Rangers will look to get their first points in the league phase of the Europa League on Thursday night as they travel to Graz to take on reigning Austrian Bundesliga champions Sturm Graz.
Rangers made a nightmare start to their Europa League campaign last Thursday, as they lost 0-1 at home to Genk in a match they were reduced to 10 men just before halftime.
The Teddy Bears have also endured a humiliating start to their domestic campaign, failing to win any of their opening five Premiership contests (W0-D4-L1).
However, that did change on Sunday, as Max Aarons scored deep in stoppage time to give under-fire head coach Russell Martin his first Premiership win of the season, moving them up to eighth in the Premiership table.
Just like their visitors, Sturm Graz began their Europa League campaign with a defeat, as they were beaten 2-0 away at Danish side Midtjylland.
Similarly to Rangers, Jurgen Samuel’s men returned to winning ways domestically at the weekend courtesy of a stoppage-time winner, as they defeated TSV Hartberg 1-0 at home.
That late winner, coupled with Rapid Vienna’s 1-3 defeat at home to city-rivals Austria Vienna, means they sit just two points behind leaders Rapid in the Bundesliga table with a game in hand.
How the bookies view it: Austrian champions favourites
Sturm Graz have been installed as favourites by the bookmakers, with BoyleSports pricing a home success at 23/20.
The same firm has a Rangers success at 9/5, whilst the draw is 12/5.
Head to head: One win apiece
These two clubs faced off in the group stage of the Champions League in 2000/01, with Dick Advocaat’s Rangers sealing a memorable 5-0 win at Ibrox.
However, Sturm Graz got a bit of revenge in the reverse fixture, winning 2-0 in Austria.
Players to watch: Jatta to do the job for Sturm?
Seedy Jatta is Sturm Graz’s leading scorer this term, finding the back of the net on five occasions in his 11 appearances for the reigning Austrian Bundesliga champions.
Four of those have arrived in his last seven matches – including one in their 2-1 home success against Bodo/Glimt – and the Norwegian frontman is 15/8 at BoyleSports to score in consecutive European home games for Die Schwoazn.
Predicted line-ups:
Sturm Graz are expected to be without Daniil Khudyakov, Arjan Malic, Filip Rozga and Axel Kayombo through injury.
Mohamed Diomande will be suspended following his red card against Genk last Thursday, whilst Dujon Sterling and Lyall Cameron are injured.
Sturm Graz: Christensen, Oermann, Aiwu, Lavalee, Karic, Stankovic, Hodl, Chukwuani, Horvat, Malone, Jatta
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Cornelius, Meghoma, Raskin, Barron, Antman, Aasgaard, Gassama, Miovski
Anything else catch the eye?
After losing each of their opening two Austrian Bundesliga home matches of the campaign, Sturm Graz would’ve been relieved to grab all three points in stoppage time when they hosted Hartberg at the weekend.
Die Schwoazn have actually won each of their previous three continental clashes on home soil, defeating both Girona and RB Leipzig in the Champions League last season, and Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in this season's Champions League playoff tie, and look well-equipped to claim all three points here.
Rangers have been abysmal away from home in Europe this campaign, as they were fortunate to leave Panathinaikos with a 1-1 draw, deservedly beaten 2-1 by Viktoria Plzen and humiliated 6-0 against Club Brugge.
The Gers’ opening six away matches in all competitions this season have averaged 11.83 corners per game, with Over 9.5 Corners banking in five (83%) of them, and a repeat pays 5/6 at BoyleSports, which also appeals.
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