Rangers are back to winning ways with a commanding 2-0 victory against Kilmarnock. But they remain on the back foot following a 0-2 defeat on the road versus Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round encounter. The Light Blues have a mountain to climb on Tuesday night and the Ibrox crowd must play their part once more similar to last season’s Europa League outings.
Union SG, on the other hand, finished runners-up upon their return to the top flight of Belgian football. They have carried the momentum early into the ongoing term and their all-round ability might result in another setback for the Glasgow giants. Having said that, the Gers have defied the odds time and again in their European contests and the same needs to be executed yet again to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Predicted 4-2-3-1 Rangers Lineup To Face Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Defence
Jon McLaughlin grabbed his first clean sheet of the 2022-23 campaign and the new Rangers ‘number 1’ must secure another to be on the comeback trail.
Skipper James Tavernier is expected to anchor the show with his driving runs and attacking expertise from the right-hand flank. There is no scope for error at all, and the right fullback must also perform his defensive duties in this midweek fixture. Connor Goldson should show his resilience in the heart of the backline alongside James Sands. The latter has excelled in deep defence and is likely to get the nod ahead of Ben Davies. Ridvan Yilmaz grabbed his full debut versus Killie, however, gaffer Giovanni van Bronckhorst might opt for Borna Barisic for his experience.
Midfield
John Lundstram is irreplaceable deep down the midfield. But the manager must be finding it difficult to choose his partner in the centre of the pitch. Although Glen Kamara has not been able to fit into the Dutchman’s system, his technicality and creative spark should be utilized in this game.
Tom Lawrence depicted his mastery as an attacking midfielder against Derek McInnes’ side and the Wales star is tipped to leave an impression tomorrow night. Rabbi Matondo must return to the starting XI due to his pace and swift footwork down the right, but the manager is yet to make the call with Ryan Kent set to undergo a late fitness test before the tie. Malik Tillman could be an option from the left if the Englishman fails to recover in time.
Attack
Alfredo Morelos made a scoring return from his long injury layoff. Rangers must aim for an early goal to be back in contention and the presence of the Colombian is essential from the first whistle of the match. He might not be fit enough to play the entire game and Antonio Colak is expected to replace him high up the pitch at some stage in the second half. The Croatian looked more purposeful on Saturday afternoon and his second-half strike must uplift the confidence after a slow start to life in Scottish football.
