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Match preview

Rangers are back in the Champions League group stages, so will this matchday one clash be an occasion to remember?

The Light Blues reached last season’s Europa League Final, agonisingly losing on penalties to Frankfurt, so had to come through two qualifiers last month.

First, following a 2-0 defeat in Belgium, Rangers battled back and ousted Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 3-0 at Ibrox.

Then, they disposed of PSV in the play-off round; Antonio Čolak with the only goal on a momentous night in Eindhoven.

So, this’ll be the Gers’ first Champions League group game since a 1-1 draw with Bursaspor 12 years ago,

However, safe to say that Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team don’t come into this one in the best shape.

But, having won in Eindhoven just a fortnight ago, they’ll believe another famous victory in the Netherlands is possible.

As for Ajax, this is their fifth successive season in these group stages, reaching the semi-finals in 2019 and the round of 16 last last year.

However, the Eredivisie champions have lost their manager, Erik ten Hag, and €240+ million worth of talent this summer.

Lisandro Martínez and Antony have joined Manchester United, Noussair Mazraoui and Ryan Gravenberch have gone to Bayern, while André Onana, Nicolás Tagliafico and Sébastien Haller are also gone.

Among the contingent of new signings is Calvin Bassey, who will be up against his former employers quicker than he would’ve imagined.

So, despite the fact Ajax have won all five games this season, including Saturday’s 4-0 victory over Cambuur, they’re a bit of an unknown quantity.

Who will win this mouth-watering clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena?