Antwerp welcome Rangers to the Bosuilstadion in the first leg of their Last 32 encounter in 2020-21 UEFA Europa League.
Antwerp qualified for this stage after finishing runners-up to Tottenham in Group J following defeat in their final group match, whereas Rangers topped Group D ahead of Benfica by two points.
Team News
Dieumerci Mbokani is a major doubt for Antwerp after being sidelined for the last month with a calf injury.
Faris Haroun (calf), Dylan Batubinsika (ankle) and Birger Verstraete (unspecified) are also doubtful, but Didier Lamkel Ze (suspension), Alexis De Sart, Jean Butez (both unspecified) are definitely ruled out.
Rangers will be without Bongani Zungu, Nathan Patterson and Calvin Bassey following a breach of Coronavirus protocols alongside youth players – Brian Kinnear and Dapo Mebude, of which Mebude is currently out on loan at Queen of the South.
Steven Gerrard meanwhile looks set to rotate his starting line-up with no fresh injury concerns to report, although rumours indicated that James Tavernier is a doubt with a knock but he is expected to be available for selection, with Rangers describing the speculation as ‘fake news’.
Stat Attack
- This is Antwerp’s first-ever meeting against Rangers in all competitions.
- Antwerp haven’t drawn any of two previous home games against Scottish opposition (W1, L1).
- Rangers have lost just one of four previous away trips to Belgian opposition in all UEFA competitions (W2, D1, L1).
- Three of Antwerp’s eight Europa League goals this season have come from Lior Refaelov.
- Just one of Rangers’ seven goals in the group stage came from the Gers’ defence, courtesy of James Tavernier who scored away at Standard Liege in October.
Prediction
Antwerp has had a change of manager during the winter which seems to have benefitted them because they are pressing much higher up the pitch, but have lost key players like Mbokani and Lamkel Ze to leave them light up front.
Rangers meanwhile have continued to show ruthless form since their last Europa League outing and have recovered some injured players in recent weeks, so will definitely have the firepower needed to counter Antwerp’s pressing style.
With that in mind, I expect Rangers to sit back soaking up the pressure and hit Antwerp on the counter-attack which should suit them nicely given that Antwerp are without several players through injury so will be vulnerable up front.
Prediction: Antwerp 0-1 Rangers
Result: Antwerp 3-4 Rangers