Olympiacos vs Rangers predictions: Gers must be wary of ace striker
- Olympiacos won the Conference League last season
- Rangers have won two of their first three Europa League games
- Recommended bet: Ayoub El Kaabi first goalscorer
Rangers are a distant third in the Scottish Premiership standings, nine points behind Celtic and Aberdeen, but they have made a positive start to their Europa League campaign.
The Glasgow giants won 2-0 at Malmo on matchday one and beat FCSB 4-0 last time out, either side of a 4-1 home defeat to Lyon.
Thursday's trip to Olympiacos, last season's Conference League winners, is a daunting test as West Ham and Aston Villa are among the teams beaten by the Greeks on their own patch in recent European ties.
Team news
Olympiacos hope to have Lorenzo Pirola available to start at left-back. However, the Greeks are missing the injured Willian, Theofanis Bakoulas, Yusuf Yazici, Andreas Ntoi, Francisco Ortega and Marko Stamenic.
Rangers are missing the injured Oscar Cortes, although Rabbi Matondo and Ridvan Yilmaz are back in training.
Ross McCausland is a doubt, but Vaclav Cerny and Danilo are pushing for starts.
The stats
Olympiacos have won five of their last six Europa League home games, while both teams have scored in only two of Olympiacos' last eight matches.
Two of Olympiacos' last three wins were by a 1-0 scoreline.
None of Rangers' eight away matches this season have featured over 3.5 goals, while the Gers have conceded the first goal in their last three away fixtures.
Rangers have lost only two of their last nine Europa League matches.
Prediction
Rangers have lost their last two away league fixtures at Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, so they travel to Greece more in hope than expectation.
Manager Philippe Clement is under pressure at Ibrox, although his hopes of causing an upset against Olympiacos are boosted by the hosts' lengthy injury list.
Midfielder Yusuf Yazici has been ruled out for the season, while former Chelsea, Arsenal and Fulham winger Willian is also sidelined.
However, Olympiacos have an outstanding goal threat in the form of striker Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored 11 goals in last season's triumphant Conference League campaign.
The Morocco forward has hit the ground running this term, finding the net six times in seven Greek Super League starts and bagging a brace in the 3-0 home win over Braga on matchday two of the Europa League.
El Kaabi scored the only goal of the game away to Malmo last time out and the striker, who is also on penalty duty for Olympiacos, looks a worthy favourite to open the scoring against Rangers.
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