Malmo v Rangers betting tips: Gerrard’s men facing big test
Preview and odds for Tuesday’s Champions League match
Rangers travel to Sweden for the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie, and we look at some potential Malmo v Rangers betting tips.
The Swedes overcame Scandinavian rivals HJK Helsinki to progress, while the Scottish Premiership champions look forward to avenging their 2011 defeat – the last time they played in the qualifying stages of this competition.
The match takes place at the Swedbank Stadion, Malmo, and is live on Premier Sports at 6.00pm BST.
Malmo v Rangers match odds
Malmo secured a 2-2 second-leg draw with HJK Helsinki in the Finnish capital to secure their progression to the third qualifying round.
Malmo took a 2-1 lead to Finland but Helsinki were level within a minute to set up an enthralling second leg.
However, Malmo hit back to lead 2-1 before a Helsinki equaliser set up a nervous finish. The Swedes went though 4-3 on aggregate and are 5/2 to beat Rangers in the first leg.
The Gers, who begin their Champions League journey in the third round of qualifying after winning the Scottish Premiership title, have not made the group stages of Europe’s elite competition since 2010.
Should Rangers beat Malmo over two legs, the Ibrox side would progress to the Champions League play-off match, which is one step away from the group stages.
Punters who fancy them to take control of the tie and win the first leg in Malmo v Rangers betting tips can back them at 21/20.
Steven Gerrard’s side ended their pre-season in impressive fashion, coming from behind to beat Real Madrid 2-1 in their final friendly, and then beat Livingston 3-0 on Saturday in their Scottish Premiership opener.
Rangers have an unblemished 11-0 record in European qualification since Gerrard took over and they are 200/1 in the Champions League winner odds.
Malmo v Rangers head-to-head
The last time Rangers made the qualifying rounds of Europe’s premier club competition was in 2011, when they were dumped out by Malmo. In a bad-tempered affair, the Gers were left with nine men as they drew the away leg having lost 1-0 at Ibrox.
Nikica Jelavic’s goal had levelled the second leg in the 23rd minute, but red cards for Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra hit Ally McCoist’s side.
The Swedes were reduced to 10 men when Ferreira Ricardinho saw red, but an 80th-minute goal from Jiloan Hamad put the tie out of reach for Rangers.
Looking at the Malmo v Rangers odds, it is 5/1 that the first leg ends in a 1-1 draw again while another draw is available at 11/5.
Malmo v Rangers team news
Jon Dahl Tomasson’s Malmo, who are unbeaten in their last six in all competitions, have a full-strength squad for the first leg clash. They are 5/1 to win to nil.
Gerrard, who saw his side beaten by Tranmere, draw with Arsenal and Brighton, and beat Real Madrid in pre-season, similarly has no major injury concerns and Rangers are 5/2 to win to nil.
Malmo v Rangers key battles
Rangers will need to shut down Croatian striker Antonio Colak, whose goals have helped Malmo sit just one point behind the leaders in Sweden.
Captain Anders Christiansen has returned in peak form having played a crucial part in Denmark’s run to the last four of the European Championship.
His manager, a renowned former Danish international himself, has built a side full of goals and Gerrard’s men will have to cope with Malmo’s front-foot style.
Rangers are 15/2 to win 2-1 and it is 4/5 that both sides score in the first leg.
View the latest Champions League odds
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
