St Joseph's - Rangers - Tips by users and experts on football, 9 July 2019: UEFA Europa League

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Match

Handicap Rangers (-3) • 1.86

Rangers begin their Europa League qualifying campaign in Gibraltar against St. Joseph’s where the Scottish Premiership side are huge favourites with the bookmakers to win. The visitors head into the game in great form, with five wins from their last six matches, but St. Joseph’s haven’t lost any of their last six matches and will be hoping to continue that fine run of form on Tuesday.

St. Joseph’s beat Prishtina in the 2nd leg last round 2-0 thanks to goals late in the second half from Villar and Juanfri, but the game was marred by the sending-off of Rojas for the hosts and Prishtina duo Dallku and Bekteshi. Rangers have only played one pre-season game so far but they produced a 5-0 win against English side Oxford United in that match and were able to give game time to all of their six new signings.

The stature of both clubs and the form of Steven Gerrard’s men heading into Tuesday’s match suggests that Rangers will win and keep a clean sheet. Rangers have won five of their last six matches in all competitions, have kept four clean sheets in their last five matches, and scored five goals in their last match against Oxford United, while St. Joseph’s have only scored more than one goal in two of their last six matches. We’re backing a big 4-0 1st leg victory for Rangers this weekend as their hosts have never played against a team of this quality competitively before and are bound to struggle, even at home.

John-Paul Duarte has scored 24 goals in 54 appearances for St. Joseph’s and teammate Juanfri has an impressive 20 goals in just 27 matches since moving to the club from Antequera in 2018. Rangers have, so far, managed to keep hold of star striker Alfredo Morelos and will be hoping to unleash the striker on St. Joseph’s tomorrow night, but the 23-year-old Colombian has been linked with moves away from the club this summer.

I confident that Rangers will win to nil on Tuesday night and suggest betting Away handicap (-3). Do you think, they'll be able to do it?

Rangers Win And Total Over 2.5 Yes • 1.28

There is potential for goals to flow when these sides meet. St Joseph's have seen managed just one clean sheet in six matches in European competition and this fixture represents by far the biggest test that the men from Gibraltar have ever faced.

Given the expected gulf in both experience and quality between these teams, Rangers will surely see an opportunity to rack up a big win. As such, the quote for the Gers to shut out the hosts - and score more than two goals - could represent excellent value.

Handicap Rangers (-4) • 2.81

There’s no surprise to see Rangers have been marked up as favourites to beat St Joseph’s and move into the next round. Many are expecting a free-scoring evening with the visitors putting on a show but it’s worth remembering they are still a few weeks behind full fitness and that should show in their performance. Gerrard won’t want to push his players hard at this stage and risk injury, so I expect him to use his squad over the two legs.

There’s more going on in the specials and you’ll get 2.39 if you take no in the both teams to score market or the 1.52 says St Joseph’s and Rangers will both be on target. Picking a goal scorer looks your best chance at landing a decent price. Former England striker Jermain Defoe will benefit from a full pre-season and he scored at Ibrox against Oxford at the weekend in a 5-0 rout. The striker is worth backing to hit the net again on Tuesday. Our NAP, however, is the Rangers win with the (-4) handicap.