Rangers are still unbeaten in all competitions this season and must be backed to continue their terrific run on Tuesday.
The Scottish champions head to Spain to face Valencia with their Champions League destiny very much in their own hands and know that a win would put them within touching distance of the last 16. A draw would suit Walter Smith however, and Rangers are no soft touches these.
The Glasgow club were roundly criticised for their defensive approach on Matchday 1 when holding on for a goalless draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United but that could turn out to be a crucial point. The SPL leaders edged passed Bursaspor next time out and really should enter Tuesday’s clash with seven points to their name.
Rangers battered Valencia for much of the match at Ibrox a fortnight ago and wasted a series of chances to win the match. In the end, a Maurice Edu header in a 1-1 draw was all they had to show for their efforts but the home players, and fans, will have taken great encouragement from that display and should have nothing to fear from their trip to the Mestalla.
Valencia started the season in terrific fashion, topping La Liga when they thrashed the Turkish champions on opening night of this competition, but they’ve failed to sustain that relentless pace and it’s now just one win in their last five matches on home soil.
Usually so tough to beat, Valencia cut little ice in defeat to Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, Javier Hernandez proving the late Red Devils’ hero with a clinical strike, and they were also defeated in front of their own fans by Real Mallorca subsequently.
Further dropped points, this time to Real Zaragoza, has seen Valencia slip to fourth in the top flight, six adrift of leaders Real Madrid, and quite how they are as short as 1.40 to resume winning ways I’m not too sure.
While Valencia are clearly the more likely victors, the odds on offer do not accurately represent their chances of success and it must be noted that Rangers are yet to be defeated in 15 matches so far this term.
4pts Lay Valencia (vs. Rangers) @ 1.42 (Betfair)