Date: January 26, 2025
Kick-off: 12:00 (GMT)
Venue: Tannadice Park, Dundee
Match Preview:
Rangers will be looking to end their poor away form when they visit third-placed Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday. While Rangers are strong at Ibrox, their away performances have been underwhelming, picking up just 13 points from 11 away matches so far this season, with only three wins on the road. Philippe Clement’s side has been struggling to challenge Celtic for the title, largely due to their poor performances away from home.
In contrast, Dundee United has enjoyed a solid start to their return to the Scottish top-flight, sitting in third place with 37 points from their opening 23 matches. Though they were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by local rivals Dundee, Jim Goodwin’s side bounced back with an impressive 0-1 win over St Mirren in their last league outing.
Despite Rangers being favorites to win, Dundee United’s home form has been solid, and they have shown they can be tough to break down.
How the Bookies View It
Rangers are 4/9 favorites with BoyleSports to claim an away win, while Dundee United are 9/2 underdogs, with the draw priced at 16/5. Given Rangers’ poor away form, these odds might not reflect their true chances, and the match could be more competitive than anticipated.
Head-to-Head
Rangers are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with Dundee United, winning six of those matches. The Tangerines did manage to earn a 1-1 draw at Ibrox back in November, showing they can compete with the Glasgow giants. However, Rangers have traditionally been dominant in these encounters.
Players to Watch
- Hamza Igamane (Rangers): The Moroccan star has been in outstanding form recently, scoring 12 goals in his last 14 appearances. He found the net against Aberdeen in Rangers’ most recent league outing and will be a key threat up front.
- Sam Dalby (Dundee United): The Tangerines’ top scorer this season, with 10 goals in the Premiership, Dalby has been a consistent performer for Dundee United. He was also the one to score the opener in the 1-1 draw at Ibrox earlier in the season.
Probable Line-Ups
Dundee United: Walton; Strain, Adegboyega, Holt, Ferry; Sevelj, Docherty, Trapanovski; Stephenson, Middleton, Dalby
Rangers: Kelly; Yilmaz, Propper, Nsiala, Jefte; Raskin, Diomande, Hagi; Bajrami, McCausland, Igamane
Anything Else to Consider?
- Rangers’ Away Record: Rangers’ domestic away form has been a concern this season, and they’ve been poor on the road, with only three wins from 11 matches in the league. This could make it hard for them to break down a resilient Dundee United side at Tannadice.
- Dundee United’s Home Form: Dundee United has been impressive at home, with W5-D3-L3 in their opening 11 home matches. They’ve conceded just two goals in their last six home matches, including a goalless draw against Celtic, showing that they are tough to beat at Tannadice.
- Rangers’ Europa League Game: Rangers will be traveling from a Thursday night Europa League match against Manchester United. The physical and mental toll of that high-profile encounter could have an impact on their performance in this game.
Prediction
Although Rangers are strong on paper, their away form has been poor and with Dundee United being difficult to beat at home, the match could be more closely contested than the bookies suggest. With Dundee United in solid form, they might manage to avoid defeat in this one.
Final Score Prediction: Dundee United 1-1 Rangers
Betting Tips
- Draw (16/5)
- Dundee United to Avoid Defeat
- Both Teams to Score
- Sam Dalby to Score Anytime
This Scottish Premiership match between Dundee United and Rangers will be played on January 26, 2025, with kick-off at 12:00 (GMT). Make sure to check for the latest odds and updates before placing your bets!