Rangers’ pivotal matchup with Real Betis in Spain will reveal their Europa League fate.
Matchday five saw the Gers mishandle their lines against Cypriot underdogs Aris Limassol, and that 1-1 draw at Ibrox left things a bit hazy in Group C of the Europa League.
While play in the Europa Conference League is certain past Christmas, supporters of the Rangers have grown accustomed to the team making deep runs in the competition.
Rangers will need to overcome Real Betis in order for Sparta Prague to upset Aris Limassol, which is no easy task considering the Spanish team’s perfect home record this season.
Here’s our match preview for you.
Injuries and absences that impact both parties
Rangers supporters are accustomed to witnessing a patchwork team play for them because a string of injuries have dominated the team’s last few seasons.
This campaign has been similar, with Philippe Clement, to use a metaphor, yanking out his hair during the news conference because of the persistent issues.
The Rangers are trying to turn things around, and among the notable absences are long-term absentee Danilo, Ryan Jack, Tom Lawrence, and Nicolas Raskin.
Important playmaker Todd Cantwell has been left out of the Rangers UEFA Europa League squad because of a personal matter, and Leon Balogun, Kieran Dowell, and Ridvan Yilmaz have not been added.
With no fewer than six seasoned internationals with over 320 caps between them sidelined due to injury or suspension, Real Betis have plenty of problems of their own.
Argentine World Cup star Guido Rodriguez, Portuguese international midfielder William Carvalho, and French World Cup winner Nabil Fekir are among them.
What the supervisors have stated
“How many home games did they lose this season?” asks Philippe Clement. (0). Hence, even if you claim it’s simple, teams wouldn’t have completed the task. We admire Real Madrid and other elite clubs, but we also have goals in mind when we come here. The game is intriguing. Rangers have nothing to lose in this game either. Next (year), we will be in Europe, but we have high expectations for ourselves. We wish to move forward as a team once more. Over the past few weeks, I’ve set them a number of challenges, and nearly all of them have been met. We’re all fired up about this next challenge, which may be the largest one to date.
“We expect a Rangers team that, because it’s a big game, will go into it knowing that a draw is of no use to them because they could be knocked out,” said Manuel Pellegrini. When attacking, they are a formidable squad because of their strength up front. In addition to being the same Betis as usual and trying to win the game, we must pay close attention to the defensive side of the ball.
The main topics of discussion
Todd Cantwell’s absence from the Rangers is undoubtedly the main talking point before the game, but as was previously mentioned, both teams have serious problems.
In addition, supporters of the team will consider Rangers a failure if they lose this evening after finishing in Pot One of the Europa League groups draw.
Rangers just collected one point from six games against Aris Limassol, so the most of that will come from shaky performances, but it has put some pressure on the team ahead of the encounter.
Rangers will secure the top spot in the group and avoid elimination from the Champions League playoffs in the Europa League knockout stages if they overcome Real Betis.
Rangers must triumph if Sparta Prague does in order to save them from falling into third position in the Europa Conference League.
If Sparta Prague loses to Aris Limassol in Cyprus, Rangers would advance as runners-up in the Europa League group, behind Real Betis, with a draw or even a loss.
Rangers advance even if the Czechs draw and they lose because of their head-to-head record against Sparta Prague.
If Sparta Prague prevails, Rangers will have to create history by becoming the first team in club history to win in Spain against a Spanish team, having lost their previous twelve trips there.
Real Betis and Rangers’ starting lineups for the Europa League
GK: Jack Butland
James Tavernier, DR
DC: Connor Goldson
DC: Ben Davies
Borna Barisic (DL)
John Lundstram, CDM
Jose Cifuentes, CDM
Sam Lammers is CAM.
LF: Abdallah Sima
Cyriel Dessers, ST
RF: Rabbi Matondo
Where can I see the Rangers? Trip to Real Betis in the Europa League
The Europa League match between Real Betis and Rangers is scheduled to begin at 2000GMT, or 8 PM in the UK, and will be televised by TNT Sports.
Live coverage of the match will be available on TNT Sports 3, which is available on SKY 874 and BT TV channel 410.
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