Rangers welcome Borussia Dortmund to Ibrox in the second leg of their knockout play-off in 2021-22 UEFA Europa League.
Victory or a draw would see Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Gers advance, although a defeat of just one goal would also be enough to see them through to the Round of 16.
Borussia Dortmund meanwhile must score at least three goals to stand any chance of advancing beyond this stage.
Team News
Aaron Ramsey is ruled out for Rangers after failing to recover from a knock which forced him to miss Sunday’s draw against Dundee United.
Leon Balogun (knock) is a doubt but Nnamdi Ofoborh (illness) and Ianis Hagi (knee) remain absent.
Borussia Dortmund again will be without Erling Haaland as he continues to recover from a groin injury.
Thomas Meunier (knock) could be available after travelling with the squad but Manuel Akanji (calf), Dan-Axel Zagadou (thigh), Giovanni Reyna (muscle), Mateu Morey and Marcel Schmelzer (both knee) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Rangers have lost just one of eight previous meetings against Borussia Dortmund in all competitions (W4, D4, L1).
- Borussia Dortmund is yet to win an away match against Rangers in all UEFA competitions (D1, L3).
- Alfredo Morelos has scored three goals in his last two European appearances for Rangers.
- Dortmund have conceded 13 goals across their last six away matches in all UEFA competitions (W3, D3), of which they scored three goals in just one of those six games. .
- Rangers have scored at least four goals in seven different matches across all competitions this season.
Prediction
Despite their squad inferiority heading into this tie, Rangers were impressive in how they quickly settled and clinically took their chances despite getting outclassed in the first leg, which has put them in a good position where they can afford to play without much pressure.
Dortmund meanwhile have to be much better in their attacking play than they were last week because they realistically need a clinical display to stand any chance of progression, otherwise this could be over quickly if they concede early.
Add in an atmospheric Ibrox rocking at full volume then this will be a difficult game for the visitors but the damage probably has been done already, especially given Dortmund’s poor away form at Ibrox.
Prediction: Rangers 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Result: Rangers 2-2 Borussia Dortmund (Rangers win 6-4 on aggregate!!)