Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Stadion Rajko Mitic will host Thursday’s Europa League game between Crvena zvezda and Rangers. The Serbian champions had three goals disallowed in the first leg, with key player Aleksandar Katai failing to convert a penalty. Dejan Stankovic’s troops will give their best to overcome the three-goal deficit, but that is easier said than done. There are no fresh injury worries in the home team, meaning that the Crvena zvezda boss is going to field the best possible side in the return leg.
The Gers, on the other hand, are with one foot in the Europa League quarter-finals. Rangers are likely to adopt a defence-minded approach in the second leg, but preventing Zvezda from scoring at packed “Maracana” is easier said than done. Home win should be considered, but we do not believe that the Serbs are capable of overcoming the deficit. All Steve Davis, Nnamdi Ofoborh, and Steven Davis should miss out with injuries.
Highlighted Player (Milan Gajic):
Milan Gajic is a product of OFK Beograd youth academy. The pacey right back, who was born in Vukovar (Croatia) on January 28, 1996 scored four goals in 46 appearances for OFK Beograd from 2013 to 2015 and on July 22, 2015 he signed a five-year deal with Ligue 1 side Bordeaux.
Milan Gajic is a youth international for Serbia and he represented the Eagles at the 2017 European Championship. The Serbs failed to impress at the tournament in Poland, with the team losing to Portugal and Spain in Group B, while sharing the spoils with Macedonia. Gajic was a starter in matches against Portugal and Macedonia, but he missed the Spain clash with injury.
In 2015, though, Milan Gajic did well to win the FIFA U20 World Cup with Serbia as Veljko Paunovic’s men outplayed Brazil in the title game. His main position is right-back (full-back), but he is capable of playing both central and right midfielder. Milan Gajic made 14 appearances for Bordeaux in the 2016/2017 Ligue 1 campaign.
Highlighted Team (Rangers):
Glasgow Rangers are one of the two synonyms for Scottish Football. Glasgow Rangers were founded back in 1872 and they have been playing an important role in the Scottish top flight ever since. The Gers won their 54th Scottish Premier League title in the 2010/2011 season, but winning of European Cup Winners’ Cup trophy in 1972 is considered the club’s biggest success.
Glasgow Rangers defeated Dynamo Moscow in the final of the competition, with the likes of Stein and Johnston (two goals) scoring for the Scottish side. Celtic are considered the club’s biggest rivals and there have always been fireworks when the two teams meet in the Old Firm derby. The likes of Paul Gascoigne, David Weir, Stefan Klos, Chris Boyd, Ian Durrant and Kenny Miller are some of Rangers’ former notable players.
It has to be noted that the Gers welcome their rivals at Ibrox Stadium, the venue with the capacity of 50,817. Rangers’ support is largely drawn from the Protestant Unionist community.