Rangers get their Europa League campaign underway when they make the trip to Sweden to face Allsvenskan leaders Malmo on Thursday.
Philippe Clement's side have made an underwhelming start to the season, which they hope to rectify with a good showing on the continent.
Match preview
![Lasse Berg Johnsen of Malmo FF celebrates during the UEFA Champions League football match between Malmo FF and Klaksvik on July 23, 2024 [on July 28, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/lasse-berg-johnsen.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Lasse Berg Johnsen of Malmo FF celebrates during the UEFA Champions League football match between Malmo FF and Klaksvik on July 23, 2024 [on July 28, 2024]")
© Imago
Both clubs came up short in their attempts to reach the Champions League this season, losing in the qualifiers, but Malmo's form since their playoff elimination has been excellent.
Henrik Rydstrom's side are cruising to the title in Sweden, and they have not conceded a goal in four league games since losing to Sparta Prague at the end of August.
What is more impressive is those four games have all come against teams with European potential, including 4-0 wins over Djurgardens and Hacken, and goalless draws away to GAIS and AIK.
With just six games to play, Malmo are a whopping 11 points clear at the top, which could allow Rydstrom the room to prioritise the Europa League from here on in.
Improving form on the continent will be a big aim, as Malmo have lost nine of their last 12 games in Europe.
The Swedes stumbled through Champions League qualifying, progressing despite losing away to part-timers KI Klaksvik, and only beating PAOK 6-5 on aggregate, but Sparta was a step too far as Malmo fell at the final hurdle.
After missing out on Europe entirely last season, though, playing eight games throughout the autumn and the winter will be most welcome, but they will hope to improve on their group-stage exit in the 2022-23 Europa League.
Being drawn against Rangers and Slavia Prague, arguably the two weakest teams in pot one, will give them belief that they can at least finish in the top 24 to seal a knockout place, with it estimated that nine points from the eight games could be enough.
Rangers will have similar ambitions, especially having been seeded in pot one, but they must recover from a very disappointing start to the season.
© Imago
A 3-0 thrashing in the first Old Firm derby of the season was the nightmare scenario for the Gers, who now find themselves five points behind Celtic already, having also dropped points against Hearts on the opening day.
The most devastating result was that in Champions League qualifying against Dynamo Kiev, when an extremely contentious red card led to their elimination, losing 2-0 in the second leg at Hampden Park, meaning they have still only reached Europe's top-tier competition once since they reformed in the fourth tier.
Their Europa League performances have provided plenty of joy in recent years, though, as they were finalists back in 2022, and were only beaten by a solitary goal by Benfica in the round of 16 last season.
Clement's side prepared for this encounter with a 3-0 win over Dundee in the cup over the weekend, but it was the fixture the week previous which was important, as it saw them earn a much-needed away win, beating Dundee United 1-0, ending a run of six without victory on the road, as Rangers have won just three away matches in seven months.
With form like that, regardless of the result here, Rangers will be delighted to see that five of their next six games, after this trip to Sweden, will be at Ibrox, including their matchday two and three fixtures in this competition.
Team News
© Imago
Teenage defender Nils Zatterstrom is set to come back into the side here after he was rested for the league win at the weekend, while Soren Rieks may also have been held back with this game in mind.
Winger Sead Haksabanovic left Rangers' bitter rivals Celtic to join Malmo over the summer, but the Montenegrin will not feature here as he is recovering from a groin injury.
Experienced duo Niklas Moisander and Oscar Lewicki are also both currently on the sidelines, as they continue to recover from knee surgery.
Rydstrom has swapped his goalkeepers around of late, but it has had no detrimental effect, as they have kept four clean sheets in four matches despite Johan Dahlin and Ricardo Friedrich both playing two games each.
Rangers will be without attacking pair Danilo and Rabbi Matondo through injury here, while Turkish full-back Ridvan Yilmaz is also nursing a thigh problem at present.
The man in form is Cyriel Dessers, as the Nigerian has scored seven in nine games so far this season, and he can expect to be provided chances by Nedim Bajrami, after the Albanian made his full debut at the weekend following his move from Sassuolo.
Right-back James Tavernier is just one goal away from equalling the European tally of Ally McCoist in Rangers' colours, and his set-piece and penalty threat suggests that could happen here.
Malmo possible starting lineup:
Dahlin; Stryger Larsen, Jansson, Rosler, Busanello; Rieks, Pena, Johnsen, Christiansen; Botheim, Kiese Thelin
Rangers possible starting lineup:
Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte; Barron, Diomande; Cerny, Lawrence, Bajrami; Dessers
We say: Malmo 1-1 Rangers
Rangers have never beaten a Swedish side in Europe in six attempts, four of which came against Malmo, and with their woeful away form an issue, this could be a more difficult fixture than it initially appears.
Malmo are running away with the title in Sweden and can start to focus on European matters throughout the autumn, and this is a good opportunity for them to get off the mark against pot-one opposition.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
