Rangers vs Jablonec predictions and betting tips – Gers back in European action

Aug 20, 2026 - 08:45

Rangers return to European action on Thursday night as they welcome Czech side Jablonec to Ibrox for the first leg of their Conference League play off round tie.

Rangers vs Jablonec head to head overview

Date: Thursday 20th August 2026
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, UK
How to watch: TBA

Rangers vs Jablonec quick tips

Rangers to win at 4/11 with SBK
Both teams to score at 21/20 with Betway
Lawrence Shankland to score first at 29/10 with SBK

Rangers vs Jablonec prediction

Rangers will play their first ever Conference League match on Thursday night as they take on Czech side Jablonec for their first leg of their play-off round tie, one they must progress from in order to reach the league phase and avoid a first campaign with no European football in nine years.

After a shaky start to life under new manager Derek McInnes, with four matches without victory to start the season, the Scottish side recorded their first win of the campaign on Sunday afternoon with a 5-1 thumping of St Mirren in the League Cup, which should act as a bug confidence builder ahead of an important game on Thursday.

The Glasgow side came third in the Premiership last season, their lowest league finish in eight years, only enabling them to enter the Europa League this season at third qualifying round stage, where they fell to a surprise 3-2 aggregate defeat to Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok, thus transferring to the Conference League.

Jablonec make the trip to Glasgow in fantastic form having won their last six matches in all competitions under the management of former Czech Republic defender Lubos Kozel.

The Czech side, who finished fifth in the league last season (their highest league finish in five years) have won their opening three league matches of the new campaign, and have successfully made their way through two rounds of Conference League qualifying.

Kozel’s side survived a first leg deficit to edge past Croatian side Varazdin in the second round of qualifying, before a much more comfortable win over Latvian side RFS to book their place in Thursday’s clash.

Should Jablonec progress through their tie against Rangers, it would be just the fourth time the club have ever reached the competition proper of a European cup, and would be the first time in five years they’ve acheived the feat.

Rangers will head into Thursday’s home first leg as overwhelming favourites for victory, though with an unconvincing start to the campaign and with their Czech opposition on a six match win streak, it will be far from easy – a 2-1 home win perhaps the most realistic outcome.

Rangers vs Jablonec tips

Advantage McInnes’ men after first leg

Rangers have by far the stronger squad and the European pedigree which should see them safely through to the Conference League league phase with victory over Jablonec over two legs.

McInnes’ side recorded their first victory of the season on Sunday with an emphatic win over St Mirren which they will be hoping will see them turn a corner in the season after a tricky opening few weeks.

Rangers to win at 4/11 with SBK

Czechs will not make it easy for Gers

Jablonec make the trip to Scotland having won their last six matches and will very much be in the mood to cause an upset in what is probably the club’s biggest game since they were last in the Conference League group stage five years ago.

The Czechs will no doubt put up a good fight but have an 0-2 record against Scottish teams, and this Rangers side should have too much for them.

Both teams to score at 21/20 with Betway

Shankland to find scoring touch

New Rangers signing Lawrence Shankland scored his first goal for the club in their last European encounter, a disappointing 1-1 against Jagiellonia Bialystok which saw them exit the Europa League.

The club captain, who came within one goal of winning last season’s Premiership Golden Boot with Hearts despite missing two months of the season with injury, will know how big a game Thursday’s is, and also knows how to score in big games after scoring six goals in six games against Old Firm opposition last season.

Lawrence Shankland to score first at 29/10 with SBK

Rangers vs Jablonec predicted lineups

Rangers (4-2-3-1): Pandur (GK); Sterling, Fernandez, Makhanya, McCrorie; Raskin, Devlin; Yokota, Aasgaard, Naderi; Shankland

Jablonec (3-4-1-2): Hanus (GK); Pavlovic, Tekijaski, Slama; Cedidla, Sedlacek, Nebyla, Chanturishvili; Okeke; Jawo, Polidar

Rangers vs Jablonec latest odds

Find the latest Rangers vs Jablonec betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

Rangers – 4/11 with SBK
Draw – 7/2 with BOYLE Sports
Jablonec – 13/2 with BOYLE Sports

More European predictions

We have plenty more club friendly predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

Important historical facts about Rangers vs Jablonec for betting

Thursday night’s match will be the first ever meeting between the two sides, but Rangers do have a strong home record against Czech opposition, against whom they’ve won each of their last three games at Ibrox.

Their overall record is against teams from the Czech Republic shows they’ve won four and lost four of their 10 matches, and will be looking to turn that into a winning record on Thursday night.

Jablonec have only come up against Scottish opposition on two occasions before, when they were comfortably beaten both home and away against Celtic in Europa League qualifier back in 2021, losing 7-2 on aggregate.

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