/sky247-nigeria/media/media_files/2024/12/11/LCGS7n5OJmNLZq5p3VLo.webp)
Rangers, titans of Scotland, will host Tottenham Hotspur, giants of the Premier League, at Ibrox on Thursday night in a Europa League matchup featuring a Battle of Britain.
The two teams will meet for the first time in more than sixty years, and despite their disappointing domestic performances this season, they are both still in the hunt for a top-eight league finish.
Previous Matches and Head-to-head
Ange Postecoglou, manager of Spurs, will be making a triumphant return to Glasgow, where he won two Scottish Premierships while leading Rangers' fierce rivals Celtic, making this a historic matchup between two British teams vying for a spot in the top eight.
When the Australian manager returns to Celtic, the home supporters will be understandably enraged since he won six of eleven Old Firm derbies when managing the club and also defeated Rangers to the championship in his two seasons there.
After his team blew a 2-0 lead away to lose 4-3 at home to London rivals Chelsea last weekend, Postecoglou is under growing pressure heading into this match.
This occurred just days after Spurs suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth on the South Coast, a game in which the final score much favored Spurs.
Spurs are still in the Premier League's cellar after winning only one in their past seven games—a spectacular 4-0 victory away to Manchester City.
After losing to Galatasaray and Roma, Spurs' recent play has taken a toll on their Europa League ranking, as they are no longer in the top eight.
On matchday five against Roma, Spurs led for 80 minutes, but the Giallorossi snatched a point in North London thanks to an injury-time equalizer by Mats Hummels. No club has spent more time in the lead this season than Spurs (276 minutes).
Though they ultimately lost, Postecoglou also presided over Spurs' 3-2 loss in Istanbul on their most recent European road trip.
Therefore, the away team hopes to keep their perfect record against the Scottish teams. They have never lost in six games, including a 1962 Cup Winners' Cup semifinal match against Rangers that they won in both halves.
However, if Rangers' current record is any indication, they will be challenging to beat. Manager Philippe Clement has won four in a row in response to significant questions about his future with the club.
It seemed like the Belgians would be let go after the Rangers' 1-1 home draw with Dundee United on November 23, effectively ending their championship aspirations. However, he swiftly set things right by thumping Nice 4-1 away from home on matchday five.
After that, in the last three league games, they have beaten St. Johnstone, Kilmarnock, and Ross County three times without allowing a single goal while scoring ten goals.
The Gers may have lost the title, but they still have a shot at a repeat performance in Europe, where they advanced to the championship game in 2021–22.
Their most recent visit to Ibrox culminated in a resounding 4-0 victory against FCSB, and only Lyon have managed to defeat Rangers in the Europa League this season.
Facing an open and costly Spurs squad will allow them to beat their record for most goals scored in a European tournament group stage, which is now 12 goals.
The following two games might decide the course of Clement's team's season, and this one comes at the beginning of a huge few days that also include a League Cup semifinal against Celtic next Saturday.
Rangers vs. Tottenham Hotspur Team News
While Rabbi Matondo has only recently returned to Rangers training, he may not be ready for this game just yet, and neither Oscar Cortes nor Tom Lawrence will be able to recover from their injuries in time.
Hamza Igamane has been in red-hot form since receiving a starting chance from Clement late last month, scoring four goals in four games. Matondo will need help getting into the starting lineup upon his return.
The only other host ailment not playing in this match is defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo, who will be sidelined for almost six months with a knee injury.
In Tottenham's loss to Chelsea, center-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were both substituted due to recurrences of injuries that had cast doubt on their participation in that match.
The list of visitors' absentees grew when Brennan Johnson was also substituted due to sickness, and Ben Davies had already hurt his hamstring against Bournemouth.
Will Lankshear may appear after serving his European punishment in the draw with Roma, but Richarlison, Wilson Odobert, and Mikey Moore are all sitting out the attack.
Given that Rodrigo Bentancur's seven-game suspension does not extend to European fixtures, he should start there. Yves Bissouma, who will be banned for Sunday's Premier League encounter against Southampton, may also see action.
Our predictions
Match to end in 1-1 draw @ 6.95 on Sky247.ng
Despite Spurs' recent troubles, this will still be one of their most challenging games on the continent this season, and Rangers have not won against English opponents in their previous six tries.
Despite Rangers' identical standing, Spurs' ease in defeating Qarabag and Ferencvaros earlier in the season makes this anything from ordinary, especially on the road at a rowdy Ibrox when they're on a bad run.
Elevate your betting experience with SKY247 Nigeria. Join now and discover a thrilling world of sports, live events, and exclusive bonuses. Bet with confidence on your favorite teams and games.