Ibrox View: Set-pieces could be key to Rangers defeating Bayer Leverkusen
Let’s not beat around the bush here, Rangers face an almighty task to overcome a 3-1 deficit against Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie.
The Germans are a well-oiled machine, and were unfortunate to miss out on a Champions League spot in the Bundesliga this season.
But nothing is impossible in knockout football, and there appears to be one area in particular that Steven Gerrard’s men could look to exploit if they are to score the two goals they need to steal a famous result.
Let’s examine Leverkusen’s 4-1 defeat to Wolfsburg back in May.
There have been other defeats since, but this one is particularly relevant for two reasons.
Firstly, this is a team who Leverkusen would probably have expected to get a result against going into the match.
Secondly, Wolfsburg had just over 33.89% possession, as per Wyscout.
When Rangers played Leverkusen back in March, they had 33.38%, so there are real parallels.
But the most striking thing about this match is that Wolfsburg scored three goals from set-pieces.
And the last goal was probably the best illustration of just how easily they can be picked off.
In the image above, the goalscorer is circled.
Before the ball is played in, he is well-marked and poses relatively little threat.
But all it takes is a simple piece of movement, as marked out above, to outfox the backline.
By running in a dog-leg across the front of two defenders, the goalscorer is able to open up a chasm of space that ultimately leaves him with a free header.
Granted, he still has a lot to do, but the defence is so shoddy that there isn’t even anybody jumping with him.
And let’s not forget, George Edmundson was given a free header from six yards out directly from a corner for our consolation goal in the first leg, as pictured above.
The job will be a hard one, and we may not see a lot of the ball, but this just goes to show that there is a chink in Leverkusen’s armour that we can get at.
In other Rangers news, Ibrox View: Rangers could get 20/21 boost after transfer reports on rival striker.