Rangers welcome Braga to Ibrox in the opening leg of their Round of 32 encounter in this season’s Europa League.
With Celtic on course to complete another domestic treble, this competition represents Rangers’ only realistic hope of Champions League football next season if they can overcome Braga.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesBorna Barisic is available for Rangers after recovering from a thigh injury which had sidelined him in their last two matches against Kilmarnock and Livingston.
Jermain Defoe (calf) and Filip Helander (foot) are both ruled out.
Braga have no fresh injury concerns to report.
Stat Attack
- This is Rangers’ first meeting against Braga in all competitions.
- Rangers have scored in 12 of their 14 Europa League matches so far this season (W8, D5, L1).
- Ricardo Horta has scored for Braga in two of their last three Europa matches, only failing to do so in a 4-2 away win at Slovan Bratislava.
Prediction
Rangers will need to be on their guard because Braga have proven themselves to be a dangerous team this season, which will be a defensive concern but if Alfredo Morelos can bring his A game and the midfield steps up then this could be a good battle.
I however feel that Rangers need to get this first leg win with a clean sheet for confidence, although I do feel that Braga might just nick this if the Gers aren’t careful.
Prediction: Rangers 1-2 Braga
Result: Rangers 3-2 Braga