Rangers travel to Poland to face Jagiellonia Bialystok in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier, with Derek McInnes leading the team into European action for the first time.
Rangers' European ambitions
After a disappointing last season in Europe, where they failed to progress from the Europa League league phase, Rangers are looking to bounce back. McInnes, who took charge last weekend, will be eager to make a positive start on the continental stage.
The Light Blues have been impressive in Europe in recent years, but last season's early exit was a major setback. Now, they face a tough test against the Polish side, who finished just four points behind champions Lech Poznan in the Ekstraklasa last season.
Writers' verdicts
The Record Sport team has given their predictions for the first leg, with most expecting a closely fought contest.
Scott McDermott predicts a goalless draw, citing Jagiellonia's loss of star striker Pululu as a factor that could weaken their attack. He believes Rangers can keep a clean sheet if they stay solid defensively.
Andy Newport also anticipates a draw, noting that Jagiellonia were among the top scorers in Poland last season and will put Rangers under pressure at the Chorten Arena. He expects Rangers to stay tight and look for opportunities on the counter.
Keith Jackson echoes this sentiment, suggesting that a draw would be a satisfactory result for McInnes, who is still working on strengthening his squad in the transfer market.
Scott Burns predicts a 1-1 draw, acknowledging that Rangers are not yet at full strength and are struggling for goals. He believes they should still progress over the two legs.
Ryan McDonald warns that Jagiellonia have lost only twice at home in their last two European campaigns, making this a dangerous tie. He thinks McInnes would be happy with a draw.
Craig Swan, however, sees Rangers facing a deficit, predicting a 2-1 defeat. He expects Jagiellonia to be strong in front of their home crowd.
If Rangers advance, they will face the winner of the tie between Larne and FC Iberia 1999 in the next round.
