Rangers vs Tottenham Hotspur

Ibrox Stadium is the venue as Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur go head-to-head in a top-eight UEFA Europa League six-pointer.

Rangers’ hopes of reclaiming domestic supremacy at the expense of Celtic are already dead in the water, but they’ve excelled in the Europa League. Outperforming the odds has become a trait synonymous with Philippe Clement’s side as they’ve avoided defeat in all three European games this season as pre-match underdogs (W2, D1), including an overwhelming 4-1 triumph at OGC Nice last time out. That success launched a four-game winning streak in all competitions, bolstering the Gers’ spirits ahead of their seventh continental encounter against Premier League opposition this century (D1, L5). Ibrox has witnessed mixed results in Europe this term, with Rangers bouncing back from a 4-1 thumping at the hands of Lyon with a 4-0 demolition of FCSB to sneak into the top eight, albeit on goal difference alone. 

Breathing down Rangers’ necks are Tottenham, whose campaign has spiraled into chaos, heightening the pressure on Ange Postecoglou ahead of his return to Glasgow. Formerly in charge of Celtic, Postecoglou boasts a promising managerial record against Rangers (W6, D2, L3), suggesting Spurs’ unbeaten historical record against Scottish clubs (W4, D2) is in safe hands. However, the visitors have been up the creek without a paddle since a three-game winning start to the league phase, going winless in their last two Europa League games (D1, L1). Throwing away a two-goal cushion in a 4-3 home league defeat to fellow London rivals Chelsea at the weekend added insult to injury, condemning the Lilywhites to a fourth consecutive winless fixture in all competitions (D2, L2).