It's time for cup football and it's the Europa League Group Stage between Rangers and Young Boys. Here's the biggest preview available before kick-off:
There haven't been much time to rest for the hosts, as they played a League Cup match only four days ago. This match was also played here at Ibrox. With two consecutive home games the intense schedule is somewhat softened. Still, Young Boys have had more rest.
This pitch has grass, which is not Young Boys's usual surface at their own ground. When playing on grass Young Boys have performed like this: Played 35 matches resulting in 21 wins, 5 draws and 9 defeats with the goal stats 72-54 (scored/conceded).
Young Boys have a very long trip to this away game, as there's more than 1500 kilometers in distance to cover. This could prove a challenge, at least for the supporters.
Rangers form and stats
Rangers was eliminated in the group stage last season in the Europa League.Rangers haven’t lost a game in eleven attempts regardless of arena, a great achievement. Their last loss was the fixture versus Celtic, 102 days ago. Ever since the Celtic game Rangers has been unbeatable here at Ibrox producing five straight wins.
The Rangers fans got no joy from their last match, a League Cup game also here at Ibrox: A 0-1 defeat against Celtic. A 2-2 draw away in the Premiership before that, with Aberdeen the opponent.
The hosts are modest favourites in this match, with the bookmakers estimating the chance of a home win at about 50% +- five percent. It's interesting to look at how Rangers have performed under similar circumstances, so here are some numbers: When modest favourites like this (we found one game) they have won 0 times, drawn 1 and lost 0.
There will be little rest for Rangers after this match as they are travelling to Motherwell for a Premiership game in only three days.
Young Boys form and stats
Young Boys was sent out of Champions League in the play-offs last season.The visitors are W4-D2-L2 on the road this term. That's in the Super League.
The supporters enjoyed Young Boys's previous game versus Luzern, a Super League 1-0 win played at home. It was a Super League defeat before that one as the away game against Basel wasn't a success with a 0-3 loss.
We have checked recent matches where Young Boys have had similar odds to win. Win-draw-lose statistics from those two games were W0-D1-L1.
There might be some complaints about the fixture list from the Young Boys manager G. Seoane as the team has another away game coming up in only three days, this time against Lugano.
The travelling fans enjoy Young Boys's attacking play in away games, having scored 15 goals in 8 league matches away. Defensive performances away have varied in quality as Young Boys have conceded 14 goals on the road. For more goal statistics, check out the Statistics tab above.
Head 2 Head
This is the result when the teams met earlier this season; Young Boys - Rangers 2-1.Top Goalscorers
  J. Nsamé 15 goals |   J. Defoe 10 goals |  A. Morelos 10 goals |
Rangers missing players
Young Boys missing players
| Rangers | Young Boys | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 17 | 10 | Won | W | 5 | 15 | ||
| 5 | 0 | Drew | D | 4 | 6 | ||
| 3 | 2 | Lost | L | 3 | 4 | ||
| 55 | 30 | Scored | S | 29 | 63 | ||
| 15 | 6 | Conceded | C | 20 | 34 | ||
| 96% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | ||
| 76% | 75% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 92% | 92% | ||
| 56% | 58% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 67% | 68% | ||
| 40% | 42% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 42% | 48% | ||
| 12% | 25% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 25% | 28% | ||
| 36% | 25% | BTTS | BTTS | 67% | 64% | ||
| 56% | 58% | Clean Sheets | C S | 17% | 28% | ||
| 12% | 17% | Failed to Score | F T | 17% | 8% | ||
| 5.8 | 6.9 | Corners For (avg) | C F | 5.9 | 6.3 | ||
| 2.9 | 2.9 | Corners Against (avg) | C A | 3.9 | 4.6 | ||
| 1.6 | 1.6 | Yellow Cards (avg) | Y C | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1 | 1 | Red Cards | R C | 0 | 0 | ||
| 364 | 191 | Total Shots | T S | 173 | 377 | ||
| 148 | 82 | Shots on Target | S O | 73 | 145 | ||
| 37% | 37% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 40% | 43% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Rangers | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
| 2 | Young Boys | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 3 | Porto | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -2 | 7 |
| 4 | Feyenoord | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -1 | 5 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Young Boys | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 39 | 24 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 37 |
| 2 | Basel | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 40 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 25 | 36 |
| 3 | St. Gallen | 17 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 41 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 13 | 19 | 35 |
| 4 | Zürich | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 31 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 11 | -11 | 27 |
| 5 | Servette | 17 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 26 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 24 |
| 6 | Lugano | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 19 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 10 | -1 | 20 |
| 7 | Sion | 17 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 24 | 34 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 18 | -10 | 20 |
| 8 | Luzern | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 15 | 26 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 13 | -11 | 15 |
| 9 | Neuchâtel Xamax | 17 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 19 | 31 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 16 | -12 | 13 |
| 10 | Thun | 17 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 38 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 17 | -23 | 9 |