Van Bronckhorst and the ghosts of the past
The Champions League elimination in a group with Ajax Amsterdam, Sporting Lisbon and Besiktas Istanbul was very unexpected for Borussia Dortmund and once again resulted in a debate about the lack of mentality at BVB. Every time you think Borussia is now out of the woods, there is the next setback. On Thursday at Ibrox Park there is now another opportunity to give the appropriate answer.
Nobody really expects Marco Rose’s team to turn around their 4-2 home defeat at Glasgow Rangers. Perhaps BVB will benefit from the fact that the away goals rule has been abolished. A 2-0 win is enough to force extra time. However, one can assume that a very difficult match awaits in Scotland.
The question will be which face Borussia will show in Glasgow. If they play like they did in the first leg, then their final exit from the European Cup this season will probably be sealed. However, if BVB are in the mood to play again, as they were in their recent 6-0 win over Gladbach, then it would be quite possible to make a prediction between Glasgow Rangers and Dortmund as to whether the Black and Yellows will progress to the next round.
We certainly wouldn’t write off the Westphalians, as there is at least a chance the players will unpack their fighting spirit on Thursday.
Glasgow Rangers – Statistics & current form
For Rangers coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst, it’s all about banishing personal ghosts in this match against BVB. In December 2000, Glasgow lost to Dortmund on penalties in the third round of the UEFA Cup. The current coach was among the players who lost their nerve from the spot. With a progress against BVB, that old book could finally be slammed shut.
Impressive series from the Gers
After winning the first leg, the chances are good that van Bronckhorst can now put the past behind him. The form certainly gives hope that his mission will be successful, with only one defeat in the last 19 games, at Celtic in the Old Firm. If that doesn’t change too much, then the odds on the Scots progressing in the clash between Glasgow Rangers and Dortmund should be interesting.
However, Rangers do not always play excellently. They lost some ground in the Scottish Premier League last weekend with a 1-1 draw at Dundee United (scorer Joe Aribo). The gap to their local rivals in the standings is currently three points and nine goals. In the race for the championship, the Gers definitely have some catching up to do.
No matter who plays for the Scots on Thursday. The team will tear itself apart and make life as difficult as possible for BVB. It is conceivable that Giovanni van Bronckhorst will not make any major changes to the starting eleven. The only players who will definitely not be in the starting line-up are the two youngsters Nnamdi Ofoborh and Ianis Hagi.
Predicted line-up of Glasgow Rangers:
McGregor – Bassey, Helander, Goldson, Tavernier – Jack, Lundstram, Aribo – Kent, Arfield, Morelos – coach: van Bronckhorst
Last matches played by Glasgow Rangers:
Premiership
02/20 2022 – Dundee United 1 – 1 Rangers
Europa League Final Stage
02/17 2022 – Borussia Dortmund 2 – 4 Rangers
FA Cup
02/12 2022 – Annan Athletic 0 – 3 Rangers
Premiership
02/09 2022 – Rangers 2 – 0 Hibernian
02/06 2022 – Rangers 5 – 0 Hearts
Dortmund – Statistics & current form
The big goal hovering over everything is to knock Bayern off the Bundesliga throne once again. But whenever BVB seems to be close, there are bitter and unexpected losses of points. Borussia is not as solid as it would like to be. That’s why we can’t imagine that they will win the championship this year, even though they are only six points behind Munich at the moment.
Win and defeat in turns
The match in Scotland could be a key game. If the Black and Yellows do progress, it could give them a boost for the final spurt in the Bundesliga. However, Borussia have recently made it their habit to always concede a defeat after a win. According to the law of the series, a defeat should follow and that would mean that between Glasgow Rangers and Dortmund, you could be right with a prediction of a Scottish victory.
However, Marco Rose’s team should now look to take the momentum from last weekend into Glasgow. Borussia Mönchengladbach were immediately blown out of the Signal-Iduna-Park with a 6:0 performance. Marco Reus (2), Donyell Malen, Marius Wolf, Youssoufa Moukoko and Emre Can were the Dortmund scorers.
So even without goal scorer Erling Haaland, Borussia are capable of scoring a few goals. That should be an important lesson for Thursday. Apart from the Norwegian, numerous other players will not be available. Dan-Axel Zagadou, Marcel Schmelzer, Thomas Meunier, Mateu Morey, Abdoulaye Kamara and Giovanni Reyna are also out of action.
Predicted Dortmund line-up:
Kobel – Hummels, Pongracic, Can – Dahoud, Bellingham, Guerreiro, Hazard – Brandt, Reus – Malen – Coach: Rose
Last matches played by Dortmund:
1st Bundesliga
02/20 2022 – Borussia Dortmund 6 – 0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Europa League Final Stage
02/17 2022 – Borussia Dortmund 2 – 4 Rangers
1st Bundesliga
02/13 2022 – Union Berlin 0 – 3 Borussia Dortmund
02/06 2022 – Borussia Dortmund 2 – 5 Bayer Leverkusen
01/22 2022 – Hoffenheim 2 – 3 Borussia Dortmund
Glasgow Rangers – Dortmund Direct comparison / H2H balance
To date, Glasgow Rangers and Borussia Dortmund have crossed paths nine times. The direct comparison does not look particularly rosy for the black and yellows. BVB has only won once against the Scots. Otherwise, Glasgow have four wins and four draws. Thursday should be the perfect day to improve this record from Dortmund’s point of view.
In the first leg a week ago, Glasgow Rangers mutated into the Power Rangers and won 4-2 in Dortmund, with James Tavernier, Alfredo Morales, John Lundstram and Dan-Axel Zagadou scoring an own goal. However, BVB still managed two goals through Jude Bellingham and Raphael Guerreiro, so that the starting position at Ibrox Park is not completely hopeless.
Glasgow Rangers – Dortmund Tip
It will once again be a question of character for BVB. After the 2:4 in the first leg, the chances of advancing are not particularly good. However, it must be expected that Borussia will present itself with great determination. The only problem is that in recent weeks, Dortmund has always gone down to defeat after winning.
So it would be another defeat in Glasgow. But last weekend’s 6-0 win over Gladbach was an encouragement, while Rangers struggled at Dundee United in the Premier League.
If Marco Rose’s team want to progress, the only way to do it at Ibrox Park is through absolute will. Let’s see if they have to ask the mentality question again after this match. Even though BVB’s record against Rangers is not particularly good, we expect Borussia to be unleashed. That’s why we have decided to place a bet on the Westphalians progressing between Glasgow Rangers and Dortmund.
