Prediction: Rangers vs Dynamo Kyiv

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: 888sport

A late goal in Poland has set up an intriguing Champions League qualifying tie between Rangers and Dynamo Kiev, as the teams prepare for the decisive second leg on Tuesday. With Ibrox undergoing redevelopments, the crucial match will be held at the iconic Hampden Park, with a spot in the play-offs on the line.

Rangers

In the dying moments of last week’s first leg, Cyriel Dessers delivered a dramatic 94th-minute equalizer to secure a draw for Rangers as they began their Champions League qualifying journey in the third round. Philippe Clement’s team had initially trailed after Andriy Yarmolenko’s first-half goal, but Dessers’ close-range finish at the Lublin Arena—where the match was held due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine—leveled the score.

Rangers, like Dynamo Kiev, finished second in their domestic league last season, and their bid to improve on a disappointing 2023-24 season started with a frustrating goalless draw against Hearts on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership. Under pressure to perform in Poland, Rangers managed to leave with a draw and followed up with a 2-1 victory over Motherwell on Saturday, with Dessers scoring again in their first ‘home’ game of the 2024-25 season.

Now, energized by this crucial win, Rangers head to Hampden on Tuesday for the decisive second leg.

Team News

As Philippe Clement continues to reshape his squad in the transfer market, new signing Robin Propper made his Rangers debut over the weekend. Despite scoring an own goal against Motherwell, Propper is likely to start again on Tuesday. Fellow newcomers Vaclav Cerny and Connor Barron are also in contention for a place in the lineup, while first-leg hero Cyriel Dessers is expected to lead the attack.

However, Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell remain sidelined as they await potential moves away from the club, and Jose Cifuentes is set to join Aris Thessaloniki on a season-long loan. Additionally, Nicolas Raskin and Oscar Cortes are ruled out due to injury.

Dynamo Kyiv

Dynamo Kiev faced a tougher challenge than anticipated in their last match, letting a lead slip and leaving them with work to do at Hampden Park. After comfortably cruising through their first qualifier, this setback means they must now regroup for the second leg.

Last season, Dynamo narrowly missed out on their first league title since 2021, finishing just two points behind Shakhtar Donetsk. They entered Champions League qualifying at the second stage, where they easily dispatched Partizan Belgrade with a 9-2 aggregate win.

The Ukrainian giants have a rich history in Europe’s top club competition, with their last appearance in the knockout rounds dating back eight years. However, their most recent attempt to reach the group stage ended in a heavy 5-0 playoff defeat to Benfica in 2022.

Having also failed to qualify for the Europa Conference League last year, Dynamo are determined to make amends this time around. Their recent 2-1 league win over Veres Rivne will have boosted their confidence ahead of the trip to Glasgow.

If Oleksandr Shovkovskyi’s side can overcome Rangers, they will face either Red Bull Salzburg or FC Twente in the final play-off round for a spot in the Champions League’s revamped group stage.

Team News

Dynamo are expected to field a similar lineup to the one that started in the first leg, with veteran striker Andriy Yarmolenko—who has now scored 24 goals in 99 UEFA competition appearances—set to captain the team.

Joining Yarmolenko up front will be Vladyslav Vanat, who scored 14 goals in the Ukrainian Premier League last season.

Vitaliy Buyalskyi, who found the net in Dynamo’s recent league match on Friday, will be aiming to reclaim his starting position in the attacking midfield role for the crucial clash at Hampden.

Conclusion

Rangers struggled to impress despite securing a much-needed win on Saturday, and their performance in Poland last week was far from convincing, with the team fortunate to leave on level terms.

However, they will be eager to impress back on their home soil, and they should have what it takes to get to the play-off round.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: 888sport