MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 09:20:24| >> :600:181742:181742:
[monks data]
Champions League | Third Qualifying Round | 1st Leg
Aug 2, 2022 at 7.45pm UK
Stade Joseph Mariën
Rangers logo

Union SG
2 - 0
Rangers

Teuma (27'), Vanzeir (76' pen.)
Lynen (80')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Sands (40'), Goldson (75'), Davies (79'), Lawrence (90+2')

Preview: Union SG vs. Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Champions League clash between Union SG and Rangers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Rangers will be looking to claim an advantage when they head to Belgium on Tuesday evening for the first leg of their third qualifying round Champions League contest with Union SG.

The Gers just missed out on automatic qualification for this season's European Cup by losing the 2021-22 Europa League final to Eintracht Frankfurt, while Union SG secured their spot in the third qualifying round of this season's tournament by finishing second in the champions playoff in Belgian First Division A in 2021-22.


Match preview

Union SG were only promoted back to the top flight of Belgian football in March 2021, with the Brussels outfit returning to the top tier for the first time in 48 years.

Not too many expected Karel Geraerts's side to make a strong impression in Belgian First Division A last term, but they finished top of the table at the end of the regular season, becoming the first side in Belgian history to manage that feat after earning promotion the previous campaign.

Union SG ultimately finished second behind Club Brugge in the champions playoff, which saw them book their spot in the Champions League third qualifying round.

There is no question that Les Unionistes will be the underdogs in this two-legged affair, but they are the third-most successful team in terms of top-tier Belgian championships, claiming 11, putting them behind Anderlecht (34) and Club Brugge (18).

Geraerts's side have already started their 2022-23 domestic campaign, picking up four points from their opening two matches, which has left them top of the table on four points.

Rangers' James Tavernier celebrates with the trophy after winning the Scottish Cup final on May 21, 2022© Reuters

Rangers, meanwhile, opened their 2022-23 Scottish Premiership campaign with a 2-1 victory over Livingston on Saturday afternoon.

The Gers fell behind in the fifth minute of the contest, with Joel Nouble on the scoresheet, but Scott Arfield levelled in the 72nd minute before James Tavernier struck what proved to be the winner two minutes later.

Rangers, as mentioned, took part in last season's Europa League final, drawing 1-1 with Frankfurt after extra-time, with the German outfit ultimately winning 5-4 on penalties.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side have been active during this summer's transfer window, bringing in Ben Davies, Ridvan Yilmaz, Rabbi Matondo, Antonio Colak, Tom Lawrence, John Souttar and Malik Tillman.

Rangers finished second in the Scottish Premiership last season, four points behind the champions Celtic, while they lost to Malmo in the third qualifying round of the 2021-22 Champions League, with their last appearance in the group stage of the European Cup coming back in 2010-11.

Union SG form (all competitions):
  • D
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W

Rangers form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W


Team News

 Rangers' Alfredo Morelos celebrates scoring their second goal, November 25, 2021© Reuters

Union SG head coach Geraerts will need to make a final check on the fitness of his players following the 1-0 win over Sporting Charleroi in the league on Friday night.

However, the Belgian outfit have not reported any fresh concerns at this stage, so the bulk of the side that were involved in that contest should again take to the field here.

Dante Vanzeir and on-loan Brighton & Hove Albion forward Simon Adingra could feature as the front two, while there are likely to be spots in the XI for English duo Christian Burgess and Ross Sykes.

As for Rangers, Ianis Hagi is still out with a knee injury, while Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe remain absent, but Matondo has a chance of making the squad after missing out against St Johnstone.

New signing Colak led the line on Saturday, and the 28-year-old is again expected to operate at the tip of the attack for the visitors here.

The team could be largely similar to the one that started against St Johnstone, with Lawrence and Ryan Kent playing in support of Colak, but there could be a change down the right, with Tillman pushing for a start.

Union SG possible starting lineup:
Moris; Sykes, Burgess, Van der Hayden; Niuewkoop, Amani, Lynen, Teuma, Lapoussin; Adingra, Vanzeir

Rangers possible starting lineup:
McLaughlin; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic; Kamara, Lundstram; Tillman, Lawrence, Kent; Colak


SM words green background

We say: Union SG 1-1 Rangers

Rangers will be the favourites to triumph over the two legs, but Union SG must be respected due to their impressive 2021-22 campaign. We are expecting the spoils to be shared in the first match on Tuesday but believe that Rangers will ultimately have enough to progress over the two legs.


ID:491210:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect9095:

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Rangers win with a probability of 46.35%. A win for Union SG had a probability of 29.07% and a draw had a probability of 24.6%.

The most likely scoreline for a Rangers win was 0-1 with a probability of 9.46%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (9.32%) and 0-2 (7.61%). The likeliest Union SG win was 1-0 (7.19%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (11.58%). The actual scoreline of 2-0 was predicted with a 4.4% likelihood.


Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Union SG vs Rangers

Union SG
19.9%
Draw
21.7%
Rangers
58.4%
166
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Ridvan Yilmaz in action for Besiktas in September 2021
Read Next:
Rangers confirm Ridvan Yilmaz signing from Besiktas
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!