Rangers are preparing to kick off another season in the Europa League as they welcome La Liga outfit Real Betis to Glasgow.
European football’s secondary competition might not be where Michael Beale wants to be with the financial blow of a failure to qualify for the Champions League well documented.
But Rangers have often punched above their weight at Europa League level and Ibrox is expecting a big performance from a so far unconvincing new-look Gers side.
The weekend’s win over St Johnstone might’ve relieved the pressure ever so slightly on Michael Beale, but a failure to put up a solid showing in the game against Real Betis could see the Rangers manager subject to yet more exit calls.
Conversely, victory could reverse the tide of resentment which is ringing out around Ibrox and kickstart this new-look team’s stuttering season
Despite Rangers coming out of pot one in this season’s Europa League, pot two Real Betis are the favourites for the game and to top the group.
After this match Rangers face a trip to pot four AEL Limassol and then to pot three Sparta Prague, both of whom are domestic champions of Cyprus and the Czech Republic respectively.
With Michael Beale eager to get off to a strong start in Glasgow, Rangers are not without their issues heading into this bumper Europa League clash with Real Betis.
Nicolas Raskin is the latest key player to pick up a reasonably lengthy injury, with the Belgian joining Todd Cantwell and Danilo on the treatment table.
Here, we select the XI that we suspect Michael Beale might select in order to overcome Real Betis with the club making three changes from the weekend’s win over St Johnstone.
Out goes Ridvan Yilmaz, who isn’t in the Europa League squad, and in comes Borna Barisic, with Jose Cifuentes and Cyriel Dessers replacing the crocked Nicolas Raskin and Danilo.
Rangers v Real Betis (Europa League) – 4-3-1-2
GK – Jack Butland
DR – James Tavernier
DC – Connor Goldson
DC – Ben Davies
DL – Borna Barisic
CM – John Lundstram
CM – Jose Cifuentes
CM – Tom Lawrence
CAM – Sam Lammers
ST – Kemar Roofe
ST – Cyriel Dessers
Watch Rangers v Real Betis
The match, which is scheduled to kick off at 8:00PM GMT at Ibrox Stadium on 21/09/23, will be screened live on broadcaster TNT Sports.
You can watch Rangers v Real Betis on TNT Sports 3 with coverage from Ibrox beginning at 7:45PM.
