Matchday 8 of the 2024/25 Europa League group stage between Rangers (Scotland) and Union (Belgium) will take place on January 30 at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow. Rangers vs. Union: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Rangers
In the previous round, Philippe Clement's side suffered a 1-2 defeat to Manchester United. This result ended the club's unbeaten run of four matches in the Europa League (2 wins, 2 draws). The team sits in 13th place in the standings with 11 points. Notably, Rangers have not yet secured a spot in the playoffs, but a draw against Union will be enough to advance to the Europa League Round of 32.
- The number "1" appeared in the final scoreline in 8 of the last 9 home matches of the team in this tournament.
- Rangers have not won in regular time in 4 of their last 5 home matches in the Europa League (2 draws, 2 losses).
- No more than three goals have been scored in regular time in 5 of the last 7 home games of the club in this European competition.
Predicted lineup for Rangers (4-2-3-1)
Jack Butland – Jefte, Leon Balogun, Robin Propper, James Tavernier – Nicolas Raskin, Connor Barron – Ridvan Yilmaz, Nedim Bajrami, Vaclav Cerny – Hamza Ighaman.
Union
In the previous round, the team defeated Braga 2-1. Sebastian Pocognoli's side has gained momentum, securing their third consecutive victory in the Europa League group stage. These successful results have lifted Union to 15th place in the standings, significantly increasing their chances of reaching the playoffs. Now, the Belgian side needs to avoid defeat in the final round to advance to the Europa League Round of 32.
Key defenders Christian Burgess and Koki Machida will miss the match due to suspensions.
- The club has not won in regular time in 5 of their last 6 away matches in this European competition (1 draw, 4 losses).
- At least one team failed to score in regular time in 6 of Union's last 7 away matches in the Europa League.
- No more than three goals have been scored in regular time in the club's last 8 away games in this tournament.
Predicted lineup for Union (4-1-3-2)
Anthony Moris – Koki Machida, Fedde Leysen, Christian Burgess, Ross Sykes – Kamil van de Perre – Noah Sadiki, Anouar Ait El Hadj, Ousseynou Niang – Mohammed Fuseini, Franjo Ivanovic.
Referee
Damian Sylwestrzak (Poland)
Matches – 7 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 34;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.9;
Red cards shown – 0;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 43%.
Rangers vs. Union: Match Prediction
Rangers traditionally perform well in home matches in the Europa League. The club has not lost in 11 of their last 13 home matches in this tournament (8 wins, 3 draws). This success is attributed to their playing style, as the Scots impose a strong defensive presence and limit opportunities for their opponents. Rangers have not conceded more than one goal in 9 of their last 10 home matches in this European competition. During this stretch, the team's defense has been solid, even against formidable opponents like Leipzig (3-1) and Tottenham (1-1).
Union, on the other hand, struggles offensively in away matches in the Europa League. The club has not scored more than one goal in their last 8 away matches in this tournament, and in half of those games, they failed to score at all. I anticipate that the Belgians will not score more than once in the upcoming match. My prediction: Union individual total under 1.5 goals
