21st minute. By the final whistle, Rangers had managed only three shots on target, while Devlin, Raskin, Dragojevic and Shankland failed to make an impact after coming on.
The defeat to Hibernian at Ibrox was hugely illogical. The Blues controlled the game (2.22-1.70 in xG and 75-25 in possession), but first conceded from the penalty spot before allowing a decisive goal in second-half stoppage time. Clearly, this situation will only add motivation — the Scottish side have plenty of top-quality players, for whom even competing in the UEFA Conference League would be a step down. Rangers will press Jagiellonia Białystok high from the opening minutes at Ibrox, while McInnes could start Shankland and Chermiti up front if the Portuguese player is available. The Białystok side have a markedly weaker squad (€28.6m versus €134.7m). Jagiellonia Białystok failed to deal with weak Widzew Łódź (0:2) in the Ekstraklasa on Sunday — so what chance do they have of a high-profile trip to Glasgow?
We favour a Rangers win in this market. Overall, such a result could suit Siemieniec's side — a one-goal margin would take the tie into extra time. The Polish team would then have more counter-attacking opportunities, but normal time will belong to the Blues.
