Rangers welcome German high-flyers Bayer Leverkusen to Ibrox on Thursday for the first leg of their last 16 clash in the Europa League as Steven Gerrard looks to take a step closer to a quarter-final place.
The Gers have made it all the way through from the first qualifying round and the Gers boss will have some big selection decisions to make ahead of the clash with Peter Bosz’s side.
Despite Rangers’ poor domestic form since the winter break, the Light Blues impressed against Braga as they progressed to the last 16 for the first time since 2011, setting up the clash with ‘Neverkusen.’
Gerrard faces injury worries over captain James Tavernier, Ryan Jack and Scott Arfield while veteran striker Jermain Defoe misses out through injury and Filip Helander, Jon Flanagan and Jordan Jones aren’t part of the Europa League squad.
That should see an almost identical starting XI to Sunday’s win over Ross County – although there could be a tweak in midfield to allow Flo Kamberi, Ryan Kent and Ianis Hagi to all feature in the side.
It would also give the Gers the flexibility to switch between a few different shapes with Kamberi operating as a striker alongside Morelos or moved wide and allowing Hagi to play as a number 10.
Here’s how we think Rangers will line up at Ibrox on Thursday night:
Allan McGregor
Matt Polster
George Edmundson
Connor Goldson
Borna Barisic
Steven Davis
Joe Aribo
Ianis Hagi
Ryan Kent
Florian Kamberi
Alfredo Morelos
