Rangers will welcome Malmo to Ibrox this Tuesday where the two teams will contest and decide their Champions League fate as a win or even a draw for the Swedish side will ensure they make it to the play-off round following their 2-1 win on home soil last time out.
Steven Gerrard’s side must now win by a two-goal margin at Ibrox if they are to advance in normal time, as this 2-1 defeat leaves them staring at the Europa League once more.
📍 #RangersFC have arrived in Dumbarton. 📺 Watch all the action LIVE on @RangersTV here: https://t.co/KPuSu6akd3 pic.twitter.com/m7ZQD5XisU— Rangers B & Academy (@RFC_Youth) August 8, 2021
📍 #RangersFC have arrived in Dumbarton. 📺 Watch all the action LIVE on @RangersTV here: https://t.co/KPuSu6akd3 pic.twitter.com/m7ZQD5XisU
The away goals rule has now been abolished by UEFA, so at the very least, Rangers must bag two, as the one scored away from home will not be enough if they were to win 1-0 here.
In that defeat in Sweden, Steven Davis was the one who gave all Gers fans hope, as Soren Rieks and Veljko Birmancevic both scored for Malmo within two minutes of each other to give them a 2-0 lead. Davis, however, netted in the 95th minute to ensure they still had a chance.
The poor form for the Scottish champions continued into the weekend as they then lost to Dundee United on the road. This was the club's first defeat in the SPFL for 41 games, having won the league title last campaign by going unbeaten across the league season.
Rangers really looked like their former selves against Dundee and despite seeing 68% of the ball and having 14 shots on goal, Gerrard's men were poor throughout and never got going and in fact, they haven't quite looked the same since they beat Livingston 3-0 on the opening day.
As for Malmo, they have battled and worked their way into this position from the ground up in the Champions League, as they defeated Riga in the first qualifying round, just before they beat HJK Helsinki in the second qualifying round.
As well as this excellent form, Malmo are also currently top of the Allsvenskan once more, edging out Djurgarden after 14 games on goal difference. The Swedish giants have in fact lost just twice in 14 outings in the league.
This table-topping form that could see them make it into the Champions League has witnessed Malmo bag 13 goals in their past five league games alone and they will once again be a serious threat to Rangers’ European hopes this Tuesday.
It’ll be a close fixture and if form is anything to go by, Malmo should have it in the bag, but Gerrard’s men can’t be underestimated.