Rangers v Union SG preview: Team news, head-to-head, line-ups, where to watch
Rangers could sneak into the top eight of the Europa League with a victory in the final league phase match against Union Saint-Gilloise.
Philippe Clement is hanging on at Ibrox by the skin of his teeth, partly due to his side’s efforts on the European stage distracting from the 10-point gap to Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
While qualification to the knockout rounds is all but secure, a 92nd-minute Bruno Fernandes match-winner in the 2-1 loss against Manchester United at Old Trafford last week means the Light Blues must take the three points to erase any doubt.
Preview
Should other results go their way on Thursday (30 January), the Gers could sneak inside the top eight of the Europa League, which would go a long way toward easing the pressure on Clement.
Rangers have surpassed expectations thus far in the competition and can end the league phase in scintillating fashion with a win against Union SG.
However, the Belgians have won their last three European games against top-quality opposition in Braga, Nice and FC Twente.
Sebastien Pocognoli’s men are no pushovers, and the Light Blues will need to replicate their performances against Manchester United and Tottenham to stand a chance of claiming the three points.
The sides enter the contest level on points and will both aspire to secure one of the final spots inside the top eight.
Form Guide [Europa League]
Rangers: LDWDW
Union SG: WWWDL
Head-to-Head [all competitions]
Rangers 3-0 Union SG (9 August, 2022)
Union SG 2-0 Rangers (2 August, 2022)
Team News for Rangers v Union SG
Clement has no fresh injury concerns and is heading into the fixture without Dujon Sterling and John Souttar.
Danilo, Rabbi Matondo and Ianis Hagi are not part of the Gers’ European squad for the group phase, meanwhile.
Christian Burgess and Koki Machida will serve one-match suspensions for the visitors after being red-carded in the win against Braga last time out.
Union SG will also be without talisman Sofiane Boufal through injury – the forward joins Henok Teklab and Alessio Castro-Montes on the sidelines.
Predicted lineups for Rangers v Union SG
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, King, Propper, Jefte, Diomande, Raskin, McCausland, Dessers, Bajrami, Igamane
Union SG: Moris, Mac Allister, Mbe Soh, Leysen, Khalaili, Van de Perre, Vanhoutte, Sadiki, Niang, Ivanovic, Fuseini
Where to watch?
The match at Ibrox kicks off at 8pm GMT on Thursday, 30 January, and will be available live on TNT Sports and the Discovery+ app.
Alternatively, the match will be available to listen live on BBC Sport Scotland.
Prediction: Rangers 2-1 Union SG
A full-capacity Ibrox is a scary proposition for any side to face. Pair it with a European night under the lights, and the atmosphere will be hostile for the visitors.
Despite many setbacks in the SPFL, the Gers’ European form at home has remained consistent throughout the competition.
Union SG may be on a winning streak, but they have yet to play in an atmosphere only Ibrox can create. The supporters should help Rangers get over the line in the final league phase fixture.
In other Rangers news, Ianis Hagi ‘could leave immediately’ amid development abroad – Exclusive.
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