Rangers are in Poland to face Jagiellonia Bialystok in a Europa League qualifying tie, with Derek McInnes seeking a first competitive win as boss. The Glasgow side have not won away in Europe in eight matches, last triumphing 3-1 over Fenerbahce in Istanbul in March 2024.
Team News
Rangers XI: Pandur; McCrorie, Fernandez, Sterling, Rommens; Neil (c), Diomande, Chukwuani; Aasgaard, Yokota, Chermiti. Subs: Kelly, Makhanya, Hutton, Devlin, Dragojevic, Raskin, McCausland, Gassama, Curtis, Shankland, Naderi, Miovski.
Jagiellonia XI: Abramowicz; Wojtuszek, Konstantopolous, Kobayashi, Montoia; Romanczuk (c), Imaz, Lozano, Conceicao; Szmyt, Prelec. Subs: Perchel, Damasiewicz, Polak, Drachal, Rallis, Agbonifo, Sylla, Klynge, Krasiewicz, Zalewski, Kozlowski, Kuczynski.
Pre-Match Views
McInnes, speaking to BBC Scotland, acknowledged the heat in eastern Poland: "It's unusual for this area to have this heat as well, so it's not as if the Polish lads are accustomed to it either." He also noted defensive shortages, saying, "We're a wee bit short defensively in our options."
Jagiellonia have shown European pedigree, reaching the Conference League quarter-finals two seasons ago and pushing Fiorentina to extra time last season before losing 5-4 on aggregate.
Key Stats and Context
Rangers have won seven, drawn two, and lost two in 11 matches against Polish opponents. Their record win was a 5-0 victory over Amica Wronki in 2004. Alfredo Morelos scored a memorable late header against Legia Warsaw in 2019.
Jagiellonia striker Nik Prelec, signed from Oxford United, has scored in both league matches this season. Rangers' new signing Daisuke Yokota makes his debut, while Lawrence Shankland is benched.
The referee is Montenegro's Nikola Dabanovic.
