Take the high road to Scotland! This Thursday, 12 March (kick-off: 21.00 CET), Bayer 04 are away to Rangers in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16 tie. And not only the club has a great reputation: There is an absolute football legend in the dugout – and the son of another in the squad.


POSITION
Reaching the Round of 16 represents at least a small milestone in the colourful history of the Glasgow club: Since the big club was relegated to the Scottish fourth division due to the insolvency of the operating company in 2012, Rangers have not been in the knockout rounds of a European competition. This season, the team have taken another step towards returning to their former glory. Rangers finished top of their group that included Feyenoord, Young Boys Bern plus the last Werkself opponent on the European stage, FC Porto. Rangers beat the Portuguese side 2-0 at Ibrox, and the away game ended all square at 1-1. The opponents in the next round were also from Portugal: The Scottish club beat SC Braga home and away (3-2, 1-0). The club is now completely focused on this competition – as the final positions in the league are already determined with three matchdays to play. As in the last two seasons, Rangers will be runners-up – behind city rivals Celtic with next Sunday bringing the latest ‘Old Firm’ clash.

PERSONNEL
The most famous protagonist for Rangers will definitely be in the dugout. Steven Gerrard, who led Liverpool as captain in 2005 when they won the Champions League, is not only seen as an icon of the sport by fans of the Reds but also throughout the UK. The former midfielder took up his first managerial job in the summer of 2018 in Glasgow and this season he has done well in the Europa League.

In addition to Gerrard, Rangers also have another big name of European football in their ranks – albeit just the family name. Forward Ianis Hagi is the sun of the Rumanian playmaker legend Gheorge Hagi. He caused a stir at the U21 European Championships in the summer and in the winter he moved to Scotland on loan from KRC Genk and he stood out in the Round of 32 tie against Braga with a brace in the first leg.

By far the best goalscorer for Rangers in the competition is star striker Alfredo Morelos. The Colombian scored six goals in six games in the group stage – an impressive return for the striker who the Werkself will have to keep a close eye on. Morelos missed the second leg against Braga due to a one-match ban but he is available for the games against Bayer 04.

PROBLEMS
Morelos will have to manage without his strike partner in the first leg encounter with the Werkself. The long-term England international Jermain Defoe, now 37 years old, is the top scorer for the club in the Scottish League, is ruled out for Thursday due to a calf problem. However: The stalwart has almost exclusively been the league striker this term and has only made one appearance in the Europa League. The absence of captain James Tavernier and midfielder Ryan Jack could pose a greater problem. The two key players are doubtful due to knee problems, Gerrard recently explained, but: “There is a chance both of them could play.” Central defender Filip Helander (long-term foot injury) is definitely sidelined – another player normally in the starting eleven.