Rangers vs Fenerbahce predictions: Gers to progress from entertaining second leg
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- Rangers lead 3-1 from first leg
- That defeat was Fenerbahce's first in 18 games
- Recommended bet: Both teams to score
Rangers' stunning 3-1 win at Fenerbahce in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie last week means Barry Ferguson's side are firmly in the driving seat for the return game at Ibrox.
Fener must try to overcome the deficit and while Jose Mourinho's side are capable of causing an unpredictable Rangers problems on Thursday, the hosts should have enough to progress to the quarter-finals overall.
Team news
Robin Propper is a major doubt for Rangers after coming off with concussion in the first half of the first leg, so Leon Balogun is poised to start in defence.
The hosts do not have any other reported injury issues to deal with ahead of the second leg but Hamza Igamane is pushing to come in for Connor Barron in midfield.
Fenerbahce still have several players unavailable due to injury with Diego Carlos, Omar Fayed, Ismail Yuksek, Rodrigo Becao and Jayden Oosterwolde all set to be absent for the trip to Ibrox.
The stats
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Rangers have won two of their home Europa League games this season, drawing once and losing once.
The Scottish giants have, however, lost their last three home games in all competitions.
Prior to last week's first-leg loss, Fenerbahce were on an 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions, winning 13 of those matches.
The Turkish side have scored in eight of their last nine away games in all competitions.
Fener have scored in each of their five away Europa League games this season, although they have only won one of those games.
Prediction
Rangers have endured a difficult season domestically but there have been plenty of highs in Europe and seeing off Mourinho's men in Istanbul in the first leg was another.
The Gers should now be able to finish the job at home, although it is unlikely to be straightforward on Thursday.
In the past month, Rangers have lost at Ibrox to Queen's Park in the cup and Motherwell and St Mirren in the league so there will be nerves in Glasgow and this tie does not look over quite yet.
However, interim boss Ferguson has done a good job so far of steadying the ship at the club since succeeding the much-maligned Philippe Clement, although he also knows there are plenty of issues to remedy still.
Fener will approach the second leg with a positive mindset and an early goal for the Turkish side would increase the anxiety at Ibrox that this inconsistent Rangers team could yet throw away their commanding lead.
However, the hosts should be able to withstand a comeback in what looks set to be an entertaining second leg where the best option might be to side with both teams finding the back of the net again, just like they did last week.
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