Rangers face a difficult play-off in their quest to reach the Europa League’s Group Stage for a third consecutive season as they welcome Galatasaray to Ibrox.
Victory will see Rangers qualify once more for the Group Stage but defeat will see their European adventures come to a premature end.
Team News
Cedric Itten is a doubt for Rangers after suffering a knee injury.
Joe Aribo (ankle) and Kemar Roofe (calf) are ruled out but Brandon Barker (hamstring) and Ryan Jack (calf) could feature if can prove their fitness in time.
Galatasaray will be without Arda Turn due to illness although the midfielder has tested negative for Coronavirus.
Fernando Muslera (leg), Marcelo Saracchi, Emre Akbaba and Jimmy Durmaz (all unspecified) are sidelined.
Stat Attack
- Rangers are winless in two previous meetings against Galatasaray in all competitions (D1, L1), drawing 0-0 at Ibrox in October 2000 after losing 3-2 at Galatasaray a month earlier.
- Galatasaray are unbeaten in ten of their last 17 matches in all UEFA competitions against British opposition (W5, D5, L7), of which just two of those games were against a Scottish team – Rangers in First Group Stage of 2000-01 Champions League.
- Connor Goldson and James Tavernier are the only two Rangers players to have scored in both of their two Europa League Qualifying victories this season over Lincoln Red Imps then Willem II.
Prediction
Rangers have been dominant so far this season in all competitions but this will be a tough test because Galatasaray possess a fierce squad including; Ryan Babel, Radamel Falcao and Sofiane Feghouli amongst others.
Steven Gerrard Gers’ will therefore probably have to change their style to counteract Galatasaray’s attacking threat because if they play on counter, they could cause a real surprise and snatch a win but if go out attacking then there will be one result.
Prediction: Rangers 1-2 Galatasaray
Result: Rangers 2-1 Galatasaray
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