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Maribor v Rangers Betting: Tempting odds for a red card to be shown in Slovenia

Get the latest odds and betting preview for the second leg between Rangers and Maribor by clicking here.

Rangers would have been hoping to be preparing for a Champions League tie this week but instead will have to console themselves with a tricky away match in the Europa League. The Scottish side face an unenviable trip to Slovenia for the first leg of their qualifier with Maribor on Thursday evening, although Ally McCoist's men do start as marginal 7/5 favourites, with Maribor priced 9/5 by Paddy Power.

It is the draw that looks the pick of the results in the match betting though and that could be worth backing at 9/4. Rangers are hot favourites to qualify from the two-legged tie as they are 2/5 on to make the group stages, while Maribor are a 9/4 punt.

Rangers failed to make the most of winning the Scottish Premier League last season as they crashed out to Malmo in the first Champions League qualifying round a few weeks ago. It means they must ply their trade in the second tier of European football this term and Ally McCoist has vowed not to take the competition lightly.

He takes a strong squad to Slovenia and new signing Carlos Bocanegra is expected to slot straight in at centre back on Thursday night. David Weir and Kyle Bartley miss the trip due to injury, while Steven Whittaker and Sasa Papac have been ruled out by suspension.

Suspensions have been something of a problem for Rangers in recent weeks as ill discipline takes its toll. There have been five red cards in their last two matches and the 7/2 on offer with PaddyPower.com for a red card to be shown on Thursday night could be worth taking advantage of.

Meanwhile, Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic has scored three goals in five appearances so far this season and he has continued where he left off last year, when he ended as the club's top scorer with 19 goals. Jelavic can be backed at 19/2 to score first this week and that is well worth a look.

The concern for Rangers will be the fact that they have scored just four goals in their last ten European matches, albeit mostly in the Champions League, and all five of their matches this season have involved under 2.5 goals. Under 2.5 on Thursday looks a decent punt at 8/11 on as Maribor have their own selection problems.

Maribor's captain and top scorer Marcus Tavares is a major doubt for the match, which leaves the Slovenian champions with a major void to fill. Etien Velikonja did manage ten goals last year and he is 15/2 in the first scorer betting this week.

Maribor won the Slovenian League in fine style last year and they are back at the top of the table after just five matches of the current season. They drew 0-0 with Domzale at the weekend and like Rangers they are counting the cost of missing out on the Champions League. They were slightly unfortunate to lose out to Israeli side Maccabi Haifa in their qualifying match though.

Maribor did beat Hibernian 6-2 on aggregate in the Europa League last year, but Rangers are a stronger proposition and we fancy the Scottish champions to emerge from their trip with a draw. The correct score of 1-1 at 5/1 would be a handy result ahead of the second leg at Ibrox next week.

Maribor v Rangers Tips

Tip #1: Match result of a draw @ 9/4 with PaddyPower.com
Tip #2: Sending off in the match @ 7/2 with PaddyPower.com
Tip #3: Nikica Jelavic to score first @ 9/2 with PaddyPower.com

Maribor v Rangers Odds

Match Odds

9/5 Maribor
9/4 Draw
7/5 Rangers

To Qualify Odds

7/4 Maribor
2/5 Rangers

Correct Score Odds

15/2 Maribor 1-0
13/1 Maribor 2-0
9/1 Maribor 2-1
8/1 Draw 0-0
5/1 Draw 1-1
12/1 Draw 2-2
7/1 Rangers 1-0
11/1 Rangers 2-0
8/1 Rangers 2-1

First Goalscorer Odds

9/2 Nikica Jelavic
11/2 Steven Naismith
13/2 Robert Beric
7/1 David Healy
7/1 James Beattie
7/1 Dalibour Volas
15/2 Etien Velikonja
15/2 No Goalscorer
15/2 Dragan Jelic
8/1 Kane Hemmings
10/1 Juan Ortiz

Odds supplied by PaddyPower.com, who provide over 100 other betting markets, including live betting in-running, on this match and all the week's Europa League matches.

Posted: Thursday, 18th August 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: europa league, maribor, rangers, nikica jelavic, paddypower,

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