Rangers vs Athletic Club Europa League preview: where to watch, predicted line-ups, team news

Rangers welcome Athletic Club to Ibrox Stadium for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partner(s) here.

What do you need to know?

A famous Glasgow night in the round of 16 saw Rangers beat Fenerbahçe on penalties to keep alive their hopes of reaching a third Europa League final. Ibrox will be full of colour and noise once more for the visit of Athletic Club, and the Gers will hope the in-form Václav Černý and Cyriel Dessers can again prove to be difference-makers.

Athletic, though, are aiming to reach a final which will be played on home soil at San Mamés, and have impressed throughout the tournament so far, putting in arguably their best performance to dispatch Roma in the round of 16. Experienced coach Ernesto Valverde will know what to expect in this away leg, and certainly won't be overawed by the atmosphere in store.

Possible line-ups

Rangers: Butland; Tavernier, Sterling, Balogun, Jefté; Raskin, Barron; Černý, Lawrence, Hagi; Igamane
Doubtful: None
Out: Diomande (suspended), Kasanwirjo (knee), Souttar (suspended)
Misses next match if booked: Barron, Igamane, Jefté, Raskin

Athletic Club: Agirrezabala; Gorosobel, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche; Jauregizar, Prados; Iñaki Williams, Gómez, Nico Williams; Guruzeta
Doubtful: None
Out: Berchiche (calf), De Galaretta (hamstring)
Misses next match if booked: Berchiche, De Marcos, Gorosabel, Vivian, I. Williams

Form guide

Rangers

Form: LWWLWL
Latest: Rangers 0-2 Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, 05/04

Athletic Club

Form: DDWWDL
Latest: Villarreal 0-0 Athletic Club, La Liga, 06/04

Form includes all competitive games in the 2024/25 season; the most recent result is listed first. For statistical purposes, penalty shoot-outs do not count towards results.

Expert prediction

Alex O'Henley, match reporter: Rangers seem to come alive in the Europa League and Athletic Club would be wise not to underestimate a side who tend to save their best for Thursday nights in this competition, especially on the counterattack. Valverde's visitors will be a step up in quality and much will depend on how successful the Light Blues are in keeping the Williams brothers, Nico and Iñaki, quiet over two legs.

What the coaches say

Barry Ferguson, Rangers interim coach: "In European games we have performed at a high level. What an opportunity we have. Athletic Club are a top team and we know it will be a tough task, we are at home and we have to take the game to them, we will give it everything."

Ernesto Valverde, Athletic Club coach: "Rangers are a team with a variety of talents, and according to our data they're one of the best counterattacking teams in the Europa League. They have the skills to challenge anyone. Whoever makes the fewest mistakes will advance. Thursday's match is a real test for us, and we have to be competitive."