Rangers' Matchday 2 Champions League appearance versus Napoli has been moved 24 hours from Tuesday to Wednesday, UEFA has recently announced. To add more confusion, NO away supporters will be allowed to attend either game between the two sides.
Gers were initially set to host Napoli on Tuesday, September 13. Still, this scheduled meeting was today pushed 24 hours, as UEFA cited: "severe limitations on police resources and organizational issues" concerning the national mourning of Queen Elizabeth II. UEFA's governing body also revealed that no away fans will be in attendance at Ibrox for the rescheduled game – and the same will apply for the reverse fixture in Naples due to "sporting integrity."
This has left fans scrambling to get their refunds from airlines, hotels, and travel agencies who'd already booked flights, accommodation, and time off.
Fans flooded to share their frustrations on social media, with one fan writing: "That is so unfair on Napoli fans who will have booked travel and accommodation to Glasgow and the effect policing numbers will be minimal – nonsense decision. No Rangers fans in Napoli are probably good, though; not a great place for visiting fans; Napoli Ultras are not the friendliest.
"And not forgetting Rangers fans who will have made travel arrangements bearing in mind plenty of travel far afield and outside Scotland. Plenty will have booked Monday to Wednesday travel and hotels, and quite a few will probably not be able to rearrange plans."
Another fan commented: "Severe limitations on police? Isn't having Celtic fans in the pubs in town and Rangers fans at Ibrox not going to cause more bother? Very bizarre."
And another angered fan said: "This is utterly stupid. People have already booked to travel to Naples. This will cause even more issues. Sporting fairness, what about fairness to paying customers for both sets of fans who've already paid out for the games? IDIOTIC decision."
One angered comment read: "UEFA has zero regards for fans; I understand the situation but to say no away fans are mental. So much money has been spent for fans traveling to both legs." Another said: "As a neutral, I think this is utter horses**t, and Napoli fans should be livid."
Rangers vs. Napoli Preview
Rangers lost 4-0 to Ajax during last Wednesday's Group A opening, and Napoli was successful in defeating Liverpool 4-1 in their first match.
These opening results won't give Rangers much hope, as the Serie A squad is looking in fine form to begin their season in both domestic and European competition.
However, since all Scottish domestic football this past weekend was postponed as a mark of respect to the Queen's passing, the Gers will boast an utterly fresh squad.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is struggling to find consistency thus far, as UK betting sites show the manager's issues reflecting the betting odds. Priced higher than 3/1 at some bookmakers, the Gers are heavy underdogs, despite playing at home without the presence of a supporting away crowd.
The available odds on the home side are no surprise; with back-to-back 4-0 defeats on their recent record, Rangers fell apart in the Old Firm Derby to then receive a repeat result versus Ajax in their UCL opening game.
Time and time again, we've seen Rangers falter at the back; their defensive frailties regularly return as flexibility and consistency rarely work for the Glasgow squad. They do, however, find more success in the final third. The previous five meetings at Ibrox saw three or more goals, and since the beginning of the 2022/23 season, the Gers have scored two or more goals when playing at Ibrox.
Napoli is a significant betting favourite, and for a good reason. Following their 4-1 dismantling of Liverpool, Napoli returned to domestic action this past weekend and took another three points in Serie A.
Since the beginning of the 2022 Serie A season, Napoli hasn't faltered and is currently in 1st position. From their six domestic appearances, they've won four thus far, netting 13 goals in the process – more than any other Serie A squad this term.
It will be a challenging game for Rangers to regain their confidence and chemistry on the ball. Despite the positivity that can be taken from a short break, the momentum from Naples might be too difficult to break.
Napoli is the smart move from a betting perspective, especially when looking at the value available on the visiting teams to win odds.