On Thursday evening, Standard Liege host Rangers at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne on gameweek one of the Europa League. Something must give, as both teams have made strong starts to their campaigns.
Standard Liege heads into this clash seven games unbeaten in all competitions. Last time out they drew 1-1 with Club Brugge, which leaves them just a point behind the weekend visitors in the race for the Belgian top-flight title.
The home side has already played three games in the Europa League this season, seeing off Bala Town, Vojvodina and Fehervar with relative ease.
The positive results in the competition this season mean that the home side are six games unbeaten in European football’s secondary competition.
Standard have been difficult to beat on home soil of late in the Europa League, as they head into this match unbeaten in 14 games at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne in the competition.
All three of their victories this season in the Europa League have been achieved on home soil.
Rangers have made a massively encouraging start to the new campaign, as Steven Gerrard’s team are leading the SPL and are unbeaten in domestic football this season. A 2-0 derby win at reigning champions Celtic last time out means that the Gers’ are 13 matches unbeaten in all competitions, having recorded 11 wins.
The visitor's last competitive defeat came in a 1-0 loss in this competition against Bayer Leverkusen in the knockout stages. Similar to their opponents, Rangers have already played in the Europa League this season, beating Lincoln Red Imps, Willem ll and Galatasaray, scoring at least two goals in each of the wins.
The Scottish giants have a decent recent away record in the Europa League, winning three of their last four games on their travels.
Forebet predicts that Standard Liege will edge a low-scoring clash to end Rangers recent unbeaten run in all competitions.