Rangers - Dortmund, Picks and Tips
Despite last week's excellent result, the Glasgow band is not doing as well internally. After winning the Premiership title last season, Rangers are now second in the Scottish Championship. With 63 points in 27 stages, Giovanni van Bronckhorst's team is three "lengths" behind rivals Celtic. Rangers got another disappointing result this weekend, 1-1 vs Dundee United. Aribo restored the tie in the end, after the "blues" were led for almost 50 minutes. Earlier on Thursday, the hosts advanced to the Cup, after 3-0 away from Annan. There are no new problems for the hosts due to injuries before the decisive match for the qualification for the next phase of the UEFA Europa League. Thus, Ianis Hagi, Ofoborg and Balogun are still on the unavailable list. The latter could be recovered in time for Thursday night's game, but it is hard to believe that he will be forced from the first minute. Van Bronckhorst tactics involved an interesting 4-2-3-1 combination. The Dutch manager surprised on the weekend, when he used approximately the standard formula, except for the left defender Barisic. Thus, Morelos will once again be the main offensive weapon of the Ibrox team. He will be assisted from behind by Kent, Arfield and Aribo. Newcomers Aaron Ramsey and Amad Diallo remain on the bench.
The club in Westphalia is one of inconsistency during this period. After last Thursday's defeat to the Rangers, Dortmund took revenge on Borussia Monchengladbach, whom they defeated with an unlikely 6-0. Marco Reus made a show in the weekend stage, with two goals and three assists. Marco Rose's students had previously beaten Union Berlin 3-0 away. That was just a week after a 2-5 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. The "yellow-blacks" are second in the Bundesliga after 23 rounds. With 49 points so far in the German championship, they are six "lengths" behind Bayern Munich The Germans have no news on the unavailability either. However, goal scorer Erling Haaland remains out of the squad. Without him, Dutchman Malen will be Dortmund's striker again. Otherwise, the list of injured players includes four defensive players: Akanji, Meunier, Schmelzer and Morey Bauza. Marco Rose is expected to return to a formula with four defenders, although he has some problems on his right flank. One of Guerreiro or Schulz, accustomed to the left wing, would be forced there. The main player to watch from the guests' camp is Marco Reus, after the recital given in the Bundesliga match this weekend.
Our recommendation tip for Rangers - Dortmund: DORTMUND TO WIN @ 1.80