Rangers will be desperate not to end their UEFA Champions campaign without a single point on the board but that rather embarrassing return now looks a distinct possibility.
The Gers are 3/1 outsiders with Betfred to beat Ajax in their final Group A fixture while the visitors are 17/20 favourites. A point would guarantee Ajax third spot and the Eredivisie champions are 3/1 come away with that point.
Rangers need to win by five goals if they are going to leapfrog Ajax into third spot (based on head to head record) which is basically not going to happen. The hosts are playing for pride and nothing more at the end of a campaign that has merely highlighted the gulf in class between them and the top European sides.
Even more concerning for Rangers than their poor points return are their tragic goals figures. Just a solitary goal in five Champions League games is desperate and their overall goal difference of -18 is the worst of any side in the competition.
So don't expect goals in this fixture - not from Rangers, anyway. Ibrox has not been the fortress that they hoped it might have been and sides just don't fear going there nowadays.
Ajax are not the side they were under Erik ten Hag last season and they have failed to make any sort of impact in this group, shipping an average of three goals per game. They did though, hammer Rangers 4-0 in the reverse fixture in Amsterdam and they come into this game relatively fresh having not played since last week's defeat to Liverpool.
Ajax are averaging more than three goals per game in Eredivisie and Alfred Schreuder's side have been rampant in recent domestic games, scoring 15 goals in their last three league fixtures.
Prediction for Rangers vs Ajax
Rangers have been whipping boys in this competition and under normal circumstances the obvious play here would be to back Ajax to inflict another heavy defeat but Ajax know that they don't need to overexert themselves in this game, especially if they get their noses in front.
Ajax haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last nine matches in all competitions but they are up against a side that a really struggling to create big chances so the best option here might be to back Ajax and under 2.5 goals, which is a juicy 9/2 chance with Betfred.
Prediction for Rangers vs Ajax: Ajax and Under 2.5 Goals - 9/2
Rangers vs Ajax odds with Betfred
- Rangers - 11/4
- Draw - 3/1
- Ajax - 10/11
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