- 1 Jablonec vs Rangers: one goal down, 13 shots conceded
- 2 Jablonec: winning run brought to a halt at Ibrox
- 3 Rangers: McInnes finally has some momentum
- 4 Conference League prediction Jablonec vs Rangers
- 5 First, a word on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling comes first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Jablonec vs Rangers: one goal down, 13 shots conceded 
Rangers won 1-0 at Ibrox on 20 August in the first leg of this Conference League play-off. Ryan Don Naderi struck on 50 minutes, the only goal in a match the Scots controlled for long spells.
The return leg is set for Thursday 27 August at Stadion Střelnice, with kick-off at 18:00 local time in the Czech Republic. Serbian referee Nenad Minakovic will take charge, assisted by Nikola Borovic and Bosko Bozovic, with Mario Zebec on VAR.
Jablonec now need a win to go through, while a draw sends Rangers into the league phase. The Czech club have already pulled off that sort of comeback this season, wiping out a 3-2 first-leg defeat against NK Varazdin.
But the first-leg numbers make that task a lot tougher. Rangers had 57% possession, fired 13 shots to Jablonec’s five and carved out five big chances.
The game itself also handed the Czechs a lifeline they couldn’t take. Cameron Devlin’s red card on 74 minutes left Rangers down to 10 men for the final quarter of an hour, yet Jablonec still couldn’t find an equaliser.
There is one wrinkle, though. Rangers are on a run of seven straight European away defeats, a streak Derek McInnes has not yet managed to snap.
Střelnice is the first real test of that odd stat under the new boss. Jablonec have done most of their qualifying damage there, beating Varazdin and Rigas Futbola Skola along the way.
So Thursday night brings two clashing truths: Rangers have the better quality, while Jablonec have not lost at home in Europe this season. With a one-goal margin, every moment matters.
Jablonec: winning run brought to a halt at Ibrox 
Jablonec started their 2026-27 campaign with a 3-2 defeat against NK Varazdin in the second qualifying round. Lubos Kozel’s side hit back immediately, beating Sigma Olomouc 2-1 in their Czech league opener.
That win kicked off a long run of victories. Varazdin were then knocked out after a 2-0 second-leg win, the kind of turnaround this club clearly knows how to handle.
Two more league wins followed, including a 1-0 victory over FC Slovacko. Their consistency in Chance Liga built belief ahead of the European ties.
Rigas Futbola Skola were then swept aside in the third qualifying round, beaten 3-1 on aggregate. Jablonec won 2-0 at home before finishing the job with a 2-1 victory in Latvia.
That run says plenty about this side: they score home and away, and they can handle a two-legged tie. Six goals in four qualifying matches tells its own story.
The 1-0 defeat at Ibrox stopped that momentum cold. Five shots all game showed a side pinned back for long stretches and kept on a tight leash.
The issue is plain enough: Jablonec were bullied by Rangers’ press and never really got the ball moving. Do that again on Thursday and they’re out.
Kevin-Prince Milla is out injured and Nassim Innocenti is a doubt after a knock. Kozel is likely to stick close to the side he used in Scotland, with Jawo leading the line and Chanturishvili, Suchan and Polidar supplying the service.
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Rangers: McInnes finally has some momentum 
Derek McInnes left Hearts for Ibrox in the summer 2026 window. His first four matches brought two draws and two defeats, a start that quickly turned the heat up around the club.
The Europa League exit against Jagiellonia Bialystok was the first real blow. Rangers lost 2-1 in Poland, then could only manage a 1-1 draw at home, and that was that.
McInnes also watched his side lose 2-1 at home to Hibernian in the Premiership. Falling to a direct rival at Ibrox only cranked up the pressure.
Then came the release valve: a 5-1 hammering of St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup. That result woke up an attack that had been going nowhere and gave the squad a lift.
The 1-0 win over Jablonec backed it up. The scoreline is tight, but the performance was better: five big chances, 13 attempts and clear control until the hour mark.
Ryan Don Naderi got the winner on 50 minutes and should keep his place up front. He is likely to line up alongside Daisuke Yokota and Djeidi Gassama, a trio with enough pace to hurt teams in behind.
Cameron Devlin is suspended after his red card, which leaves the midfield set. Vanja Dragojevic, Dan Neil and Tochi Chukwuani should all keep their places.
Youssef Chermiti, Ben Godfrey and Jose Cifuentes remain out injured. Godfrey is closing in on a return after the hamstring problem he picked up on opening day against Dundee United, but this trip is probably too soon for him.
Predicted Jablonec XI: Hanus ; Cedidla, Tekijaski, Pavlovic, Slama ; Sedlacek, Nebyla ; Chanturishvili, Suchan, Polidar ; Jawo
Predicted Rangers XI: Pandur ; Sterling, Fernandez, Makhanya, Penrice ; Dragojevic, Neil, Chukwuani ; Yokota, Naderi, Gassama
Conference League prediction Jablonec vs Rangers
Our prediction: Rangers to beat Jablonec
The shot count from the first leg, 13 to five, tells you everything about the gap between these sides. A 1-0 scoreline flatters Jablonec given the five big chances they gave up.
The return leg only makes life harder for the Czechs. Chasing a one-goal deficit will force them to open up, which is exactly where Yokota and Gassama do their best work.
Kevin-Prince Milla’s absence also leaves Kozel short of an attacking option at the very moment he needs one. Rangers, meanwhile, arrive on the back of two straight wins and with the same midfield intact.
Rangers to win at Střelnice and finish the job.
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