Rangers vs Ajax Predictions

• Rangers have lost all five of their UEFA Champions League group games this season, conceding 19 goals in the process.
• The Scottish side were hammered 4-0 by Ajax in last month’s reverse fixture.
• Ajax have won three of their last five games in all competitions, scoring a remarkable 15 goals in those victories.

Rangers’ dire campaign concludes

Rangers’ Champions League campaign has not exactly gone to plan. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men have yet to pick up a point from five Group A games, while their tally of 19 goals conceded means they are threatening to conclude the group stage with the worst record in the competition’s history (currently held by Dinamo Zagreb in 2011-12 – 0 points, -19 GD). A home clash with Ajax, then, looks unlikely to provide much cheer for the Blue side of Glasgow.

Rangers were undoubtedly unfortunate with their group-stage draw, but their efforts have been dismal – only Viktoria Plzen (20) have conceded more than their 19 goals against in the group stage this season, and only Copenhagen (0) have scored fewer goals, with Van Bronckhorst’s men only finding the net in a 7-1 loss to Liverpool. On the domestic front, meanwhile, Rangers have gone three games without a clean sheet, shipping against Aberdeen, Livingston and Motherwell, so look unlikely to stand firm here.

Ajax simply need to avoid a five-goal defeat in order to seal third place and a Europa League spot after their own disappointing efforts, and should be well-rested following a rare weekend off during a packed schedule for their rivals. The Eredivisie giants have won three of their last five games in all competitions, scoring a remarkable 15 goals in those wins, though their defensive record leaves much to be desired – only Plzen and Rangers have conceded more often in the group stages.

Ajax set for victory

Though Ajax have themselves suffered at the hands of Liverpool and Napoli in Group A, Alfred Schreuder’s men demonstrated their superior quality when thrashing Rangers 4-0 last month – a game in which they had 74 per cent possession and 17 attempts at goal.

With that in mind, backing the visitors for victory appears an obvious play, though Rangers may land a blow in a 3-1 Ajax win. Meanwhile, striker Brian Brobbey has eight goals in just seven starts this season (in all competitions), and looks worth backing as an anytime goalscorer play.