Preview: Alashkert FC vs. Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

Boasting a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie, Rangers travel to Armenia to take on Alashkert FC in Thursday's second-leg encounter.

Alfredo Morelos's strike gave 10-man Rangers a narrow advantage heading into the second leg, but Steven Gerrard's men are not home and dry just yet.

Match preview

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Despite boasting an extra man for 45 minutes of the encounter after John Lundstram was given his marching orders, Armenian giants Alashkert were unable to make their advantage count as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Ibrox last week.

However, with Morelos's 67th-minute goal the only thing separating the two sides at present, a surprise turnaround could still be on the cards for the hosts, who have already recorded their best-ever finish in Europe by reaching the playoff round.

Furthermore, a first-ever appearance in the group stage of a continental tournament awaits Alashkert no matter the result on Thursday, as Aleksandr Grigoryan's side will drop down to the Europa Conference League should they be sent packing by Rangers, and they do not exactly have the wind in their sails before this encounter.

Indeed, Alashkert have only won one of their last eight matches in all competitions and have failed to score in six matches in that run - including each of their last three - while they warmed up for the second leg with a goalless stalemate against Sevan in the Armenian Premier League, a result which leaves the reigning champions in the bottom two of the standings.

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Rangers have not been without their problems in the early stages of the 2020-21 season, as the Scottish champions' Champions League dreams were crushed by Malmo, meaning another stint in the Europa League beckons for the Ibrox outfit.

This week's visitors would have undoubtedly been after a healthier first-leg lead last week - especially seeing as they will reportedly have to cope with alarming temperatures of 36 degrees Celsius in Armenia - and Gerrard bemoaned a first-half performance that was "so far away" from what he was after in the first leg.

The 41-year-old's stern wake-up call seemed to have paid dividends against Ross County as the weekend as Joe Aribo and Connor Goldson quickly put the champions 2-0 up, although Malky Mackay's men twice threatened a comeback through Harry Clarke and Jordan White, but Morelos and Scott Arfield ultimately propelled Rangers to a 4-2 success.

Now able to boast three wins on the trot ahead of Thursday's second leg, taking part in the inaugural Europa Conference League is not even an option for Rangers, who will certainly want to upgrade to the Champions League next year after a fourth consecutive year of Europa League football.

Team News

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Alashkert lost winger Aghvan Papikyan to injury after only nine minutes of last week's first leg at Ibrox, although he was fit enough to make the bench at the weekend and could be in contention for another start here.

Grigoryan was reluctant to make numerous alterations at the weekend given his side's abysmal league form, but Tiago Camera and Dejan Boljevic were benched against Sevan and should return to the wide areas here.

Rangers midfielder Lundstram will play no part in the second leg following his sending off in the first leg, but Glen Kamara has now served his controversial three-game ban following last season's confrontation with Slavia Prague's Ondrej Kudela.

Kemar Roofe remains absent following his dangerous challenge on Ondrej Kolar in the same game, and Kamara was taken off against Ross County with cramp, but Gerrard affirmed that the midfielder's issue was not serious.

Fashion Sakala is once again expected to miss out with a groin injury, while Filip Helander could replace Leon Balogun in an otherwise settled Rangers XI.

The visitors confirmed on Tuesday evening that a number of positive coronavirus cases were recorded, but at this moment it is unclear which players - if any - are affected.

Alashkert FC possible starting lineup:
Cancarevic; Camera, Voskanyan, Kadio, Boljevic; Grigoryan, Hovsepyan; Papikyan, Khurtsidze, James; Embalo

Rangers possible starting lineup:
McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Helander, Bassey; Aribo, Kamara, Davis; Hagi, Morelos, Kent

We say: Alashkert FC 0-2 Rangers (Rangers win 3-0 on aggregate)

The sweltering conditions will play right into Alashkert's hands as Rangers seek to right the wrongs of last week, but the hosts just cannot seem to find their shooting boots at the moment.

Gerrard's side should arguably be out of sight already, and in spite of the blistering heat, we expect the Scottish champions to tuck their chances away this time and book their place in the group stage.