Servette – Rangers : Preview & Prediction
After losing 2-1 in Glasgow, Servette now return to Geneva needing to beat Rangers to have any chance of facing either PSV or Sturm Graz in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) play-off round. Servette may argue that it is time for the club from the watchmaking capital of the world to qualify for their first UCL group stage, but they will need to avoid getting nervous and make every second count in this key match for the club’s history.
The omens are not good for Servette if their recent performance is any indication, having failed to win any of their last six games inside regulation time (E5, P1). There is a solid foundation to build on for the Swiss side, as the ‘Maroons’ have not lost a 90-minute home game since March (G3, E7). They will need to add to that win column if they are to stay alive in this competition, and fans of a certain age may remember the only previous time Servette faced Scottish opposition. That was in the 1985-86 season, where they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen on the scoreboard, a tie in which they predictably drew the game at home.
Visiting manager Michael Beale has taken some of the pressure off himself after a 1-0 loss to Kilmarnock in his SPL debut, managing to score six goals in two wins. That’s largely down to their new attack, consisting of Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers and Danilo, and the trio bring a much-needed Dutch dynamism to the team. Indeed, all three have played for some of the Eredivisie’s “big three” in recent years.
However, their success here is far from guaranteed, as Rangers’ recent away record in European competition leaves much to be desired (G1, P7). Of course, each of the four games in that sequence were part of a home-and-away tie that saw Rangers progress with a resounding home win, but they simply don’t have that luxury this time around.
Players to watch: Chris Bedia has shown plenty of accuracy in front of goal, with his penalty in the first leg being part of seven goal contributions in as many appearances this season (six goals and one assist). Lammers took just ten minutes to score his first goal for Rangers over the weekend, and also scored in the UCL preliminary round tie against Swiss side Basel for PSV in the 2019/20 campaign.
Key stat: Rangers’ first-leg win was only their third win in nine meetings against Swiss opponents (G3, E3, P3).
Servette – Rangers : Betting Tips
OVER 2.5 GOALS Odds: 2.25
