Prediction: Rangers vs Genk

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 7/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Rangers and Genk begin their Europa League league-phase campaigns on Thursday night, meeting at Ibrox Stadium.

Both arrive here through different routes: Rangers were thrashed 9-1 on aggregate by Club Brugge in the Champions League playoffs, while Genk sealed their place with a 6-3 victory over Lech Poznan.

Rangers

It has been a torrid start to 2025-26 for the Glasgow giants, with pressure already mounting on new manager Russell Martin. Brought in to replace Barry Ferguson over the summer, Martin has overseen a return of four wins, five draws and four defeats from his opening 13 competitive matches. Their league campaign has been especially underwhelming, with four draws and a defeat leaving them 11th in the Premiership.

The lowest point of Martin’s tenure so far came in Europe, where Rangers were dismantled by Club Brugge—losing 3-1 at Ibrox before suffering a humiliating 6-0 defeat in Belgium. Dropping into the Europa League was the inevitable consequence, but there have been small signs of recovery. Most recently, Rangers ended a five-game winless streak by beating Hibernian 2-0 in the League Cup quarter-finals. Martin now seeks back-to-back wins for the first time as Gers boss, with continental points badly needed.

Team News

Dujon Sterling remains sidelined with an Achilles problem until the new year, while Max Aarons is suspended following his dismissal in Bruges. James Tavernier will therefore start at right-back.

Up front, Bojan Miovski broke his duck against Hibs and is expected to lead the line, supported by Mikey Moore, Thelo Aasgaard and Djeidi Gassama.

Genk

Genk enter the Europa League after finishing third in last season’s Belgian Pro League. Having topped the table prior to the playoff split, a run of just four wins in 10 post-split fixtures dropped them down to third. That inconsistency has carried over into this campaign. Thorsten Fink’s men have managed only three wins from their first 10 outings in all competitions, alongside two draws and five defeats, leaving them 14th in the league.

Nevertheless, Genk impressed in the playoff round, dispatching Lech Poznan 6-3 on aggregate to book their place in the league phase. They now aim to stop a three-game winless run across all competitions and get their European journey off to a stronger start.

Team News

Konstantinos Karetsas is ruled out with a back problem, while both Daan Heymans and Yira Collins Sor are doubtful.

Zakaria El Ouahdi, the team’s top scorer with four league goals, should line up at right-back in a defence also featuring Mujaid Sadick, Matte Smets and Joris Kayembe Ditu.

Conclusion

Rangers may have stumbled badly at the start of the season, but their morale-boosting win over Hibs and the advantage of Ibrox could prove decisive.

With Genk struggling for form and consistency, the Gers have a real opportunity to take all three points in their Europa League opener.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 7/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet