Europa League: Red Bulls in the Driving Seat for Final

Rangers FC vs RB Leipzig

Move over, Max Verstappen, because the Red Bulls of Leipzig are in the driving seat to make their first European final in club history. They have a 1-0 lead to protect as they head to Ibrox for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie.

Rangers’ resilient defensive effort in the first leg away from home almost paid off, but a brilliant goal by Angelino five minutes from time gave the Germans a crucial advantage.

The Europa League 2022 betting odds still won’t be in the Scottish side’s favour for the second leg. But the Gers have been excellent at home, and they will be hoping the Ibrox crowd can provide them with the energy to overcome the Red Bulls.

Talking Points

Rangers hoping for Roofe return

Rangers were so close to getting a goalless draw in the first leg in Leipzig, which would have been a fine result for them. They had held RB Leipzig out for 85 minutes with a terrific defensive display.

But unfortunately for Gers, Angelino popped up with a fabulous volley – without a doubt one of the top Europa League 2022 highlights to date – to give the Germans a late winner.

Rangers’ Giovanni van Bronkhorst made a wise decision to switch to a back five in order to neutralise Leipzig’s 3-4-1-2 system, and it worked for the most part. Despite surrendering over 70 per cent of possession, they allowed just 10 total shots and four on target.

van Bronkhorst’s side only mustered one shot on target themselves, though, as they missed their top two strikers, Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe.

While Morelos is out for the season, there’s still a chance Roofe can return for the second leg, which would be a huge boost for Rangers.

Rangers have a terrific scoring record at home in the Europa League this season. They have scored 13 goals in seven games at Ibrox, with five wins, a draw and a loss.

Captain and right-back James Tavernier is the team’s leading scorer in this Europa League campaign with six goals, five of which have come at home.

Red Bulls more dangerous on the road

RB Leipzig will come into their semi-final second leg against Rangers on the back of a disappointing 3-1 defeat away to Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga. The Red Bulls have now suffered back-to-back defeats in the league for the first time under coach Domenico Tedesco.

Tedesco fielded more or less his first-choice side against Gladbach, but his players were perhaps a bit distracted by their big semi-final second leg.

On the bright side for Leipzig, Christopher Nkunku finally got a goal to snap his four-game drought. The French forward is now on 31 goals on the season, with 14 assists. Nkunku was lively in the first leg with a team-high four shots, and he will once again be Leipzig’s danger man in Glasgow.

Dominik Szoboszlai partnered Nkunku in the first leg, but it remains to be seen whether Tedesco will pick the young Hungarian again. Andre Silva started against Gladbach and is returning to a bit of form with a goal and an assist in his last two starts.

Prior to their loss to Gladbach, Leipzig had won each of their last eight away games, scoring four or more goals on four occasions. They comfortably won their two Europa League away legs against Real Sociedad (1-3) and Atalanta (0-2).

History

Rangers have a fine home record against German opposition. They have won 13 of 24 games in Glasgow, with seven draws and four defeats. They drew 2-2 with Borussia Dortmund at home, but they still went through 6-4 on aggregate after their stunning 2-4 win in Dortmund.

As for Leipzig, this will be only their second trip to Glasgow. They faced Celtic in the Europa League group stage in 2018 and lost 2-1.

Betting Tip

SBOTOP odds have Leipzig priced as 2.03 favourites to continue their fine away form and win the second leg. Rangers have 3.45 odds to win at home, while a draw is 3.35.

As great as Rangers have been in this year’s tournament, they will have an uphill battle against Leipzig. They can’t afford to be as defensive as they were in the first leg and need to go out and look for a goal. But with Roofe possibly out or likely not fully fit even if he does play, they will once again have a tough time.

And if they leave any space at the back, the Red Bulls’ quality attackers – Nkunku, Silva, Dani Olmo – have the quality to punish them. That’s exactly what I see happening in the second leg as Leipzig beat Rangers to reach their first-ever European final.

 

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