Rangers vs AS Roma - Match preview and team news

Rangers will welcome AS Roma to Ibrox on Thursday evening as both sides look to kick-start their disappointing UEFA Europa League campaigns.

The Scottish giants remain winless in the competition this term, whilst their Italian visitors have already suffered two home defeats in the group stage.

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Rangers vs AS Roma – Match preview and team news

Date: Thursday, 6th November.

Kick-off: 8pm BST.

Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow.

Rangers team news

Rangers can welcome back midfielder Connor Barron from suspension after his red card in their previous domestic fixture. However, head coach Danny Rohl will continue to be without Welsh winger Rabbi Matondo (knee), Dujon Sterling (Achilles) and midfielder Kieran Dowell (foot) due to injury concerns. Matondo has been sidelined since June, while Sterling has not featured since April but has been spotted in training recently, though a return to action is not expected just yet.

AS Roma team news

Roma have been dealt significant blows to their attacking options ahead of Thursday’s clash. Paulo Dybala suffered a muscle strain and will be sidelined for approximately one month, making him a late call-off for the fixture. Similarly, Leon Bailey picked up his second thigh injury of the season, further depleting Gian Piero Gasperini’s attacking depth.

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Evan Ferguson is also expected to be unavailable with a thigh injury sustained against Parma last week, whilst midfielder Edoardo Bove remains sidelined due to ongoing heart problems. Additionally, left-back Angelino faces a mid-November return date following a virus, ruling him out of Thursday’s encounter.

Form

Rangers

Rohl’s Rangers showed improved domestic form with successive Scottish Premiership victories over Kilmarnock and Hibernian before the weekend’s heartbreaking cup defeat to Celtic at Hampden.

However, their European form has been dire. Rangers have now lost their last six continental fixtures, equalling the club’s worst losing streak in UEFA competition. This disappointing run includes Champions League qualifying defeats and Europa League losses to Genk, Sturm Graz, and SK Brann, leaving them without a single point from their opening three group stage matches.

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AS Roma

Roma’s recent Serie A performance suggests they remain competitive, having won their previous two matches before Sunday’s defeat at the San Siro. However, their Europa League campaign mirrors Rangers’ struggles. The Giallorossi currently occupy 23rd place in the standings with just three points after three matches. Gasperini’s side suffered shock home defeats to Viktoria Plzen and Lille, with Dybala famously missing a penalty for the first time since 2021 in the latter match.

Sunday’s loss to AC Milan saw Roma create 20 shots and register 2.04 expected goals, yet they could not breach a Milan side that boasted a superior 3.32 xG following a clinical counter-attacking display. Strahinja Pavlovic’s 39th-minute goal, set up by Rafael Leao’s incisive pass, proved decisive, whilst Maignan’s crucial late penalty save from Dybala denied Roma an equaliser.

Predicted lineups

Rangers: Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Cornelius, Meghoma; Diomande, Raskin; Moore, Danilo, Gassama; Miovski.

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AS Roma: Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka; Rensch, Kone, El Aynaoui, Tsimikas; Bailey, Pellegrini; Dovbyk.

How to watch Rangers vs AS Roma?

UK fans can watch the game on TNT Sports.

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