Numerous Rangers players are likely to recognize Tottenham’s former Celtic manager, Ange Postecoglou, due to his involvement in two recent seasons of Old Firm clashes. This adds another layer of intrigue to an already compelling UEFA Europa League encounter. With only goal difference setting these two top-ten teams apart and just three rounds remaining, it’s almost certain that the victor will secure one of the eight automatic qualification places after matchweek six.
Rangers have exceeded expectations in this tournament, securing seven out of nine possible points despite being the underdogs in pre-match predictions (W2, D1), all achieved away from home. Their impressive 4-1 victory over Nice in the last round initiated a four-match winning streak across all competitions, leading manager Phillippe Clement to assert that Rangers are “in a really good place” as they approach their seventh competitive fixture against Premier League teams this century (D1, L5).
With the current struggles Tottenham Hotspur are facing, encountering an opponent in good form is far from ideal. A recent London derby defeat to Chelsea with a scoreline of 4-3 at home marked their fourth straight game without a win (two draws, two losses) under Postecoglou’s leadership. This has understandably tested the patience of fans, especially after his confident claim of winning trophies wherever he coaches.
The UEFA Europa League (UEL) remains relatively unaffected by their recent downturn, although they did suffer a setback during their last away match, failing to claw back from a 3-1 deficit at half-time against Galatasaray, ending 3-2. Tottenham are hopeful that Postecoglou can leverage his experience from the Old Firm and his successful managerial record against Rangers (six wins, two draws, three losses) to continue their unbeaten run against Scottish teams (four wins, two draws) and secure a spot in the top eight.
Key players to keep an eye on: Hamza Igamane has emerged as a pivotal figure for Rangers, matching the club’s top scorer tally in this league stage with his two goals against Nice. He continued his impressive form by netting in his last two domestic league outings. Meanwhile, Son Heung-min made an impact by scoring the first goal in Spurs’ most recent UEL match and also found the back of the net against Chelsea.
Noteworthy statistic: Rangers have let in goals in ten out of their last dozen UEFA encounters.
