Preview: Rangers vs Union Saint-Gilloise – stats, team news, line-ups | OneFootball

Rangers will make a final bid for a top-eight finish when they host Belgian giants Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the final Europa League group stage clash at Ibrox Stadium on Thursday night.

Both sides have picked up 11 points from seven games and are sitting just three points off the top eight, making this a must-win contest for either team.

Match Preview

Rangers’ 2024/25 season has been a rollercoaster, marked by their worst start to a Scottish Premiership campaign since rejoining the top flight in 2016/17.

Philippe Clement’s side managed just seven wins in their opening 12 games (D2, L3).

However, a mid-season surge of eight wins in their subsequent 12 games (D3, L1) have steadied the ship domestically. Rangers have been more consistent in Europe.

Despite failing to reach the Champions League group stage after a 3-1 aggregate loss to Dynamo Kyiv in the qualifiers, the Gers adapted well to the Europa League.

They went into their penultimate group stage clash against Manchester United, having claimed three wins from six games (D2, L1), leaving them in a promising position to claim a spot in the top eight.

However, a narrow 2-1 defeat has now jeopardised their chances of making it to the knockout stages.

A win against Union could keep their European dreams alive, but a defeat – coupled with unfavourable results – could see Rangers plummet to 22nd, which will affect their play-off seeding.

Union are in a similar position to Rangers, but they’re in better form.

They’ve lost just one of their last 18 games across all competitions (W12, D5) and head into Thursday’s crunch encounter on the back of three consecutive Europa League wins.

Union also need three points from the game against Rangers to boost their chances of making the top eight.

However, they also need favourable results from teams placed between fifth and 12th

Team News

Rangers will be without Dujon Sterling, John Souttar, and Neraysho Kasanwirjo for this match due to ongoing injury issues.

Connor Barron, Vaclav Cerny and Leon Balogun are all also doubts for this outing after picking up injuries against Man Utd.

As for Union SG, Alessio Castro-Montes, Henok Teklab and Sofiane Boufal are ruled out due to injury issues, while Christian Burgess and Koki Machida are suspended after both receiving red cards in the 2-1 win over Braga.

Rangers potential starting line-up:

(4-2-3-1): Jack Butland; Marcus Tavernier, Robin Propper, Leon King, Jefte; Nicolas Raskin, Mohammed Diomande; Nedim Bajrami, Cyriel Dessers, Ridvan Yilmaz; Hamza Igamane.

Union SG potential starting line-up:

(3-5-2): Anthony Moris; Ross Sykes, Kevin Mac Allister, Fedde Leysen; Ousseynou Niang, Charles Vanhoutte, Kamiel Van De Perre, Noah Sadiki, Anan Khalaili; Franjo Ivanovic, Mohammed Fuseini.

Which team could Rangers face in the play-offs?

To advance, Rangers must win on Thursday and hope teams from Lyon (5th) to Olympiacos (12th), all within two points of each other, drop points – which is next to impossible.

With the prospect of a top-eight finish now unlikely, Rangers look set to be heading into the Europa League play-off phase.

They would currently be seeded for the two-legged knockout phase play-off, providing they stay in the top 16 after the game against Union.

As things stand, Rangers would face FC Midtjylland (19th) or Elfsborg (20th) in the play-off phase.