Following the departure of Gerrard, Giovanni van Bronckhorst takes charge of his first game for Rangers against Sparta Prague in the Europa League. The match schedules for Thursday at Ibrox Stadium with kickoff at 11 pm.
Both Rangers and Sparta Prague head into this contest off the back of disappointing defeats in their domestic leagues at the weekend. Another loss for either team in Glasgow could end their hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds.
Gerrard had been a regular presence on the touchline for over three years, following his transfer to Aston Villa.
New boss Bronckhorst will need to develop a bond with the squad to help them pick up from where Gerrard left off. This Thursday will see the new Rangers boss take charge of his first competitive match.
Rangers failed to win a point from away games in Lyon and Sparta Prague in Group A of the Europa League but have since won the subsequent two home fixtures against Brondby, who visit Ibrox.
Sparta Prague lost its first match in the Czech First League this season and suffered its heaviest defeat since May 2019 when it was beaten 4-0 at Slovanko on Sunday.
Stefan Vrba admitted his side has a great chance to reach the last 16 of the Europa League with a victory over Rangers tomorrow night.
Rangers vs. Sparta Prague Head to Head
Both sides have one game against each other, with opponents taking the win. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Rangers 1-3 Hibernian
- Rangers 4-2 Ross County
- Brondby 1-1 Rangers
- Motherwell 1-6 Rangers
- Rangers 2-2 Aberdeen
Away
- FC Slavacko 4-0 Sparta Praha
- Sparta Praha 4-2 FK Teplice
- Lyon 3-0 Sparta Praha
- Banik Otrava 2-2 Sparta Praha
- FK Teplice 0-2 Sparta Praha
Rangers Team News
Rangers were dealt another blow with the news that their top scorer Alfredo Morelos will serve the second suspension game for biting Hearts defender, Ofoborh. A 5 pm kick-off at Pittodrie is likely to suit the home side, who have struggled on the road so far this season.
Sparta Prague Team News
Ladislav Krejci will miss Sparta Prague’s home match with Ajax due to illness, while David Moberg Karlsson could not train on Friday. Both players will be unavailable for selection.
Prediction and Odds
Given the new management, we expect a fightback for the home side to seal their win.
- Rangers Win
- Double Chance
- Goals Under 3.5
