Braga vs. Rangers Betting Tips 08/04/2022

After falling behind Celtic in the title race in Scotland, Rangers travel to Braga for a crunch quarter-final clash. The game is expected to kick off at 00:30 IST on the 8th of April, 2022, at the Estadio Municipal de Braga. Braga are high in confidence after triumphing against local rivals Benfica over the weekend, while Rangers slumped to a 2–1 defeat at the hands of Celtic.

As much as either team deserves their place in the Europa League quarter-finals, Braga and Rangers have overcome seemingly better opponents on their way to this stage of the competition. Braga got the better of Monaco in the Round of 16. At the same time, Rangers were the shock victors against a Borussia Dortmund side that came into the competition via the Champions League in the Round of 32. The battle of the underdogs is on!

Teams Status

Here is the latest form and squad-related news from Braga and Rangers:

Braga Form and Team News

They may be 4th in the Primeira Liga in Portugal, but Braga come into this fixture feeling on top of the world after defeating Benfica at home on Saturday, the 2nd of April. Carvalhal Carlos’s team recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since February after securing an all-important draw at Monaco that guaranteed their place in the Europa League quarter-finals.

In Europe, after narrowly missing out on winning their group, they faced Champions League new boys Sheriff Tiraspol and then Monaco, winning 3–2 and 3–1 on aggregate in both ties. They have also been formidable at home in the Europa League, as they are yet to lose a home game (4 wins and 1 draw). Brazilian midfielder Galeno is their top scorer in the EL with 6 goals.

For suspensions, injuries, and fitness reports, Braga may be missing the services of Roger Fernandes and Sequeira, who picked up knocks recently and are doubts to feature against Rangers.

Rangers Form and Team News

Although Rangers’ form has been erratic of late, with 3 wins and 2 draws in their last 5 matches across all competitions, they have been impressive on the continent. They overcame an in-form Borussia Dortmund 6–4 on aggregate before defeating Crvena Zvezda 4–2 on aggregate to set up a meeting with Braga in the Europa League quarter-finals.

The defending champions of the Scottish Premiership are having their moments in the Europa League, although they have fallen six points behind Celtic in the local league. Rangers’ industriousness is perhaps cemented by the fact that their highest goal scorer in the Europa League is James Tarvernier, with 4 goals and 2 assists.

For injuries or suspensions, Rangers will travel to Portugal without Alfredo Morelos and Ianis Hagi, who are sidelined with varying injuries.

What Do the Sportsbooks Say?

Braga	Draw	Rangers
2.504	3.48	3.03
2.40	3.30	3.00
2.504	3.48	3.03

Braga play at home, where they have been dominant in the Europa League. Hence, the home team are favorites to win this fixture, with the odds for a Braga win placed at 2.504 on Paripesa, 2.40 on Sportsbet.io, and 2.504 on Melbet.
The odds for an away victory are at 3.03, 3.00, and 3.03 on all three sportsbooks, respectively. For a draw, the odds are 3.48, 3.30, and 3.48, respectively.

Tipster’s Angle

Braga have not lost at home in the Europa League this season and will be confident of a victory over Rangers. Interestingly, both sides have only met on two occasions, over a two-legged Europa League tie in 2020, where Rangers won 4–2 on aggregate, winning both games. Here are our tips for this fixture:

Tip: Braga to Win or Draw @ 1.39

Braga’s home form on the continent cannot be underrated, and they have played out convincing victories in front of their fans. They also come into this match on the back of two straight victories, one of which came against a strong Benfica side. The Portuguese side appear favorites to hold their own in this fixture, and we expect a win or a draw in their favor. Braga to win or draw are available on the Parimatch sportsbook at 1.39 odds.

Tip: Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.332

Rangers are not a team to shy away from high-scoring encounters, putting 4 goals past Dortmund and 3 past Crvena Zvezda in their playoff victories. Braga have recorded a result of at least 2 goals in each of their last 4 EL matches, so we expect a repeat on the night. Over 1.5 goals is available on the Melbet sportsbook at 1.332 odds.

Conclusion

Braga host Rangers in a clash of two underdog teams who have earned their place in the Europa League this season. Either team understands that gaining a foothold early in this encounter will be an advantage, so we expect a lively football game.

Benson Chikezie

15:35, 5 Apr 2022

Senior Author

Benson Chikezie

Senior Author

15:35, 5 Apr 2022

Benson Chikezie is a Nigerian-based writer with many years of experience in the sports betting industry. He is a digital marketer by profession. Benson has written many sports related contents for various websites.