Rangers vs Ludogorets predictions and betting tips – Gers playing for pride

Rangers have had an utterly miserable time in Europe this season, and their participation in the Europa League will not go beyond the league phase regardless of what happens on Thursday night.

Can Rangers triumph for the first time in this competition, or will Ludogorets be celebrating at Ibrox at the end of this one?

• Rangers to win – 5/6 with BetMGM
• Under 2.5 goals – evens with Midnite
• Thelo Aasgaard to score any time – 21/10 with 247Bet

Rangers vs Ludogorets odds

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

Rangers vs Ludogorets predictions

When Rangers won only one of their first eight games of the season, it was widely assumed that they were out of the title race.

This has been a dramatic Scottish Premiership season, though, and despite that dismal start Rangers are back in the conversation at the top of the division.

Since Danny Rohl was appointed as Russell Martin’s replacement in the middle of October, Rangers have picked up at least six more points than any other team in the division.

They have won each of their last five games in the league, as well as seven of their last eight, to move within six points of Heart of Midlothian in top spot.

For all their improvements domestically, Rangers have continued to struggle on the continent. Indeed, this has been a dismal European campaign for the Gers so far.

It started in the Champions League qualifiers. Rangers got through the second and third rounds, overcoming Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen respectively, before suffering a crushing 9-1 aggregate defeat by Club Brugge in the play-off round.

Rangers were thus relegated to the Europa League, where they have given a poor account of themselves.

Under both Martin and Rohl, the Glaswegian giants have taken just one point from a possible 18 in a tournament they reached the final of just three and a half years ago.

All of which means Rangers are all but out of the Europa League with two games left to play. They are six points behind the final play-off place, currently occupied by Celtic, but in all likelihood even two wins over the next week or so would not be enough for Rohl’s team.

“For the second game in a row in this competition, I see a team who is competitive and a team in a process forward, but I see a team, especially in this competition, destroy the hard work in two, three situations,” Rohl said after a 2-1 loss to Ferencvaros in December.

Rangers have made progress since then and Thursday’s match against Ludogorets gives them the chance to show that in Europe.

However, they will not have everything their own way against opponents who are fighting for a play-off berth. 

Ludogorets are 23rd with seven points to their name, so they are likely to need at least one more victory to get over the line.

Rangers vs Ludogorets betting tips

Rangers will be searching for their first Europa League win of the season on Thursday.

Rangers to get off mark

It has been a long time coming but this feels like the night when Rangers can finally get off the mark in the Europa League.

It is true that they have been hugely disappointing up to now, but Rangers have only played one match in this competition in December and January, during which time they have made strides forward under Rohl.

The Premiership might be Rangers’s primary focus, but that does not mean they should not take this game seriously. 

Rohl’s charges need to continue building momentum, so they must go all-out for victory on Thursday. 

It is worth noting, too, that Ludogorets have lost back-to-back away matches in the Europa League.

Back Rangers to win at 5/6 with BetMGM

Low-scoring game at Ibrox

This bet has only paid out in one of Ludogorets’s six matches in the Europa League, so it is not without risk. 

However, Rangers will be determined to cut out the sloppy mistakes that Rohl referenced after that reverse against Ferencvaros.

The Gers have certainly looked more solid at the back in recent weeks, keeping three consecutive clean sheets back in Scotland. 

Rohl’s team have only conceded two goals in their last six matches in all competitions, so this might not be a classic.

Tip under 2.5 goals at evens with Midnite

Aasgaard to find net

Thelo Aasgaard was on target for Rangers in the 5-0 victory over Annan Athletic in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup at the weekend.

He also found the back of the net in his last Premiership outing, breaching Aberdeen’s backline in a 2-0 triumph.

Aasgaard is in fine form and he will be full of confidence when Rangers take on Ludogorets on Thursday.

The England-born Norway international is one of his team’s main threats in the final third and it is worth a punt on him getting his name on the scoresheet in this one.

Select Thelo Aasgaard to score any time at 21/10 with 247Bet

Rangers vs Ludogorets predicted lineups

• Rangers expected lineup: Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Fernandez, Meghoma; Raskin, Diomande; Gassama, Aasgaard, Moore; Chermiti.
• Ludogorets expected lineup: Bonmann; Son, Almeida, Nachmias, Nedyalkov; Tekpetey, Duarte, Kaloc, Marcus; Bile, Stanic.

Where to watch Rangers vs Ludogorets

• Location: Ibrox, Glasgow, Scotland.
• Date and time: Thursday 22nd January, 8pm.
• How to watch: TNT Sports 2.

More Europa League predictions

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

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.