Europa League Preview: Rangers face tough task in Dortmund

The Europa League returns on Thursday and there are some brilliant fixtures to sink our teeth into with Dortmund taking on Rangers and Barcelona hosting Napoli.

We preview the games below.

Borussia Dortmund v Rangers

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Rangers travel to Germany on Thursday evening as they prepare for a very difficult game against Borussia Dortmund in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Rangers will face Dortmund in European competition for the first time since the 1999-2000 season when the competition was previously known as the UEFA Cup. Dortmund progressed on penalties that evening after a 2-2 draw in which Giovanni van Bronckhorst played in both legs of the tie. Rangers are very much the underdogs heading into this fixture at a price of 7/1.

Rangers have progressed from 10 of their last 14 two-legged ties in the knockout stages of the Europa League losing only three first leg fixtures during this time.

Borussia Dortmund have a rather average record when it comes to the UEFA Europa League knockout rounds having won only five of their previous 10 matches. Dortmund have won three of their five first leg ties and are 4/11 favourites to make it four from six on Thursday evening.

Dortmund will be without Erling Haaland who has scored 23 goals in 20 appearances in major European competition and will need to find another talisman if they are to defeat a stubborn Rangers. Marco Reus is priced at EVENS to find the back of the net anytime on Thursday evening.

Barcelona v Napoli

Barcelona have not played a game in Europe’s secondary competition since 2003-04 and they have been handed a hard fixture upon their return as they get ready to face high-flying Napoli.

The only meeting between these two sides in European competition saw Barcelona eliminate Napoli in the Last 16 stage of the UEFA Champions League in 2019-20. Barcelona were held to a draw in the first leg before defeating the Italians in the second leg. Barcelona head into this fixture as 10/11 favourites but it will not be easy for Xavi’s men.

The Catalan giants have lost three of their last five home games in major European competition which is as many defeats as they had in their previous 74 games.

Including their defeat to Barcelona in 2019/20, Napoli have lost each of their last four away games in the knockout stages of major European competitions, but they are flying high in Serie A and are currently on very good form. The side from Naples are priced at 29/10 to come away from the Nou Camp with all three points.

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