Rangers vs Tottenham: Preview, predictions and lineups

Tottenham Hotspur have a tough assignment on Thursday evening as they look to end their four-game winless streak by beating Rangers at Ibrox in the Europa League.

Spurs endured another miserable week that started with a tepid draw with London foes Fulham and culminated in disappointing defeats to Bournemouth and Chelsea. Such results mean Ange Postecoglou is now feeling the heat as he prepares for a return to Glasgow.

The Australian will not be offered a warm reception at Ibrox following several trophy-laden years with Rangers’ fierce rivals Celtic and his Spurs players will be given a similarly inhospitable welcome from the cacophonous crowd.

Rangers boss Philippe Clement remains under pressure himself ahead of Thursday’s encounter but morale has been lifted by four straight victories in all competitions, including an impressive 4-1 win over Nice last time out on the continent.

Here is 90min’s guide to a British affair.

Rangers vs Tottenham H2H Record (All Time)

Current form (all competitions)

Clement has a fair few injuries and absentees ahead of Spurs’ visit, while also needing to keep one eye firmly focused on Sunday’s Scottish League Cup final against Celtic. Rangers desperately need victory at the weekend given they sit 11 points behind their rivals in the league and have won just once in the last 13 Old Firm derbies.

Rabbi Matondo, Danilo and Ianis Hagi will all miss out on Thursday given they were not selected in Rangers’ Europa League squad, while Tom Lawrence and Oscar Cortes are unlikely to feature despite nearing comebacks.

Neraysho Kasanwirjo is out for the remainder of the season and may have already played his final game for the club given he’s currently on loan from Feyenoord.

Rangers predicted lineup vs Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte; Barron, Raskin; Cerny, Diomande, Bajrami; Igamane.

Tottenham’s defensive injuries continue to pile up. Guglielmo Vicario and Ben Davies were already missing before Sunday’s rollercoaster defeat to Chelsea but Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, who both returned from fitness issues against the Blues, were also substituted with concerns at the weekend.

Romero will definitely miss out on Thursday’s European trip north but Van de Ven has a chance of making the squad. Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray may be the emergency centre-back pairing.

Richarlison, Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore will all miss out on Thursday, although the latter is closing in on a return from illness. Brennan Johnson was also withdrawn against Chelsea due to illness and could be absent midweek.

Rodrigo Bentancur’s seven-game suspension is only served in domestic competitions, meaning the Uruguayan will anchor Tottenham’s midfield at Ibrox.

Tottenham predicted lineup vs Rangers (4-3-3): Forster; Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence; Maddison, Bentancur, Bergvall; Werner, Solanke, Son.

Few clubs enjoy a European trip to Ibrox given the sheer volume of the home crowd and an out-of-sorts Tottenham side will not be particularly looking forward to their Glasgow trip. Defensive injuries continue to wreak havoc on the Lilywhites, who are pretty porous even when they have their first-choice back four fit and available.

The energy provided by the raucous atmosphere could inspire Rangers to a memorable result, with goals likely to follow. Spurs boast the attacking quality to unpick Clement’s side but Rangers have found their shooting boots in recent weeks, too.

This could be a cracker at Ibrox.

Prediction: Rangers 2-2 Tottenham

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