Rangers vs. Napoli Betting Tips: Focus on James Tavernier and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Rangers' first Champions League group stage home match in 12 years has been moved back by 24 hours due to limitations on police resources following the Queen’s death. The Ibrox clash against new look Napoli will now take place on Wednesday, and can be watched live on BT Sport 4 at 8pm. 

The Gers will be bidding to bounce back from an opening Group A thrashing away to Ajax (4-0), while Serie A leaders Napoli hammered last year’s finalists Liverpool 4-1 in Naples. Here at BettingOdds.com we’ve previewed the match in Glasgow and picked out two tips for your perusal…

It’s been a devastating September so far for Rangers who were not only thumped 4-0 by rivals Celtic in the league but went on to suffer defeat by the same scoreline against Ajax in their first Champions League group stage appearance since 2010/11. Rangers have had a week to digest the back-to-back thumpings as they return to the home comforts of Ibrox, where they’ve lost just once in 25 matches dating back to November. On top of that, it’s been a sequence of eight matches since they were last defeated there in European competition.

However, Rangers do now face a rampant Napoli who have stormed out of the blocks this season. Not only are they the early pacesetters in Italy with 14 points from an unbeaten six games, but Luciano Spalletti’s men obliterated Liverpool 4-1 in their opening Champions League match - in truth, it could easily have been more.

Napoli are the 17/20 favourites to maintain their flying start by extending their unbeaten run to eight games courtesy of a win, Rangers are 17/5 to feed off their passionate home support to claim the three points, while a draw is available at 3/1.

Napoli jet down in Glasgow on the back of five wins from their opening seven games in all competitions, the last three of which have all been triumphs. They were outrageously good against Liverpool and have already scored 17 goals this term, amassing four or more on three separate occasions. Scary stats for a Rangers side severely lacking confidence and mojo right now.

Napoli will be without the services of the excellent Victor Osimhen who picked up an injury during the Liverpool win, yet they still possess plenty of attacking threat, particularly in new signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The winger has acclimatised to his new surroundings incredibly quickly following his summer switch from Dinamo Batumi for what’s looking like an absolute steal at €10m.

Already nicknamed ‘Kvaradona’ by the Napoli faithful, the winger is an electric and exciting young talent who has a significant goal threat: seven games into his spell and he’s bagged four goals and two assists. He loves a shot, firing in a whopping 13 in his last three games alone - 6 on target - while only Ciro Immobile (10) has had more Serie A shots on target this term than Kvaratskhelia's nine; the Lazio striker has played nearly 200 more minutes. 

The Georgian had a hand in two goals on his Champions League debut against Liverpool, running the Reds defence ragged. He had three attemps during that 4-1 win and he’ll now be gunning to open up his 22/23 Champions League account against a jittery Rangers defence which has conceded eight goals in their last two matches. 

Napoli to win and Kvaratskhelia to have over 1.5 shots on target is a bet that’s already landed four times this season, and priced up at a tasty 11/2 with bet365’s Bet Builder feature, it’s too good to turn down for my opening tip.

Not only is James James Tavernier a key cog in the Rangers defence but the right-back is a pivotal outlet in the club’s attack. In 358 matches for the club he’s scored 86 goals and has 109 assists; incredible statistics for a defender. Just last season he was crowned the Europa League’s top goalscorer with seven goals in 15 matches, all seven of which came in the high-pressure caldron of the knockout rounds; netting three times against Dortmund alone.

So far this term Tavernier already has three goals to his name, including one at home in a qualification clash against Union SG. He’ll be the first to admit he wasn’t at his best in the previous round against Ajax, and while he’ll be predominantly tasked with keeping the Napoli attack at bay on Wednesday night, he has the character and leadership qualities to respond with a stand-out display. 

Back on home soil the Rangers skipper, who takes penalties (scoring 44 in his career), should still have chances to surge forward and certainly appeals at 7/5 (Paddy Power) to register at least one shot on Napoli's goal. Furthermore, he could have some takers at 5/1 to net anytime.