Our prediction for this Europa League match:
After dropping two points in a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen, Rangers will be aiming to return to winning ways when they take on Aris Limassol in the Europa League group stages round 5. The Gers want to cement their spot in top two, but they will have to showcase their worth on the field. Both Steven Davis and Nicolas Raskin should miss out with injuries, while defender Connor Goldson serves a one-game ban due to the accumulation of yellow cards.
Aris, on the other hand, aim to climb to the Conference League berth, but given their difficulties on the road, we predict that the Scotts are going to pick up all three points from Thursday’s encounter. As there are no fresh injury worries in the away team ahead of the trip to Glasgow, Aleksey Shpilevski is unlikely to make changes to the starting XI that defeated APOEL in the national championship at the weekend.
Highlighted Player (Jon McLaughlin):
Jon McLaughlin is a goalkeeper who plays for Sunderland. The 188-cm-tall shoot-stopper played for non-League sides Harrogate Railway Athletic and Harrogate Town in the past, but in 2008 he joined Bradford City. After spending six years at Valley Parade, McLaughlin signed a contract with Burton Albion and he has been playing for the Pirelli Stadium outfit ever since.
Jon McLaughlin made 45 appearances for Burton Albion in both 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons and he has established his self as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper. He was producing scintillating displays for Burton in the 2015/2016 League One campaign and, no doubt, he helped the team secure promotion to the Championship.
Jon McLaughlin was born on 9 September, 1987 in Edinburgh, but he has yet to make his debut for the Scotland national team. Speaking of his honours, the goalkeeper won the Football League Two play-offs with Bradford City in the 2012/2013 season.
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.