Ferencvaros vs Rangers preview: Team news, lineups, prediction
Rangers are on the hunt for their first win in the Europa League this season as they travel to Ferencvaros on Thursday.
Despite Rangers’ recent fortunes in the Scottish Premiership, Danny Rohl has not been able to translate this form into results in Europe.
Going into the match, the Gers sit 33rd in the table, five points off 24th – the minimum position needed to qualify for the next stage.
In comparison, Ferencvaros are on fire and are sixth in the table as they look to finish in the top eight.
Below, Ibrox News has provided everything you need to know about the upcoming clash.
Preview
Rangers go into the match on the back of a 3-0 victory over Kilmarnock.
The result helped end a run of three successive draws in all competitions as they returned to winning ways.
The hosts are in even better form, and sit top of the Nemzeti Bajnoksag I after 16 matches.
Ferencvaros have won their last three games and are on an unbeaten run of four matches in all competitions.
Form guide
Ferencvaros (last six in all comps): W L D W W W
Rangers (last six in all comps): W W D D D W
Head-to-head
Rangers have played Ferencvaros before in the qualifying phase of the 1960-61 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
The Gers beat the Hungarian side 5-4 on aggregate, winning 4-2 at Ibrox before losing 2-1 away in the second leg.
From here, Rangers would get to the final of the competition before losing to Fiorentina twice over two legs.
Team news and lineups
Rangers are guaranteed to be without Mohamed Diomande, who is suspended after his red card against Braga.
On top of this, Nedim Bajrami, Rabbi Matondo, Derek Cornelius, Kieran Dowell and Clinton Nsiala will not play a part after they were left out of the Europa League squad earlier this campaign.
John Souttar is expected to remain on the sidelines after his injury with Scotland in November, alongside Oliver Antman and Bailey Rice.
Joe Rothwell is also a doubt after missing the last few fixtures with a knock.
For the hosts, Denes Dibusz is expected to miss the clash, meaning Ferencvaros are without their first-choice keeper.
Krisztian Lisztes, Alex Toth and Stefan Gartenmann are also doubts, with the trio having a series of knocks.
Ferencvaros predicted XI: Grof, Cisse, Raemaekers, Szalai, Makreckis, Otvos, Zachariassen, Nagy, Bamidele, Varga, Levi
Rangers predicted XI: Butland, Tavernier, Djiga, Fernandez, Meghoma, Raskin, Barron, Gassama, Aasgaard, Moore, Miovski
Prediction: Ferencvaros 1-1 Rangers
Perhaps an optimistic prediction given the places of the two sides in the table. However, it is not beyond the realms of possibility.
All of Ferencvaros’ defeats this season have come at home, including a 3-1 loss to Nyiregyhaza Spartacus at the end of November.
Therefore, it is perhaps favourable that Rohl’s side are to face the Hungarian outfit at their home rather than Ibrox.
Given Rangers’ recent performance against Kilmarnock, the players have shown that they are more than capable of putting in a quality display when needed.
Therefore, Ibrox News has predicted a 1-1 draw ahead of the tie. However, this will do little to improve Rangers’ chances of qualification for the next round.
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