Rapid Vienna have a derby game at the weekend but will have to find a way to focus on Thursday’s Europa League clash with Steven Gerrard's Rangers, who travel to Allianz Stadion to face Dietmar Kuhbauer’s side.
Rapid Vienna have their fate in their own hands but it wasn’t always easy after a 5-0 defeat to Villarreal followed a 3-1 defeat to Rangers, that left the Austrian side with 3 points from their opening 3 games in group G. They have recorded a draw and a win in subsequent games in the group to reach second spot with 7 points.
Rapid Vienna may be unbeaten in their last 3 in all competitions but they have only won 2 of their last 7 games. Such inconsistencies have put them in 8th place in the 12 team Austrian Bundesliga and in a position where they need at least a point on Thursday to qualify for the knockout round of the Europa League.
Steven Gerrard’s Rangers are third in Group G and will need a victory to qualify for the knockout stages. In the Scottish Premiership, Rangers are 2nd with 31 points, 2 points behind leaders Celtic, who have a game in hand. Rangers campaign in the Europa League began with a 2-2 draw away at Villarreal and they have only taken 4 points from the other 4 games played in the group. The light blues have conceded 7 goals in this group with 6 of those coming away from home.
Rangers are unbeaten in 5 of their last 6 games which includes a goalless draw in their last game in Europe, but Steven Gerrard will have to motivate his boys for this trip to Vienna following their 1-1 draw away to 2nd from bottom side Dundee on Saturday, despite the Tangerines playing with 10 men for the major part of the game.
Rapid Vienna have lost all 3 of their previous meetings with Rangers. So they will be looking to avoid that record continuing if they are to make further progress in this competition.
If Rangers fail to qualify for the knockout stages it will be made all the more painful if Celtic, who need just a point against RB Salzburg, qualify for the last 32. Rangers have been in Celtics shadow for a few years now and Rangers supporters will be getting pretty fed up if that was to continue.
Managers Thoughts
The disappointing 1-1 draw with Dundee led Steven Gerrard (Rangers): to remark "That a similar performance away to Rapid Vienna on Thursday would end his side’s European campaign"
Dietmar Kuhbauer (Rapid Wien): “The longer we manage to keep a clean sheet, the better it is for us.” and “I think it will be a very emotional, a very intense match and whoever manages their nerves the best will go through.”
Team News
Rangers will be missing Lee Wallace and Jamie Murphy who is a long-term absentee. Scott Arfield should return after missing last week’s game at Dundee. Borna Barisic is back from injury and may replace Andy Halliday. Ryan Jack is recovering from a calf injury and is a doubt.
Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo went off injured last week and is unlikely to feature for Rapid Vienna, Mateo Barac is expected to come in for him. Phillip Schobesberger also misses out while Tama Szato is still out with cartilage damage.
Verdict
Rapid Vienna will be playing for a draw while Rangers have to go all out for a win. This could easily end in a score draw. Prediction is 1-1 with Rapid Vienna getting the draw required to progress and Rangers having to miss out.
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