Rangers vs RB Leipzig. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats and more
Glazgo Rangers will host RB Leipzig at the Ibrox Stadium in the UEFA Europa League semi-final, second leg. The match will take place on May 6, beginning at 00:30 IST.
The return leg of the Europa League fixtures will take place on Thursday night. One of those will be the encounter between Scottish Rangers and German Leipzig, with the teams heading to the match with just a little margin in favour of RB from the first leg (1-0). Such a score leaves certain chances to the pair’s outsider, which, of course, continues to be Rangers. But given that van Bronckhorst’s side have already lost every other tournament this season, the return meeting with Leipzig is simply a decisive, mortal battle for the Scots. There is no doubt that at home in front of a crowd of exalted fans, the players will show all they can do.
Parimatchnews will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.
Rangers News & Current Form:
The Scots were impressive in the group stage this season, where they beat Brondby and Sparta Prague to clinch the play-off spot. In the first stage, Rangers unexpectedly and easily knocked Borussia Dortmund out of the tournament – the Glasgow representatives beat the Yellow-Blacks on the road, before losing at home to one of the Bundesliga leaders (6-4 agg.)
After that success, Rangers beat Crvena Zvezda and Braga – against whom it was not easy, but the Teddy Bears took the lead in extra time and thus managed to advance to the semi-finals of the tournament. Which is already a great achievment.
Taklking about semis, Rangers came to Germany last week and parked a decent bus, allowing just two chances in the first 85 minutes that Christopher Nkunku actually missed. But shortly before the end of the main time, ex-Man City Angelino fianally managed to get a shot past Allan McGregor right into the net. The Spaniard’s goal would completely change the narrative before the return game, and force Giovanni van Bronckhorst to change his team’s game plan.
Although, as expected, it was difficult for the Germans to withstand a physically strong, yet tactically competent team, there is no doubt that in this encounter, everything is just beginning. Now, Rangers need to show something in attack.
The Scots were already 0-1 down in the last round when they crushed SC Braga 3-1 in the return leg. The Gers started aggressively and scored in the second minute. But whether they really dare to play a bold gambit against Leipzig is an open question. Unlike Braga, the Bulls are happy to play on counterattacks, and it is not in their nature to be cautious.
An injury to Rangers’ starting forward Kemar Roofe could make things difficult. If he fails to recover in time, van Bronckhorst will either have to use Joe Aribo‘s false nine at the cutting edge or shove in Feshn Sakal, who scored against Celtic (1-1) at the weekend but was operating from the flank.
Injured: Filip Helander, Alfredo Morelos, Nnamdi Ofoborh, Ianis Hagi. Doubtful: Aaron Ramsey, Kemar Roofe.
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RB Leipzig News & Current Form:
After Tedesco’s appointment, Leipzig made a huge leap from the middle of the Bundesliga table to the top. At one point, the club were even in third place, but by the end of the season they slumped again. In 23 games under the former Spartak coach, RB lost just twice – but the same number of defeats came in the last 10 days. In between the defeats to Union (1-2) and Borussia Mönchengladbach (1-3), they narrowly beat Rangers 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Leipzig’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League have now fallen to minimum. With two rounds to go in the German championship, they are one point behind Freiburg, but now everything depends on their opponents. If Leipzig fail to beat their rival from Breisgau, the only way to qualify for the main European competition is to win the Europa League. RB seem to regard that as their main option as of now.
They need to avoid defeat at home to Rangers if they are to reach the final. But Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side will fight for the last time, and even more so at home.
Injured: Amadou Haidara.
Rangers season form guide (all competitions): W-W-W-W-L-D
RB Leipzig season form guide (all competitions): W-W-W-L-W-L
Rangers vs RB Leipzig Head-To-Head Record:
| Rangers | Draw | RB Leipzig |
| 0 | 0 | 1 |
Rangers vs RB Leipzig Predicted XI:
Rangers Predicted XI (5-3-2): Allan McGregor, James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, John Lundstram, Calvin Bassey, Borna Barisic, Joe Aribo, Glen Kamara, Scott Arfield, Fashion Sakala, Ryan Kent
RB Leipzig Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Peter Gulacsi, Lukas Klostermann, Nordi Mukiele, Josko Gvardiol, Benjamin Henrichs, Konrad Laimer, Tyler Adams, Marcel Halstenberg, Dani Olmo, Christopher Nkunku, Dominik Szoboszlai
Statistical preview of the match Rangers vs RB Leipzig:
- Rangers have lost only one home game in the current Europa League.
- The Scots have scored at least two goals in their last five home games in the Europa League, winning four of them by a margin of two goals or more.
- Leipzig are unbeaten in their last six games
- Leipzig have never reached a European cup final before
- Leipzig have scored less than 3 goals in their last three matches in the tournament.
- Nkunku has 10 goals in 11 European league games of the season (7 in the Champions League, 3 in the UEL).
What has been said before the match:
“We all have the same goal, to reach the final. My players and staff do the best that we can to be prepared for tomorrow and the fans are always important for us at home. They are a big factor in the atmosphere, I think tomorrow we are going to have a noisy night. We need to overcome this opponent, it will be emotional, but we will be ready when the whistle goes.”
“They’ll [Leipzig] do everything that they can to win the game tomorrow, but we will prepare as best as possible. We played them last week, so I have a better view of their players we just have to prepare for a really tough game against a really good opponent.
“Physically we’ve been good, we’ve missed some players due to injuries, but I think a lot comes from your mental strength – we have that. We are playing against a strong team, but I think we are able to match them, we will give everything we can to be the winners tomorrow.”
“We’re leading 1-0 in the tie, but I’m expecting us to need more goals tomorrow. Rangers will apply pressure and make life difficult for us. So goals are always nice to have.”
“We played well during the first left, despite Rangers defending deep in their own half. It’s usually a different story away from home, and Rangers will allow us more space. If we have the space, then we are capable of posing a huge threat.”
“I expect that those players who were a doubt for them, will play tomorrow. If they don’t, then it doesn’t change much. We will prepare our best XI, as always. That’s our job.”
Rangers vs RB Leipzig Prediction:
The visitors have the higher quality of players, but a packed Ibrox and a passionate determination to get back into the game will be on the home side’s mind. In such a scenario, the ideal assumption would be an exchange of goals.
But the Germans are too strong – their form and competitiveness in the Bundesliga shows that, although the hosts do have impressive home statistics – but we believe that RB Leipzig will not lose in this match, and a lot of the key players are back as well – this will be really beneficial for the game plan making it easier. 1-0 is too fragile a lead before the trip to Scotland.
Parimatch News staff prediction:
We say: both to score and RB Leipzig to not lose in regular time – Yes.