By 90min | Created at 2025-01-23 03:38:53 | Updated at 2025-01-23 06:50:21
3 hours ago
Manchester United are aiming to take a big stride towards the Europa League round of 16 when they face Rangers in an all-British affair on Thursday night.
While these two historic clubs faced off in a friendly last summer, this will be their first competitive meeting since 2010. United are unbeaten against Rangers having only met four times in history.
United were the country's top dog when they travelled to Ibrox 15 years ago, with Ruben Amorim's current iteration a shell of Sir Alex Ferguson's great outfits. The new manager recently branded his team as "maybe the worst" in club history, after United fell to a 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Sunday.
They are unbeaten in Europe, however, and sit in a strong league phase table position. United are seventh in the table, one point and place better off than their upcoming opponents.
Despite thumping Celtic at Ibrox earlier this month, Rangers haven't put up much of a fight domestically this term. However, they've performed well in this competition and are poised to secure at least a play-off berth. After drawing 1-1 with Tottenham on Matchday 6, Philippe Clement's side are chasing a historic win on Thursday.
Here is 90min's guide to Man Utd vs Rangers in the Europa League.
Man Utd vs Rangers head-to-head record (all games)
Current form (all competitions)
Man Utd 1-3 Brighton - 19/01/25 | Rangers 5-0 Fraserburgh - 19/01/25 |
Man Utd 3-1 Southampton - 16/01/25 | Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen - 15/01/25 |
Arsenal 1-1 (3-5p) Man Utd - 12/01/25 | Rangers 3-1 St. Johnstone - 12/01/25 |
Liverpool 2-2 Man Utd - 05/01/25 | Dundee 1-1 Rangers - 09/01/25 |
Man Utd 0-2 Newcastle - 30/12/24 | Hibernian 3-3 Rangers - 05/01/25 |
How to watch Man Utd vs Rangers on TV and live stream - UK & US
United Kingdom | discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate |
United States | Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App, TUDN USA, UniMás |
Canada | DAZN Canada |
Victor Lindelof has returned to training / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
There hasn't been too much change on the injury front for Man Utd since Sunday's defeat.
Victor Lindelof is back in training after a month-long absence, but Amorim has confirmed that the Swede won't feature on Thursday. The perpetually absent Luke Shaw and Mason Mount are also working hard to make their respective comebacks, but the pair remain unavailable.
Lisandro Martinez was an unused substitute at the weekend and should come back into the team for Rangers' visit. Rasmus Hojlund is also in contention after Joshua Zirkzee got the nod up top last time out. Alejandro Garnacho will likely remain on the bench amid speculation over his future.
Man Utd predicted lineup vs Rangers
Man Utd predicted lineup vs Rangers (3-4-2-1): Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez; Dalot, Eriksen, Ugarte, Malacia; Amad, Fernandes; Hojlund.
Philippe Clement has many players unavailable on Thursday / Ian MacNicol/GettyImages
The visitors have somewhat of an availability crisis for Thursday's bout at Old Trafford.
Mohamed Diomande is suspended having picked up three yellow cards in the league phase already, while Ianis Hagi, Rabbi Matondo and Clinton Nsiala all weren't registered for the league phase by Clement. Rafael Fernandes is ineligible having joined the club on loan from Lille this month.
Former United players Jack Butland and Tom Lawrence are injury doubts, while John Souttar is likely to miss out again. Defender Dujon Sterling is dealing with a foot injury and Oscar Cortes was absent at the weekend as Rangers breezed past Fraserburgh in the Scottish Cup.
Rangers predicted lineup vs Man Utd
Rangers predicted lineup vs Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Kelly; Tavernier, Propper, Balogun, Jefte; Barron, Raskin; Cerny, Bajrami, Yilmaz; Igamane.
United are just as vulnerable as Spurs were last month, but Rangers might not be in a strong enough position to take advantage.
Clement's squad is down to its bare bones on Thursday, and key absences in midfield and defence are likely to hinder the visitors' chances of pulling off the upset. While Rangers are blessed with dynamic operators in attack, they seem to play within themselves away from home.
The Gers haven't won an away fixture since 8 December. Thus, while United are there for the taking, the hosts should just about find a way to secure all three points.
