Rangers host Aberdeen at Ibrox on Monday evening with momentum firmly on their side after a stunning 3-1 victory over Celtic in the New Year derby. Danny Röhl's side sit third in the Scottish Premiership with 38 points from 20 matches, just level with Celtic and trailing leaders Hearts by six points. Aberdeen arrive in Glasgow in turmoil, languishing in eighth place with 25 points after interim manager Peter Leven took charge following Jimmy Thelin's dismissal on January 4th, making this a daunting task for the visitors.
Rangers enter this fixture riding a wave of confidence, having won four consecutive league matches under Röhl. The German manager has transformed their fortunes since taking over in October, losing just one of 12 league games to pull his side back into title contention. Their recent victories include narrow 1-0 wins over Hibernian and Motherwell, a 2-1 triumph against St. Mirren, and the emphatic Old Firm victory that showcased their attacking prowess. John Souttar has returned from injury to solidify the backline, though Nedim Bajrami, Oliver Antman, Derek Cornelius, and Bailey Rice remain sidelined.
Aberdeen's collapse has been swift and brutal, managing just one point from their last four matches before Thelin's sacking. Their recent run includes a 3-1 defeat to Celtic, a 1-1 draw at home to Dundee United, a 2-0 loss at Hibernian, and a devastating 1-0 League Cup exit to Falkirk that proved the final straw for the Swedish manager. Leven steps into the breach for the third time as interim boss, inheriting a squad decimated by injuries to Gavin Molloy and Kris Tobers, both nursing knee problems. Adil Aouchiche remains doubtful after being forced off against Falkirk, though goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov has been cleared to play despite a recent head injury.
Röhl reflected on his team's growing belief ahead of the fixture, stating: "I see a lot of players growing, and every win helps to create confidence. In the last couple of weeks, we have had some ups and downs, but I see more things I like, and if we continue this, we are in a good way." Leven, taking charge with minimal preparation time, confirmed he and Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel had shared "a few home truths" with the squad. The interim boss remains focused on the immediate challenge: "I'm just taking it game by game here. I'm just focused on away to Rangers."
Rangers dominate this fixture historically, winning 51 of 84 meetings compared to Aberdeen's 13 victories and 20 draws. Recent encounters heavily favor the Ibrox side, who won 4-0 at home in May 2025 and 3-0 in January 2025. Aberdeen's last triumph came in October 2024 with a narrow 2-1 victory, though they managed a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie in April 2025. Rangers have scored 69 goals against Aberdeen's 33 in their last 36 meetings, underlining the gulf in quality between these sides when the Gers find their rhythm.
My model backs a Rangers home win at 51/100 (1.51 decimal) with a 60.46% win probability. The correct score prediction is Rangers 2-1, with expected goals at 1.98 for Rangers and 0.93 for Aberdeen. Rangers have won four straight league matches while Aberdeen managed just one point from their last four, and the 1.05 xG advantage reflects Rangers' superior attacking threat against a fragile visiting defense.