Champions League Betting: Rangers v FBK Kaunas

UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round 2, 1st Leg

Rangers v FBK Kaunas – Kick Off 7.45pm

For Rangers the serious business of Champions League qualification has come round all too quickly. Barely has the Hawaiian Tropic been put away for another year but they face Lithuanians FBK Kaunas (otherwise known as Hearts Reserves) as they attempt to qualify for the Champions League group stages.

Kaunus are owned by Mad Vlad (© The Scottish Press) Romanov and such has been the flow of players between Hearts and the Lithuanian champions that you wouldn’t be surprised if they turned up in maroon and ran out to the tune of ‘Hearts, Hearts, Glorious Hearts’ on Wednesday night. But it would be an even bigger shock if the minnows were to pull off a victory in this one than if their Gorgie counterparts were to win the SPL.

Because for all their injury problems, defeat is just unthinkable for the Gers.

They’ll be without two of their best players from last season for this one. Captain Barry Ferguson and fans’ player of the year Carlos Cuellar are both out injured. But they should have enough strength in depth to secure a first leg lead at Ibrox.

The bookies think the game is a foregone conclusion, with Rangers best priced at 2/9 (Ladbrokes) and Kaunas as big as 14/1 (888 Sport, Blue Sq). I’d have to go along with that but at 2/9 the home win is a bit skinny.

So far in pre-season Rangers haven’t exactly been firing on all cylinders, despite the addition of Kenny Miller and Andreas Velicka to the front line. Kris Boyd still appears to be out of favour so I wouldn’t expect it to be a goalsfest. Under 2.5 goals on the night is 5/4 with Blue Sq.

That could be worth a look because Rangers built their run to the UEFA Cup final last season on the back of solid defensive displays. Once they dropped out of the Champions League they didn’t lose a single goal at home in 3 ties. I don’t expect Kaunas to trouble David Weir and co. too much tomorrow. A Rangers clean sheet is 4/9 (888 Sport, Blue Sq).

If you’re feeling a wee bit more adventurous then a correct score of 2-0 looks like the way to go. Thats 6/1 at Bet Direct and Stan James.

Good Luck whatever you’re betting on.

Selectabet Offers:

• Open an account at Bet365 and claim £100 in free bets
• Open an account at Betfair and claim £25 in free bets
• Open an account at Paddy Power and claim £25 in free bets