CONFERENCE LEAGUE BETTING PREVIEW - RANGERS VS JABLONEC

Conference League

2026-08-20 - Rangers vs Jablonec

A Sports Betting Preview by Auls

Rangers v Jablonec
Football: UEFA Conference League Play Off Round First Leg
Thursday 20th August 2026 - Kick Off 7:45pm

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Rangers

A first win of the season under Derek McInnes will have given Rangers a lift and they will be looking to build on that as they drop down into the Conference League. Losing in the Third Qualifying Round of the Europa League means Rangers have to win this tie if they are going to earn a spot in the League Phase of the Conference League, whereas winning in that Europa League tie would have guaranteed Rangers more European Football through the Autumn and Winter months.

The defeat to Jagiellonia highlighted the really poor start made to the new season and Rangers are still keen on adding to the squad, although that will not be before this Play Off tie is played. Over the last thirteen months, Rangers have struggled in Europe and they have won just 1 of the last 6 fixtures played at Ibrox.

Rangers had won 1 of the last 9 games in all competitions before the crushing win over St Mirren in the League Cup Second Round. The side had lost 3 home fixtures in succession before the disappointing draw with Jagiellonia in the Europa League Third Qualifying Round Second Leg, but followed up with that victory over St Mirren.

Jablonec

Five years have passed since Jablonec last earned a spot in European Football and they are now one tie away from entering the new format of the Conference League Group Stage. The domestic campaign has begun, but Jablonec have been given every chance to progress through this Play Off Round tie with the team having a number of days of rest since they were last in action.

They finished 5th in the Czech top flight last season and that meant earning a spot in the Conference League Second Qualifying Round. Wins over Varazdin and RFS has seen Jablonec progress to the Play Off Round and they have won 3 of the 4 ties played in the run, although they have won one and lost one away from home.

Jablonec opened the season with a 3-2 defeat at Varazdin in the Second Qualifying Round, but they have won 6 in a row in all competitions since then. The side have won consecutive away games since that defeat in Croatia and it does mean Jablonec have lost 3 of the last 5 away European ties played.

Head to Head

This is the first time Rangers and Jablonec are meeting in a competitive fixture.

Prediction

Reinforcements are expected to arrive at Ibrox before the end of the summer transfer window, but Derek McInnes will be desperate to guide Rangers into the Conference League Group Stage.

There will be a huge amount of disappointment at already dropping out of the Europa League, but Rangers can make amends in this Play Off tie.

They cannot afford to overlook Jablonec, but Rangers do get to host the First Leg and the win over St Mirren will have given the squad a lift and should also mean the fans should be behind the team.

Jablonec have won a couple of Qualifying ties to reach the Play Off Round, but they have a poor recent away record in European competition.

That includes losing one of the two away games played in the Conference League Qualifiers and Rangers can take something to protect in the Second Leg next week.

The Pick :

Rangers 2-1 Jablonec

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Rangers to Win & Over 1 Total Goal (Bet Builder) at 1.66 with Bet365