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Rangers have knocked Red Star out of Europe twice before but have never won in Belgrade, losing two of three trips. Crvena zvezda have previously lost the first leg away 35 times, prevailing 14 times, but have only overturned a 3+ goal deficit once. Rangers have have won 37 of 45 ties when winning the first leg in Glasgow.
Both teams to score is 7/10.
Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals is 11/10.
Aleksandar Katai is 6/1 to break the deadlock and 15/8 to score anytime.
Alfredo Morelos is Rangers’ leading European scorer of all-time. El Búfalo is 11/2 to break the deadlock and 7/4 to add to his tally.
Match preview
After yet another famous European night at Ibrox, Rangers make the long 1,300 mile journey east with a healthy advantage.
At the other end of the park, Rangers were awarded a penalty, after VAR review; Slavoljub Srnić penalised for tripping Ryan Kent.
James Tavernier smashed home the spot-kick and, just moments later, the home fans were celebrating again when Alfredo Morelos volleyed home a second.
Leon Balogun headed home a third before, right at the end, El Fardou Ben thought he’d pulled one back for Red Star but he too was offside.
3-0 it finished to the Scottish Champions and it’s going to take an almighty turnaround to end the Gers’ European tour.
This is the third straight season that Rangers have reached the Europa League round of 16 but that’s where it ended, at the hands of Leverkusen and Slavia Praha.
This season, the Light Blues overcame Alashkert in qualifying before edging out Sparta Praha and Brøndby in Group A, finishing second to Lyon.
Then, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side caused a big upset by ousting Borussia Dortmund in the first knockout round, progressing 6-4 on aggregate.
The last time Rangers faced Crvena zvezda was in 2007 and they’d go one to reach the UEFA Cup Final that season; could that be a good omen?
First, will the Teddy Bears’ first leg lead prove insurmountable?
Red Star Belgrade were champions of Europe and the world in 1991 but then only made their Champions League group stage debut in 2018.
Nevertheless, they’ve now qualified for a group phase in each of the last five seasons, twice in the top-tier European competition.
This year, Dejan Stanković’s team overcame Kairat and Cluj in qualifiers before topping their group, above Braga, Ludogorets and Midtjylland.
So, this is already Crvena zvezda’s best European run since 1992 when they were one win away from a second successive European Cup Final.
However, unless the Stadion Rajko Mitić can roar their team onto a huge comeback, it will be the end of the road for the Serbian champions.
Will Rangers leave Belgrade with the required result?
Crvena zvezda team news
Similar to their visitors, Dejan Stanković’s side are involved in a very tight title race.
Monday’s 2-1 victory at Metalac Gornji Milanovac means Red Star remain second of the Serbian SuperLiga, below rivals Partizan on goal difference alone.
This is important because they played a full-strength team in that one, so fatigue could count against them.
El Fardou Mohamed Ben Nabouhane, known as Ben, was only on the bench at Ibrox but should start here, looking to add to his 14 European goals for Red Star.
Aleksandar Katai and Ohi Omoijuanfo are likely to complete the front three with the latter chosen over Richairo Živković.
Rangers team news
Goalkeeper Allan McGregor has now faced Red Star Belgrade three times with Rangers, also doing so 15 years ago, and is yet to concede against them.
If the 40 year old maintains that statistic, his team will be through.
McGregor and a few other key players were rested by Giovanni van Bronckhorst for Sunday’s routine Scottish Cup victory over Dundee.
Aaron Ramsey made just his second start for the club at Dens Park and could be fit enough to be involved here.
However, Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara will continue at the base of midfield with Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo and Alfredo Morelos the main goal threats.
Serbian Superliga table:
Scottish Premiership table:
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