Rangers vs Leipzig Europa League semi-final preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, predicted line-ups
Thursday, May 5, 2022
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When is it? How can you watch it? What are the possible line-ups? All you need to know about the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg between Rangers and Leipzig.
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Rangers and Leipzig meet in the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg on Thursday 5 May.
Rangers vs Leipzig at a glance
When: Thursday 5 May (21:00 CET kick-off)
Where: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
What: UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg
How it stands: Leipzig lead 1-0 from the first leg
How to follow: Build-up and live coverage will appear here
Where to watch Rangers vs Leipzig on TV
Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partner(s) here.
What happened in the first leg?
Angeliño scored five minutes from time to finally break Rangers' resistance in a keenly fought semi-final first leg. Christopher Nkunku had three good chances to break the deadlock, with Ryan Kent having the best opening at the other end, but the game was settled when Leipzig's only corner of the night was headed out as far as Angeliño, who returned it with considerable interest.
Starting line-ups
Rangers: McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Bassey, Barišic; Jack, Lundstram, Kamara; Wright, Aribo, Kent
Leipzig: Gulácsi; Gvardiol, Orbán, Klostermann; Henrichs, Kampl, Laimer, Angeliño; Nkunku, Olmo; Poulsen
Form guide
Rangers
Form (all competitions, most recent first): DLWWWW
Where they stand: 2nd in Scottish Premier League, Scottish Cup final
Away goals rule abolished
There has been a rule change for 2021/22: ties level after the second leg will go to extra time and a penalty shoot-out if required, irrespective of the number of away goals a team has scored.
Leipzig
Form (all competitions, most recent first): LWLWWW
Where they stand: 5th in German Bundesliga, German Cup final
Expert predictions
Alex O'Henley, Rangers reporter
Much will depend on whether Kemar Roofe returns from injury to give Rangers a recognised striker. If not, Giovanni van Bronkhorst might be forced to use Joe Aribo as a false nine or start with Fashion Sakala who scored against Celtic at the weekend. An early goal proved decisive in overcoming a 1-0 deficit against Braga and a similar start in front of a full-throated Ibrox could set the Light Blues on course to reach the final in Seville.
James Thorogood, Leipzig reporter
Leipzig have one foot in their first-ever European final thanks to Angeliño's late winner last week. Nevertheless, Domenico Tedesco and Co. were disappointed not to take a greater lead to Ibrox after a first-leg performance that was dominant without boasting the club's normal guile in front of goal. As a result, Tedesco believes his side "need to score" in the second leg to book their ticket to Sevilla, but will need them to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat suffered against ten-man Borussia Mönchengladbach, despite naming a full-strength side on Monday night.
What the coaches say
Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Rangers manager: "We have watched a lot of Leipzig's matches, they will do everything they can to win tomorrow and we have to prepare everything possible. It is a tough opponent but we will do everything we can to reach the final."
Domenico Tedesco, Leipzig coach: "Rangers will play differently at home than they did last week. The crowd will be a factor. We're leading 1-0 in the tie, but I'm expecting us to need more goals tomorrow. Rangers will apply pressure, maybe not from the first minute, but at some point. So goals are always nice to have."
Where is the 2022 Europa League final?
Sevilla's Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium will stage the final on Wednesday 18 May.
The winners gain a place in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage, if they have not qualified via their domestic competition.