3 minute read
15/2/2022 | 02:25pm
Ibrox giants Rangers have been handed a boost ahead of their return to UEFA Europa League action this week as major news has emerged that affects Gio van Bronckhorst’s preparations…
What’s the latest?
According to Ruhr Nachrichten, via Daily Record, the Gers will face weakened opposition as they have lost one of their crucial players.
Borussia Dortmund centre-forward Erling Haaland is set to miss out on Thursday after suffering an injury whilst playing in the Bundesliga against Bayer Leverkusen this month.
The report claims that he did not train with his team-mates earlier this week and is now poised to watch on from the sidelines in the first leg of the round of 32 clash.
Will Rangers beat Dortmund on Thursday?
yes
vote
No
vote
delight
Rangers fans will surely be delighted with this update, which will come as a big relief to van Bronckhorst’s side as they will avoid facing the talented attacker.
Haaland is one of the best strikers in world football – having been named in the FIFPro Team of the Year – and his absence will therefore be a boost to the Scottish giants as Dortmund will be without his talents for the first leg in Germany.
The Norway international has 16 goals and 10 assists in 14 Bundesliga outings for Dortmund this season, after racking up 27 goals and nine assists in 28 top-flight matches last term. Since joining the German side in January 2020, Haaland has scored 80 goals and provided 21 assists in just 79 games for the club, which highlights the immense quality he is able to bring to the team.
He has not played a Europa League match for them so far, but he has found the back of the net 15 times in 14 Champions League outings for his current club. This shows that he knows what it takes to score in Europe’s premier club competition and could therefore have an even bigger impact in the secondary continental tournament against Rangers.
The Bundesliga giants’ second-top scorer in the league is Marco Reus on seven, and this shows the drop-off between Haaland and his team-mates in terms of goals. This means that his injury will be a major blow for them and, in turn, be a big relief for Rangers, who will not need to worry about dealing with the 21-year-old tank for the first leg at least.
However, Dortmund are still a strong team with the likes of Reus, England international Jude Bellingham and Mats Hummels. It will be a tough ask for Rangers to come back from Germany with a first-leg lead, but this news will surely give encouragement that a win is achievable on Thursday, which is why fans will be delighted.
AND in other news, Wilson heading for unforgivable Rangers disaster over “languid” £14k-p/w maestro…
