Fenerbahce vs Rangers: Preview, predictions and lineups | OneFootball

Rangers make the challenging trip to Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce on Thursday for the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie.

Having sacked Philippe Clement and installed club legend Barry Ferguson as interim manager last month, Rangers continue their European adventure short on confidence and in underwhelming form. The 47-year-old was triumphant in his first match at the helm but the 2-1 home defeat to Motherwell at the weekend will have supporters fearing the worst ahead of the trip to Turkey.

The result left the Gers 16 points behind bitter rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, but they have been much more assured in the Europa League this term. Four wins and two draws helped them finish eighth in the league phase and avoid the play-off round.

Fenerbahce have had the opposite problem this season, impressing in the Super Lig but floundering in Europe. They made the play-offs by the skin of their teeth after finishing 24th, before conquering Anderlecht across two legs. Mourinho, who has admitted he would be open to managing either Celtic or Rangers in the future, will be wanting to continue his excellent European knockout record on Thursday.

Here is 90min's guide to a battle of giants.

Fenerbahce vs Rangers head-to-head record (all time)

Current form (all competitions)

How to watch Fenerbahce vs Rangers on TV and live stream - UK & US

Fenerbahce team news

Fred is suspended in midfield / ANP/GettyImages

Ex-Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers full-back Bright Osayi-Samuel is both injured and suspended for Thursday's encounter, with former Manchester United midfielder Fred also serving a ban due to yellow cards accumulated.

Defensive injuries will cause Mourinho some selection headaches ahead of Rangers' visit, with Rodrigo Becao and Jayden Oosterwolde both missing for the remainder of the campaign and Diego Carlos missing out due to knee injury.

Slightly further forward, holding midfielder Ismail Yuksek is also in the treatment room.

Fenerbahce predicted lineup vs Rangers

Fenerbahce predicted lineup vs Rangers (3-4-1-2): Egribayat; Skriniar, Soyuncu, Akcicek; Muldur, Szymanski, Amrabat, Kostic; Tadic; En-Nesyri, Dzeko.

Rangers team news

Barry Ferguson needs to nail his team selection / Ian MacNicol/GettyImages

Rangers are fortunate to have few injuries heading to Istanbul but they are without long-term absentees Oscar Cortes and Neraysho Kasanwirjo.

Ferguson hasn't made many alterations to personnel after succeeding Clement and will name an established XI for a seismic encounter.

John Souttar should come back into the team, with former Besiktas defender Ridvan Yilmaz to drop out of the side. James Tavernier will revert to right-back, while Robin Propper and Jefte will be the other starters in defence.

Mohamed Diomande and Nicolas Raskin will anchor the midfield, while Cyriel Dessers will lead the line after scoring three in Ferguson's first two matches in charge. Vaclav Cerny, Ianis Hagi and Hamza Igamane should make up the rest of the attacking quartet.

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

Fenerbahce vs Rangers score prediction

Rangers have a strong European record in previous seasons - even making the final of this competition in 2021/22 - but they will be underdogs heading to Fenerbahce. They're in incredibly patchy form and boast an inferior squad to their Turkish hosts.

There are many familiar faces within Fenerbahce's squad, with the likes of Edin Dzeko, Dusan Tadic and Milan Skriniar featuring in their 'Expendables' lineup. They should have enough in the tank to earn a commanding lead ahead of the second leg at Ibrox, taking full advantage of the misfiring Gers.