Manchester United vs Rangers: Europa League Clash Preview
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Coming Thursday, January 23, 2025, will be a mouth-watering and perhaps defining Europa League match as Manchester United hosts Rangers at Old Trafford. This time around, the game is a bit more contested, with both teams trying to make something out of this season. While Manchester United are struggling in the Premier League and Rangers seeking glory across the continent, finally, the stage is set for either of these two teams.
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Manchester United's Europa League struggles have made the club have one of the more turbulent seasons so far under head coach Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils lie 13th in the Premier League with just three wins in their last 11 outings. It really did seem like it fell apart for Amorim's side after that defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion came in with a score of 3-1. He even referred to his squad as "maybe the worst" in the club's 147-year history, after blaming its performance-a comment he later said he would have liked to take back.
Still, despite those struggles in domestic play, Manchester United are still in a somewhat comfortable place in the Europa League. They currently sit top eight in their group, only one point better off than ninth-place Tottenham Hotspur. The 2-1 win away at Viktoria Plzen last month gave them the glimmer of hope to aim for automatic qualification into the last-16 stage, but now the pressure will be on Amorim for positive returns, and Thursday's encounter with Rangers is an important one as they seek to improve their standing.
The historical tide has often been in favor of United as the Red Devils have won three of four matches with one being a draw against the Scottish team. Thus United go into this fixture full of confidence with an unbeaten record against the Rangers. However, having the pressure to get back up after their disappointment in the domestic league, it could well be anything but easy for United.
Rangers have not had the best of seasons under the management of Philippe Clement. A team that had gone on an awful run with only two wins in eight games in all competitions are back into their rhythm as Clement's men have won the last three matches with an impressive aggregate score of 11-1.
Then, there is hope because their most welcome wins this campaign at Scottish Premiership against St Johnstone and Aberdeen, not excluding the win, 5 - 0 that they sound over Fraserburgh during the Scottish Cup. Ranger rests on eight spot in Scottish Premiership, being away from old firms rivals Celtics for 13 points. That leaves that concentration falls on earning qualification to the last-16 stage of the Europa League with two games remaining in the group stage. Gers were till hanguing by with a top-eight position with four points from bottom-qualified teams. The 1-1 draw against Spurs in their last Europa League outing did show they can hold their own, but a win at Old Trafford is needed if they are to reach the knockout stages.
Rangers form away to English clubs has been indifferent, a 2-1 success at Leeds United back in qualifying for the 1992-93 Champions League, the only triumph on their eight European away appearances against English clubs, In recent times though, better performances and a decent run will give them reasons for optimism as they go into this tough away match.
Team News and Lineups
Manchester United:
Manchester United will be slightly short-handed with a few of the key men for Thursday's Europa League roster. The Red Devils have been piling up the injuries of late as they go without Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, and Victor Lindelof because of thigh and unspecified issues respectively while Jonny Evans will also miss out due to a muscle problem. While Marcus Rashford has not, since his nine-game absence and a date is yet to be set, Antony should miss out too as he was reported to join Real Betis on loan.
Despite the injuries, Amorim might still have some room for change in his starting lineup as the ones he had last weekend were beaten rather disappointingly. The likes of Lisandro Martinez and Rasmus Hojlund will return into the lineup that was benched against Brighton, while Harry Maguire would probably retain his spot due to a lack of depth in centre-back positions, with Andre Onana continuing goalkeeping despite some inconsistencies this season.
Rangers:
These are the few players who will also be out of action for Rangers as a result of various injuries: Dujon Sterling will not play with a foot problem, while John Souttar and Oscar Cortes are undefined cases and Neraysho Kasanwirjo had a knee injury and finally, Tom Lawrence took a knock. Mohamed Diomande was yellow-card suspended. Rangers have strengthened in the transfer window, with Rafael Fernandes' arrival on loan from Lille a headline addition, but he is not available to them in the Europa League at this stage.
He'll have a call to make between the sticks as both Liam Kelly and former Manchester United loanee Jack Butland are in his ranks. Having been back on the training ground after injury, Butland might be thrust into his first Rangers competitive game if given the call.
Nicolas Raskin has been one of the standouts this campaign and probably will be in charge of marshaling Rangers' midfield. During the Europa League, he was the one who managed to get the ball back most times, and now he is important in that area since Rangers need to take the rhythm off United with possession. This could see Rangers begin with him in the team while looking at that form and goal-scoring threat in union with Cyriel Dessers and Fashion Sakala among others.
Tactical Battle: How It Unfolds
Man United fragile at the back, pretty open really, every time big sides get at them, and it has shown through in their struggle in the league. That said, the Europa League is one of those fairly substantial games for the visitors, and that would have to be them if they are not looking to make an early exit. Amorim's side are likely to be set up with caution-solid shape at the back while looking to find weaknesses in the opposition to counter. Bruno Fernandes might well be the key to controlling the pace of the game from midfield, but with attacking impetus falling on the duo of Hojlund and Diallo.
This seems to be the new vibe that Clement gives to Rangers even at the back, with the likes of James Tavernier and Connor Goldson among the experienced additions. Players like Raskin and Jack Burroughs will be expected to break United's possession and win the battle in the middle of the park. The Rangers need to firm up at the back and capitalize on every mistake or weakness United may give them in transition.
Some of the interesting battles will come in midfield because both teams will unleash dynamic, workaholic midfields. Whether that winning back of the ball and quick counter-attack - something the excellent Raskin can often provide for Rangers - might indeed prove pivotal unless United, in their possession battle through Eriksen and Ugarte, sustains a strong dominance of possession throughout.
Prediction
This will indeed be a promise of a closely contested match with much to prove from both teams. Despite domestic struggles this term, Manchester United would naturally go in as favorites on home turf and more so given their strong record against Rangers. With recent resurgence under Clement, Rangers are definitely not a walk in the park. United has to make sure they are solid at the back, wary of counter-attacks by Rangers.
But having in consideration home advantage and quality in the squad, Manchester United should edge this match, with Rangers surely going to give a hard time for sure. Manchester United will see out this encounter 2-1 but do not be so surprised if Rangers can pull something off from this encounter.
Prediction of Final Score: Manchester United 2-1 Rangers
It really does look set to be a very exciting Europa League tie, with both sets of supporters surely hoping their side will emerge with a good outcome to reach the next phase of the competition.