Nicolas Raskin has extra work on his hands to stop ‘key threat’ for Sturm Graz vs Rangers
Rangers face Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday as they aim to get points on the board.
Russell Martin is under huge pressure at Ibrox, and the only way he can ease some of it is to start winning games and improving performances instantly.
Rangers are in Austria to face second-placed side Sturm Graz on 2 October, and a win would go a long way for their European ambitions.
Sturm Graz have won five of their seven league games this season, and they have one particularly threatening player who can do damage to Rangers.
Sturm Graz to welcome Otar Kietishvili back for Rangers clash
Sturm Graz’s best player is Otar Kietishvili, but the attacking midfielder missed their first Europa League game due to personal reasons.
- Kietishvili is a 47-cap Georgia International who appeared at Euro 2024.
- The 29-year-old has scored five goals in eight appearances across all competitions this season.
- He scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 32 league games last season..
- Kietishvili won the Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Season award in 2023-24 as Sturm Graz won a historic title.
Kietishvili has been described as a “key threat” and will be available for the clash on the questionable Sturm Graz pitch at the Merkur-Arena.
With the midfielder set to play at the tip of a diamond, Martin will have to find a way of stopping him, and Nicolas Raskin may be tasked with this role.
Nicolas Raskin needs to stop Kietishvili
Raskin is Rangers’ best player, and thrives as a defensive midfielder despite his goal threat in the air when attacking the box.
However, against Sturm Graz, he may have to focus on his defensive duties to stop Kietishvili from scoring.
With Derek Cornelius and John Souttar set to face two strikers, they will be preoccupied, and Raskin will have to ensure that Kietishvili does not find space in the box to shoot.
Raskin will also be tasked with creating for his teammates, with Rangers ranking low for touches in the opposition box under Martin, and the 24-year-old will have to be at his best if his side are to win in Austria.
Either way, three points and a positive performance are desperately needed.
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