Preview: Rangers vs Roma - Team News, Line-ups & Prediction
Ibrox Stadium will host Thursday's crucial UEFA Europa League clash between Rangers and Roma. This marks the first meeting between the clubs, with both eyeing advancement to the knockout stage.
Rangers’ Struggles Continue
Rangers have endured a disastrous group-stage start, losing all three matches so far and sinking to the bottom of the 36-team table. Defeats to Genk, Sturm Graz, and Brann have left the Scottish side desperate for a turnaround.
The poor run of results led to the dismissal of manager Martin Russell in early October. His replacement, Danny Rohl, has had mixed results so far (two wins and two losses), including a recent Europa League defeat to Brann.
Roma’s Faltering Campaign
Roma began their Europa League campaign with high hopes of a top-eight finish and automatic round-of-16 progression. After a promising start, momentum faded quickly.
Despite a win over OGC Nice in Gian Piero Gasperini’s European debut, back-to-back defeats to Lille and Plzen have left Roma struggling. They currently occupy 23rd place, making the upcoming trip to Glasgow critical for their survival.
“The wheels have since fallen off, leaving Roma on the precipice of an early elimination.”
Key Outlook
- Rangers need their first points to stay in contention.
- Roma must win to revive their qualification hopes.
- Both teams face pressure after poor recent results.
Prediction: A tense match is expected, with both sides likely to score but neither fully convincing in form.
Author Summary
Rangers and Roma enter their first-ever Europa League meeting desperate for a win, each battling poor form and mounting pressure at Ibrox.