Manchester United will aim to continue the unbeaten start to the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League campaign when they welcome Rangers to Old Trafford on Sunday.
The 2024/25 UEFA Europa League has resumed this week with the penultimate round of fixtures. Matchday 7 began on Wednesday and will continue on Thursday, with the action on the day ending with eight simultaneous games, including Manchester United vs Rangers at Old Trafford.
Manchester United started the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League campaign with three successive draws, with the results leaving them in the playoff positions. Since then, the Red Devils have won three consecutive games to rise to seventh in the standings as they look to secure automatic qualification to the next round.
However, the hosts have blown hot and cold in recent weeks, with Brighton & Hove Albion handing them a 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford this past weekend. On the other hand, Rangers have been excellent in their last few outings. The Scottish giants have not lost in seven games, with their most recent defeat coming in 2024.
As for the away side’s UEFA Europa League campaign, Philippe Clement’s men have lost only once in Europe this season and are currently on a four-match unbeaten streak. The run of results has left Rangers in the eighth spot in the standings, only one position behind Manchester United.
Manchester United and Rangers have locked horns four times previously, with the Red Devils winning thrice (D1) and keeping a clean sheet in every outing. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
Ruben Amorim does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Manchester United manager will be bereft of the services of five first-team players vs Rangers on Thursday.
Luke Shaw (calf), Victor Lindelof (unspecified), Jonny Evans (muscular injury), and Mason Mount (hamstring) remain on the sidelines. In addition, Marcus Rashford will unlikely be picked as Manchester United continue to work on his departure.
Altay Bayindir should get the nod over Andre Onana between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Rangers on Thursday. The central defensive unit should feature Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, and Lisandro Martinez. Meanwhile, Diogo Dalot and Tyrell Malacia should be the two wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Christian Eriksen will likely get the nod in the double pivot alongside Manuel Ugarte, with the Danish playmaker providing the creative impetus from the middle of the park. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund should lead the line for Manchester United against Rangers, with Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo completing the numbers in the offensive trifecta.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Bayindir; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez; Dalot, Eriksen, Ugarte, Malacia; Amad, Bruno Fernandes; Hojlund
Rangers
Unlike his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Philippe Clement has a new roster issue to worry about ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Rangers manager will be without as many as seven first-team players on Thursday.
Mohamed Diomande is the latest absentee, as he serves a suspension after picking up his third yellow card of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League campaign against Tottenham. The 23-year-old has joined Dujon Sterling (foot), John Souttar (unspecified), Neraysho Kasanwirjo (knee), Oscar Cortes (unspecified), and Tom Lawrence (knock) on the sidelines. In addition, Rafael Fernandes is ineligible.
Liam Kelly will take his spot between the sticks, with Rangers lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Thursday. The backline should feature James Tavernier, Robin Propper, Leon Balogun, and Jefte.
As for the midfield unit, Connor Barron will pair up with Nicolas Rasking in the double pivot, with the duo looking to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Nedim Bajrami will reprise the no. 10 role, with Vaclav Cerny and Ridvan Yilmaz being the two wide attackers. Finally, Hamza Igamane will lead the line for Rangers against Manchester United.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kelly; Tavernier, Propper, Balogun, Jefte; Barron, Raskin; Cerny, Bajrami, Yilmaz; Igamane
Key Stats
- Manchester United are unbeaten in all four previous games vs Rangers, keeping a clean sheet on all four occasions (W3 D1).
- Rangers have won just one of their eight away games against English sides in all European competition (D2 L5), beating Leeds United 2-1 in the qualifying phase of the 1992/93 UEFA Champions League.
- Ruben Amorim has won his first two UEFA Europa League games as Manchester United manager. Only two Red Devils managers have won their first three major European games with the club – Sir Matt Busby in 1956 and Sir Alex Ferguson in 1990.
- Nicolas Raskin has won possession more than any other player in this season’s UEFA Europa League (48), doing so 12+ times in three different games this season, with no other player doing it more than once.
- Wednesday’s game could be Bruno Fernandes’s 50th appearance in the UEFA Europa League. The Manchester United captain has 37 goals and assists combined in the competition (G20 A17), second only to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (G34 A6) in Europa League history.
Player to Watch
Altay Bayindir
Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund, and Hamza Igamane were viable candidates for this section, but we have picked Altay Bayindir as our Player to Watch. Ruben Amorim has preferred the Turkish goalkeeper in non-Premier League games, and Wednesday’s match will be another opportunity for Bayindir to shine.
Andre Onana made another high-profile error this past weekend as Manchester United lost 3-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion. So, Bayindir will be eager to make his mark and convince Amorim to hand him more game time. Riding high on confidence after his heroics in the FA Cup third-round tie against Arsenal, the Turk will be optimistic of another impressive showing.
Prediction
Manchester United 3-2 Rangers
Ruben Amorim reportedly unleashed the “hairdryer treatment” on the Manchester United players after the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, and he will expect a response from his charges on Thursday vs Rangers. However, the away side might recognise the soft underbelly the hosts have, and they will take the game to Amorim’s men.
The aforementioned response should bring partly the desired result, with Manchester United producing the goods in the final third. While the defensive issues will remain, especially in set-piece situations, the Red Devils should have enough quality to eke a narrow victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-2 win for Amorim and his men.