Rangers, looking to end a six-game winless streak, will host European-battling Aberdeen at Ibrox Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the Scottish Premiership.
The hosts have already secured a second-placed finish in the league, while the visitors are fighting to ensure European qualification for next campaign.
Match preview
© IconSport
Rangers may be confirmed to finish second in the Scottish Premiership standings, but it has been a largely underwhelming and challenging campaign for the Gers as a whole.
Under Philippe Clement‘s management, Rangers recorded only 22 points from their opening 12 league matches, marking their worst start to a top-flight campaign since their return in 2016-17, leaving them 12 points adrift of Celtic at the top of the table – a gap they never managed to close.
Although they improved over the remainder of the regular season, with 13 wins, four draws and four losses in their next 21 league games, repeated periods of inconsistency and disappointing results ultimately led to the dismissal of the Belgian coach.
Clement was swiftly succeeded by Barry Ferguson, who has been appointed as interim manager until the end of the season, and the former Gers midfielder has been aiming to stake his claim for the permanent role.
Ferguson made an encouraging start, winning four of his first six games and guiding Rangers to the Europa League quarter-finals, but the Gers have since gone winless in their last six matches.
Rangers have lost two and drawn four of those games, featuring an elimination from the Europa League at the hands of Athletic Bilbao and back-to-back draws at the start of the post-split season.
Rather remarkably, the interim boss has yet to secure a win at Ibrox, with three losses and two draws to his name – a record that Ferguson will be eager to end when they host Aberdeen on Sunday.
While a victory on Sunday, as well as in the following two fixtures, cannot move the Gers from second place in the Scottish Premiership, Ferguson will still be hoping for a strong finish to the season to boost his chances of securing the permanent role at Ibrox.
© Imago
Their opponents, however, will be highly motivated heading into the encounter, as Aberdeen continue their fight for European qualification through the Scottish Premiership standings.
The Dons, in stark contrast to the hosts, enjoyed a sensational start to the season, with new boss Jimmy Thelin not tasting defeat in his first 16 matches in charge of the club, managing 15 wins and one draw.
However, their fortunes would quickly take a dramatic turn, as Aberdeen embarked on a miserable run of just two wins in 17 games, including a 14-match winless streak in the Scottish Premiership.
Thelin was able to steer the team out of their rut just in time to avoid dropping out of the top six, securing four wins, three draws and only one loss in their last eight league games to ensure a top-half finish in the table.
The positive momentum continued as they defeated Hearts 2-1 in extra-time of the Scottish FA Cup semi-final, booking a Hampden Park matchup with Celtic at the end of May, while they opened their post-split fixtures with a 1-0 win over Hibernian.
However, a 1-0 loss to St Mirren in their most recent match means they head into this clash sat fourth in the table, three points behind Hibernian in the Europa League qualifying place but only three points ahead of Dundee United.
Aberdeen will be eager to end the season on a positive note to ensure European football for next season, but a tough finish to the campaign awaits them, with clashes against Rangers, Celtic and a potential Europe-qualifying showdown with Dundee Utd on the final day.
Looking to kick off their three-game run-in on a high, Aberdeen will need to overcome Rangers at Ibrox for only the second time in 15 meetings, having won one, drawn two, and lost 11 of the last 14 clashes.
Team News
© Imago
Dujon Sterling and Ridvan Yilmaz have both been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to injury issues, while Tom Lawrence is also a doubt for the Gers.
Mohammed Diomande and Ianis Hagi, who himself started on the bench, were both taken off in the 1-1 draw with Celtic last weekend due to injury problems, meaning Nedim Bajrami could drop into midfield with Hamza Igamane returning to the starting 11.
The rest of the side that started in that draw is expected to feature against Aberdeen, with the Gers producing another encouraging performance against their Old Firm rivals.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen are anticipated to be without the services of up to five players for Sunday’s clash, including Ester Sokler, Gavin Molloy, Kristers Tobers, Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Vicente Besuijen.
A lacklustre attacking performance in last week’s 1-0 loss to St Mirren could see Thelin opt to make several forward changes in this one, meaning the likes of Pape Habib Gueye and Oday Dabbagh could start.
Rangers possible starting lineup:
Kelly; Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Jefte; Bajrami, Barron, Raskin; Cerny, Igamane, Dessers
Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Mitov; Devlin, Dorrington, Knoester, Shinnie; Palaversa, Clarkson; Morris, Dabbagh, Gueye; Nisbet
We say: Rangers 2-1 Aberdeen
Aberdeen’s away record this season has left a lot to be desired, with only 19 points from a possible 51, and with Ferguson eager to secure his debut Ibrox victory, we expect the hosts to triumph.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
