As we have reported over recent days, Rapid Vienna aren’t in good form. They have drawn two and lost two of their last five league matches, leaving them a lowly eighth in the Austrian Bundesliga.
However, that doesn’t mean they will be a pushover tonight. The Green-Whites most recent Europa League results make much stronger reading and the atmosphere is sure to be hostile.
While they have no real out-and-out goal scorers in their ranks, one player sticks out as a danger man.
Their no.10, Thomas Murg.
The 24-year-old is a much capped Austrian youth international, with surprising experience at senior level, considering his age.
A versatile player, he can be deployed on the right wing or in behind the main striker, depending on his team’s formation.
Nimble and left-footed, he has been a rare source of creativity for a team struggling to find the net.
His five goals in all competitions this season, represents the best return of any Rapid player, while a number of assists evidence his overall importance in the final third.
Murg is the main man the hosts will look to, to unlock the Rangers back four. Therefore, the defence need to keep him quiet throughout tonight’s fixture.
Rangers managed it at Ibrox in October, and doing so again, is the key to keeping a clean sheet in Austria.
Achieve that, and one goal would see the Gers into the last 32.
