Check out our 14/5 prediction for Rangers vs Sparta Prague below
Three points against Sparta Prague on Thursday night would go a long way to securing Rangers second place in Europa League Group A, which would mean qualification for the knockout round play-offs.
Should bottom-placed Brøndby fail to defeat Lyon at home in the other Matchday 5 fixture, a win by any scoreline would guarantee Sparta's position as group runners-up with a game to spare, whereas Rangers need to beat the Czech side by a margin of two goals or more in order to seal second place if Brøndby do not win.
The layers make Rangers 3/4 favourites to gain revenge for their 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture and give new boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst his first win since taking over from Steven Gerrard. Sparta are 15/4 to complete the double over the Scottish champions.
Although Rangers have never won in five visits to the Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia, their home record against clubs from that country is W3 L1, the defeat coming in the most recent encounter, in last season's Europa League round of 16 against Sparta's domestic rivals Slavia Praha (0-2) – a result that knocked them out of the competition. It was the Gers' fourth elimination out of four in European knockout ties against Czech clubs.
Sparta are now undefeated in seven matches against Scottish opposition since that 1991 encounter against Rangers, beating Celtic 4-1 both in Glasgow and Prague in last season's Europa League group stage with five of the eight goals scored by Lukáš Juliš. Their all-time away record against Scottish teams is W3 L1.
However, Pavel Vrba's side aren't in great form having won just one of their last four matches in all competitions, indeed they head to Scotland having been thrashed 4-0 by Synot in the Gambrinus Liga at the weekend.
Prediction for Rangers vs Sparta Prague
Rangers look a class above Sparta but the Glasgow giants haven't keep sheep in any of their last ten matches in all competitions so a home clean sheet looks far from guaranteed.
With that in mind, let's combine Rangers to get the job done with both teams to score (yes), which is a very appealing 14/5 chance with Grosvenor Sport.
Recommended bet: Rangers to win and both teams to score - 14/5
Rangers vs Sparta Prague odds with Grosvenor Sport
Rangers 3/4
Draw 13/5
Sparta Prague 15/4
*odds subject to change
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