Rangers vs Villarreal Predictions

Group G is the tightest of all the UEFA Europa League groups with all four sides in contention heading into this Thursday’s action. The situation is so tight that Rangers could end this match-day on top of the group or completely out of contention heading into match-day 6. Only a Villarreal win here coupled with a Spartak victory in the other game would produce that outcome but Steven Gerrard’s men will be thinking positive after a fine European campaign so far.

To even reach the group stage was an impressive achievement, particularly in the context of their humiliating loss to Progrès Niederkorn in the qualifiers last term. However Rangers have more than held their own against some tough sides and their Europa League run is the clearest indication yet that they are back as a genuine force as we head towards the end of miserable decade for the Ibrox club.

Villarreal would have fancied they could emerge as the cream of the crop in this group but it has been a challenging season for the Yellow Submarine at home and abroad. They are currently only 16th in La Liga but did pick up a much needed win last time out, beating Betis 2-1 at home with talented teenager Samuel Chukwueze again on the scoresheet. Javier Calleja has rotated his side a fair bit in this competition but with only one Europa League win on the board, the time for experimentation is surely over and it will be a strong Villarreal side that walks out to what will be a thunderous atmosphere in Glasgow this Thursday.

It’s the sort of occasion where Rangers’ 12th man will have a big part to play and they may be able to unsettle one or two of the visiting team’s players. Both sides have been involved in some high-scoring games this term and this promises to be fairly open too despite the high stakes.

Rangers are playing a more entertaining brand of football under Steven Gerrard and they’ve been scoring for fun of late with 15 goals in their last 4 matches, including 3 in a narrow defeat in Moscow in their last game in this competition and 10 in their last 2 outings at Ibrox. Their Europa League group games are currently averaging 3.75 goals per game in total.

Villarreal’s matches in this competition meanwhile have also averaged 3.75 goals per game and their haul of 10 goals scored in the group stage is bettered by only 4 teams in the Europa League. 7 of their last 10 matches in all competitions have produced over 2.5 goals in total and backing Over 2.5 Goals looks a decent punt here.

Going for Daniel Candeias to score anytime also looks like it could be worth considering. He has been firing in the goals, scoring in all of his last 3 appearances for Rangers and you can get huge odds on him to net again here.