Rangers vs Jagiellonia – Preview, Lineups, Key Men And Score Prediction | OneFootball

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Fixture: Rangers vs Jagiellonia Bialystok Competition: Europa League Qualification Kick-off: 13th August, 19:30 UK time

Jagiellonia Bialystok are set to play at Ibrox tonight, with Rangers facing a decisive night if they are to keep their Europa League ambitions alive this season.

The first leg of the qualifier at Chorten Arena ended in a 2-1 defeat, leaving the Scottish side with ground to make up in front of their home support, who are still waiting to see their side secure a first win of the campaign.

In the Scottish Premiership, Rangers drew away to Dundee United before their second outing against Hibernian at Ibrox on Sunday ended in a 2-1 defeat, leaving them ninth in the table and heading into this game on the back of a loss.

In the first leg, Jaga were far from dominant, with Rangers having chances to level the tie, including when Findlay Curtis hit the post late on, but they failed to capitalise.

However, Rangers will need to be clinical in the second leg, with McInnes’ men requiring two goals to avoid extra time and potentially penalties.

The Polish outfit have enjoyed the stronger domestic start compared with the Light Blues but also travel to Scotland on the back of a defeat, their first competitive setback of the season.

Last season, they reached the Conference League playoff round before Fiorentina brought their journey to an end, while they progressed as far as the quarter-finals of the competition the season before.

With a slender advantage to protect, they will want to do enough to secure their place in the Europa League when they step out at Ibrox tonight.

However, the task will be anything but straightforward with the Rangers faithful expected to provide a twelfth man, as the club look to extend their run of three consecutive years in the competition.

The winner of this tie will face Georgian club Iberia Tbilisi, who overcame Northern Irish side Larne with a 2-1 aggregate victory.

With nine new signings through the door under McInnes, six of whom started the narrow weekend defeat to Hibs, the Rangers boss could once again turn to his new recruits as he looks to secure the much-needed victory and keep their Europa League campaign alive.

Predicted Lineups

Key Men

Rangers

Captain Lawrence Shankland, who arrived from Hearts, finished last season with 20 goals across all competitions and was brought in to spearhead the Gers’ attack. He has come agonisingly close but is still waiting for his first Rangers goal in competitive action, with the second leg providing another opportunity to open his account.

Against a side that conceded twice in their last outing, he will fancy his chances, particularly after going close with a missed loose-ball opportunity late on in the first leg.

With McInnes needing to overturn a one-goal deficit, the Rangers boss will be heavily reliant on his experienced marksman to help close the gap.

In defence, Emmanuel Fernandez and Olwethu Makhanya head into the tie after putting in strong individual displays against Hibernian despite the defeat. The two will be charged with keeping Jagiellonia’s attack quiet, particularly with the Light Blues already needing two goals to avoid extra time.

Against a Jaga side that failed to find the net in their last outing and have averaged a goal per game in the Ekstraklasa this season, they will be confident of keeping them at bay, knowing a goal for the Poles would leave Rangers facing an even steeper uphill battle.

Jagiellonia Bialystok

In the first leg, Jagiellonia Bialystok absorbed plenty of Rangers’ pressure before exploiting the space in transition, with Kajetan Szmyt proving particularly effective when the game opened up.

His quality was instrumental in putting the Poles ahead, and the Rangers defence will have to be far more alert to the threat posed by the winger if he is given the freedom to operate down the left again in Glasgow.

Match Prediction

As was the case heading into the first leg, the form book once again favours Jagiellonia Bialystok, but this time the Light Blues have the Ibrox faithful behind them.

The Polish side hold a crucial one-goal advantage that they will be determined to protect when the game gets under way.

In front of the home crowd, however, the atmosphere is likely to be charged, particularly after Sunday’s defeat, but McInnes’ side should still dictate proceedings and see more of the ball, which would come as little surprise. Jaga, meanwhile, are likely to rely on the defensive approach that served them so well in the first leg and gave them the advantage in this tie.

However, with Rangers’ Europa League run on the line, mounting pressure on the new manager to deliver a victory and the backing of the Ibrox crowd behind them, the Gers will be expected to push for a win, although the Poles are unlikely to surrender their lead without a fight.

Extra time could be on the cards, but a hard-fought victory for the home team looks the more likely outcome.

Inside Futbol Score Prediction

Rangers 3–1 Jagiellonia Bialystok (AET)

Where To Watch?

Rangers vs Jagiellonia Bialystok in the second leg of the Europa League qualifying round will be live on RangersTV for a 19:30 kick-off in the UK.