Scottish giants Rangers travel to Amsterdam to face Eredivisie champions Ajax on Wednesday night in their opening Champions League group-stage match of the 2022-23 campaign.
While the hosts will be seeking to bounce back from a heavy Old Firm derby defeat last weekend, the hosts are looking to claim their sixth successive victory in all competitions.
Match preview
© Reuters
Despite losing their manager Erik ten Hag and a host of key players including Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Sebastien Haller over the summer, Ajax have made an impressive start to the new campaign, winning each of their opening five Eredivisie matches.
New recruit Steven Bergwijn scored a brace to help the Dutch outfit secure a comfortable 4-0 home victory over Cambuur last weekend, with Devyne Rensch and Mohammed Kudus also on the scoresheet.
Ajax are rarely tested on the domestic front, but Alfred Schreuder's side are set to face sterner competition in Group A of the Champions League, with fixtures home and away against Rangers, Liverpool and Napoli to come within the next three months.
The three-time European Cup winners head into Wednesday's contest having won all four of their previous competitive meetings with Rangers, including both group-stage encounters in the 1996-97 Champions League.
Ajax, who won all six of their group-stage games in last season's competition, will be keen to make a strong start this term as they bid to progress to the knockout rounds for the third time in five years.
© Reuters
For the first time in 12 years, Rangers will be competing in the Champions League group stage, after beating Union SG and PSV Eindhoven over two legs in the qualification rounds.
While there is plenty of excitement in returning to Europe's elite club competition, morale within the Ibrox camp was dealt a blow last weekend after they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat in the Old Firm derby away at rivals Celtic.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst stated that he and his side need to reflect on their "very disappointing" performance at Parkhead, but they have little time to put things right on the training pitch as a busy schedule of four games in 11 days is on the horizon.
Last season's Europa League finalists head to Amsterdam having won each of their previous two visits to the Netherlands, including the slender 1-0 second-leg triumph over PSV in the playoff round last month.
Van Bronckhorst – a 2010 World Cup runner-up with 106 caps as a player for the Netherlands – will be returning to familiar territory on Wednesday, although his managerial record against Ajax leaves a little to be desired, having won only two of his previous 10 meetings against them during his time in charge of Feyenoord.
Rangers have advanced from the group stage in just one of their 10 previous participations in the Champions League – doing so in the 2005-06 season – and a victory in midweek would boost their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds this term.
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
- D
- W
- W
- W
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Ajax boss Schreuder has confirmed that left-back Owen Wijndal will miss Wednesday's games with an ankle injury, while midfielder Mohamed Ihattaren remains sidelined due to fitness issues.
Kenneth Taylor could be recalled to the first XI ahead of Davy Klaassen, while Kudus and Florian Grillitsch will also be pushing to feature in centre-midfield, the latter of whom is yet to make his debut for the club following his free transfer from Hoffenheim.
Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey, who Rangers sold to Ajax for a club-record fee earlier this summer, in set to start at centre-back alongside Jurrien Timber, shielding 38-year-old goalkeeper Remko Pasveer.
Bergwijn – who has incredibly never scored in 28 appearances in major European competition – is expected to start in a front three alongside captain Dusan Tadic and Brian Brobbey, with new arrival Lucas Ocampos an attacking option on the substitutes' bench.
As for Rangers, Tom Lawrence missed the Old Firm derby with a knee injury and Van Bronckhorst revealed before last weekend's game that the attacker is set for a least a few weeks on the sidelines.
Centre-back trio Ben Davies, John Souttar and Filip Helander also remain out with injuries, as do attackers Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi.
Goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin made a mistake to gift Celtic their fourth goal last weekend, but the Scotsman is expected to retain his place between the sticks ahead of 40-year-old Allan McGregor, who started Rangers' last Champions League game back in 2010.
Alfredo Morelos returned to the matchday squad and came on as a substitute in the second half against Celtic, and the Colombian may have to settle for a place on the bench again in midweek, with Antonio Colak expected to get the nod up front after scoring seven goals in 10 games since joining the Gers this summer.
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Pasveer; Rensch, Timber, Bassey, Blind; Taylor, Alvarez, Berghuis; Tadic, Brobbey, Bergwijn
Rangers possible starting lineup:
McLaughlin; Tavernier, Goldson, Sands, Barisic; Jack, Lundstram, Kamara; Tillman, Colak, Kent
We say: Ajax 2-1 Rangers
Considering their bright start to the new season and the advantage of playing in front of their own fans, Ajax will be regarded as the favourites for Wednesday's contest, although Rangers tend to thrive on the European stage and should not be underestimated.
The Gers will be desperate to respond with a strong performance after last weekend's defeat, but we can see the hosts kick-starting their group-stage campaign with maximum points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
