When looking at the Rangers vs Rapid Vienna stats, the Austrians should be looking away in disgust it’s fair to say.
Indeed, as is so often the case in Europe, the omens lie positively with Rangers ahead of Thursday night. Steven Gerrard’s men will welcome Rapid to Ibrox in their second Europe League clash of the group stages. Rapid top the group having beaten Spartak Moscow 2-0 in he first round of matches. Rangers, on the other hand, got a respectable 2-2 draw at Villarreal.
Since then, Vienna have crumbled into crisis. They’ve sacked their manager Goran Djuricin, and don’t come into this one with much confidence.
Rangers will look to the fact that they’ve never been beaten by Rapid in their history. Better than that, they’ve never even conceded a goal to them either. The Gers have faced the Austrians on two occasions in the past, and won both 1-0 and 2-0 respectively.
Those clashes came all the way back in the 1964-65 European Cup at the second round stage. It’s crazy to think these sides haven’t met since, but the Gers have controlled the couple they have.
Rangers vs Austria
That’s not to say Rangers haven’t faced other Austrian sides in the past either. Sturm Graz and Grazer AK have both been put to the sword by the Ibrox side in the past.
Rangers have never lost to Austrian opposition at Ibrox. In fact, they’ve won all of their clashes with Austrian teams at home, and haven’t even lost a goal. When it comes to Rangers vs Austria, the Gers are almost flawless.
Indeed, their only defeat came in Austria to Sturm Graz. A poor 2-0 defeat away from home was overshadowed by the 5-0 mauling Rangers gave Sturm Graz at Ibrox. Again, however, this was some time ago as Rangers beat them back in 2000.
Rapid haven’t been total strangers to Scotland in recent years, however. When Celtic were managed by Tony Mowbray, Rapid took a 1-1 draw from Celtic Park before drawing 3-3 in Austria in the Europa League. An interesting note is that, when Rapid last faced a Scottish side (Celtic), an old Rangers favourite nabbed three goals against them. That man was Nikica Jelavic.
Fortunately for Gers, Rapid don’t have anyone of that quality on their books these days. Regardless of the numbers, however, Vienna did put Moscow to the sword with ease, and Rangers will have to be wary of what they can bring to the table.
