Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Ajax, Rangers, Champions League
Ben King
Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s Rangers side begin their 2022/2023 Champions League campaign with a trip to the Netherlands to face Eredivisie champions Ajax.
Rangers aren’t unfamiliar with dutch opposition in this competition this year, as they beat PSV 3-2 over two legs in the final round of qualifying.
After getting all the way to the final of the Europa League last season, the Scottish club will be hoping they can find some similar form this year in Europe’s elite competition.
The two sides come into this game with differing levels of confidence, with the visitors looking to bounce back from a heavy Old Firm derby defeat, and the hosts looking to record their sixth straight win in all competitions.
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Joining Rangers and Ajax in an extremely strong group A are Liverpool and Napoli. It has been labelled by many as this year’s ‘group of death’, and all four teams will know they’ll need to start with three points to have a good chance of making it into the knockouts.
Here is everything you need to know about this evening’s clash between Ajax and Rangers.
Ajax vs Rangers will take place at the Johan Cruijff Arena and kicks off at 5:45pm BST.
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For UK viewers, the game will be shown on BT Sport 4 and can also be live streamed from the BT Sport app, with coverage starting at 5pm BST.
Ajax boss, Alfred Schreuder, has confirmed that both Owen Wijndal and Mohammad Ihattaren will miss tonight’s game with respective ankle and fitness issues.
Defender Calvin Bassey, who Rangers sold to Ajax for a club-record fee earlier this summer, is set to partner Jurrien Timber in defence.
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Rangers were without striker Tom Lawrence in their 4-0 defeat to Celtic, as a result of an injury to his ankle, and Van Bronckhurst has confirmed he is set to be sidelined for a few weeks.
Defensive trio Ben Davies, John Souttar and Filip Helander all remain out with injuries, as do attackers Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi.