Rangers vs Genk Predictions

• Rangers beat Hibs 2-0 on Saturday to halt a three-game winless run
• Genk have lost three of their last five matches
• Rangers beat Belgian champions Union SG 2-1 at home in the Europa League last season

Chance for Martin to build momentum

Rangers will look to record back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they host struggling Belgian outfit Racing Genk in the first league phase match of the Europa League on Thursday.

Russell Martin’s side have been more miss than hit this season, but did look better for the return of Belgium international Nico Raskin to their midfield in Saturday’s 2-0 Scottish League Cup win over Hibernian. It was Hibs’ first domestic defeat of the campaign and eases a little of the mounting pressure on the unpopular head coach.

Thursday’s game is a chance to build further momentum as Rangers will be facing a Genk side that have underperformed so far this season. They’re third-to-last in the Belgian top flight, have lost four of their eight matches, including two in a row at home.

Raskin could be the key to victory

Against champions and league leaders Union Saint-Gilloise at the weekend, Genk created enough chances to win. But they are too prone to individual errors with defensive naivety often their undoing, which is now shown by the fact that they have not had a clean sheet for 19 matches.

Rangers are probably clever enough to catch them out in this clash, particularly if Raskin exerts a similar influence to some of his European displays last season. He scored and shone when Union SG were beaten 2-1 in Glasgow and a similar outcome could be on the cards as long as Rangers take their chances.