Speaking ahead of his side’s first leg Europa League knockout round play-off tie against Borussia Dortmund tonight, Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst has confirmed a blow for Rangers.
The Lowdown: Gers without key men…
The Teddy Bears travel to Germany this evening as they begin their bid to make history, potentially by beating Dortmund over two legs and qualifying for the Europa League last 16 phase.
Dortmund will be without star forward Erling Braut Haaland for this evening’s crunch bout in a boost for van Bronckhorst and Gers supporters, but the Glasgow giants are without key men of their own.
Indeed, defender Filip Helander will miss out having been deemed not fit enough, with the Gers boss also confirming more injury news.
The Latest: Gers also without Balogun…
As well as missing the Swede, van Bronckhorst says that his side will be without another defender in Leon Balogun for their journey to Signal Iduna Park.
“Leon is not available,” said Van Bronckhorst (via STV).
“Hopefully he will be okay for next week.
“Ryan Jack has trained as normal the last couple of days so is fit to come with us to Germany.”
The Verdict: Blow for GVB…
Having been sidelined for a significant portion of this campaign already, news of his absence for tonight also will come as a blow for van Bronckhorst given how crucial Balogun has been in recent times when fit.
Described as a ‘pivotal’ Rangers player earlier this campaign by pundit Noel Whelan, former Teddy Bears manager Steven Gerrard also made no secret of the Nigeria international’s importance to the Ibrox club.
When available, Balogun has impressed in the Europa League, averaging a higher WhoScored match rating (7.16) than any Gers player in the competition.
In the SPFL, Rangers’ centre-back has also averaged the highest amount of interceptions per 90 (1.5) out of their squad (WhoScored), leaving little wonder why his absence for tonight will be a sore one.
In other news: ‘Who would have thought’…BBC pundit thrilled by ‘excellent’ news out of Rangers, find out more here.
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