On Thursday night, Scottish champions Rangers host Alashkert of Armenia at Ibrox in the first leg of the Europa League play-offs.
After winning the SPL title last season, things haven’t worked out as expected for Steven Gerrard’s team of late. They kicked off their SPL campaign with a routine 3-0 win over Livingston.
📅 FIXTURE UPDATE: Our #PremierSportsCup quarter-final against Livingston will take place at Ibrox on Wednesday 22nd September.🆚 Livingston (H) | 22 September | 7:45pm (UK) https://t.co/x1fpYU2Dmq— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 17, 2021
📅 FIXTURE UPDATE: Our #PremierSportsCup quarter-final against Livingston will take place at Ibrox on Wednesday 22nd September.🆚 Livingston (H) | 22 September | 7:45pm (UK) https://t.co/x1fpYU2Dmq
However, since then have been dumped out of the Champions League at the third qualifying stage by Swedish team Malmo and also suffered a 1-0 defeat at Dundee United. Last time out the Scottish champions recorded a 5-0 hammering of Dunfermline in the second round of the League Cup.
The Champions League exit was particularly disappointing considering how well the team had performed last season. However, now they have a chance to make an impact on the Europa League, a competition they are familiar with from last season.
The home side made it to the last 16 of the competition last season, only to suffer an exit after a 3-1 aggregate defeat against Czech Republic outfit Sparta Prague.
The visitors have lost both of their opening games in the Armenian top-flight. They have also failed to score in both of the games and have conceded a concerning five goals.
Alashkert started the campaign in the Champions League, only to exit the competition at the second qualifying round following a 4-1 aggregate hammering at the hands of Sheriff.
They also needed extra time to see off Kairat of Kazakhstan in the third round of this competition.
Alashkert’s recent record in the Europa League is a poor one, as they have won just once in their last six games over 90 minutes. However, they are unbeaten in three away matches in the competition, having recorded two wins.
Forebet predicts that Rangers will record a big win in a high-scoring encounter to virtually render the second leg a dead rubber.