Aris Limassol will face off against Rangers in the second round of group-stage fixtures in this year’s Europa League.
Match Preview
The Scottish outfit will be without manager Michael Beale, who recently departed after a defeat to Aberdeen.
Aris Limassol, on the other hand, is looking to secure their first points of the group after a loss to Real Betis.
Having won their first-ever Cypriot First Division title last season, Aris Limassol entered the Champions League qualifying bid but dropped out of contention after a defeat against Rakow Czestochowa.
They now find themselves in the Europa League playoff round. After a tough battle against Slovan Bratislava, Aris Limassol secured their spot in the group stage by triumphing 7-4 on aggregate.
In their previous Europa League match, Aris Limassol faced Sparta Prague, where they had a promising start. However, they couldn’t hold on to their lead and suffered a 3-1 defeat.
Since then, their domestic campaign hasn’t been smooth either, with a draw and a loss in the Cypriot First Division. They are determined to turn things around when they host Rangers.
Rangers, under temporary stewardship of Steven Davis, have had a challenging start to their domestic campaign as well.
After finishing second in the Scottish Premiership last season, they entered the Champions League qualifying rounds but failed to progress.
They are now focused on the Europa League and began their group campaign with a victory over Real Betis.
However, Rangers’ winning streak was interrupted by a defeat against Aberdeen, resulting in the departure of manager Michael Beale.
With 12 points from seven league outings, they aim to bounce back and secure consecutive wins in the Europa League group stage. The team will heavily rely on Abdallah Sima, who has been impressive this season.
Both teams are eager to earn points in this crucial encounter. Aris Limassol will present a tough challenge for Rangers, but with their talented squad and determination, Rangers have a good chance of securing victory.
Predicted Starting Lineups:
Aris Limassol:
Vana;
Boakye, Brorsson, Urosevic, Caju;
Struski, Szoke;
Babicka, Kokorin, Bengtsson;
Stepinski
Rangers:
Butland;
Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Yilmaz;
Cifuentes, Lundstram, Jack;
Lammers, Dessers, Sima
Prediction: Aris Limassol 1-2 Rangers