Rangers will face Hearts in an eagerly anticipated Scottish Premiership match on Sunday as Paul Clement aims to maintain his unbeaten start as the manager of the Gers.
Match Preview
After securing a point in the Europa League against Sparta Prague with a goalless draw, Rangers continued their undefeated run under Clement.
Last weekend, they showcased an impressive performance, defeating Hibernian 4-0, thanks to goals from Abdallah Sima, Nicolas Raskin, and Cyriel Dessers.
This victory helped Rangers stay in close pursuit of Celtic, although they currently trail by seven points.
To bridge this gap, Rangers need to put in more work despite their mixed results at home, with three wins and two defeats so far.
However, their attacking prowess has been evident, having scored 10 goals in their last five matches.
On the other hand, Hearts have faced some challenges recently, having failed to secure a victory in their last two games.
They drew against Hibernian and suffered a 4-1 defeat against Celtic.
The Jambos’ main concern lies in their defensive performance, as they conceded four goals in their last match.
Hearts’ lack of goals has also been a problem, with only three goals scored in their four away games.
However, their ability to limit goals conceded on the road may pose a challenge for Rangers.
Recent form:
Rangers Scottish Premiership form:
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Rangers form (all competitions):
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Hearts Scottish Premiership form:
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Hearts form (all competitions):
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Team News:
Rangers are likely to maintain their defensive lineup, considering their clean sheets in Clement’s previous two games.
Borna Barisic is expected to remain unavailable due to injury.
Hearts, on the other hand, have their own injury concerns. Stephen Kingsley is currently sidelined with a groin problem, while Craig Gordon, Craig Halkett, Barrie McKay, and Nathaniel Atkinson are also unavailable.
However, Alex Cochrane has returned to full fitness and should feature in the starting lineup.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Rangers:
Butland;
Tavernier, Souttar, Goldson, Davies;
Raskin, Lundstram, Sima, Lammers, Cantwell;
Dessers
Hearts:
Clark;
Sibbick, Kent, Rowles, Cochrane;
Nieuwenhof, Devlin;
Forrest, Lowry, Vargas;
Shankland
Prediction:
Rangers cannot afford any slip-ups if they want to keep up the pressure on Celtic. With their impressive attacking qualities, Rangers may exploit Hearts’ defensive vulnerabilities.
- We predict a 3-0 victory for Rangers against Hearts.