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First leg score: RB Leipzig 1-0 Rangers
Rangers have won 13 of 24 home matches against German opposition. The Light Blues have been eliminated on 21 occasions, out of 27, when losing the first leg away from home. This includes defeat to Malmö in August, but they did overturn a 1-0 deficit to beat Braga in the previous round.
RB Leipzig have only lost three of 11 Europa League away games, one of which took place across Glasgow at Celtic Park in 2018. Die Roten Bullen have advanced through three of four UEFA ties when winning at home first, the exception coming against Marseille four years ago.
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Both teams to score is 7/10.
James Tavernier has scored six times in the knockout stages, making him the Europa League’s joint-top scorer. He is 17/2 to break the deadlock and 11/4 to add to this tally.
Christopher Nkunku has scored ten goals in UEFA competition this season. He is 5/1 to open the scoring and 6/4 to net anytime.
Match preview
A week ago, in truth, the first leg in Saxony wasn’t much to shout about, with little notable goalmouth incidents.
After having numerous first half efforts blocked, RB Leipzig finally fashioned a clear opening, falling to their talisman Christopher Nkunku.
The Frenchman burst in-behind, rounded Allan McGregor, but could only blaze miles over the crossbar.
Then, five minutes from time, they did make the breakthrough; Calvin Bassey headed a corner away, but it was spectacularly volleyed home by Angeliño.
So, 1-0 it finished in Saxony to the Bundesliga club, but that lead is far from unassailable, particularly with 50,000+ roaring on Rangers.
This is RB Leipzig’s second European semi-final in three seasons, falling to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League’s last four in 2020.
Since being controversially founded 12 years ago, die Roten Bullen have never won a major trophy, but are well on course to change that this month.
They’ve reached a their third DFB-Pokal Final in just four seasons and will take on Freiburg at Olympiastadion on 21 May.
In Europe, Domenico Tedesco’s team have overcome both Real Sociedad and Atalanta, winning the second leg on the road in both ties.
Since Tedesco took over in early-December, they’ve won 11 of 18 Bundesliga games, climbing from way up to the Champions League places.
In fact, of teams from Europe’s top-five ranked leagues, only Liverpool boast a better win rate in 2022 than Leipzig’s 70%.
Although, they’ve now dropped down to fifth having now lost back-to-back league games, including a 3-1 defeat at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Monday.
Nevertheless, the visitors are very much firm favourites to reach the final, but Rangers will feel they can beat anyone with the Ibrox crowd behind them.
To get this far, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have already dumped out Borussia Dortmund, Crvena zvezda and Braga in the knockout phase.
Thus, they’re the first Scottish club to reach a European semi-final since themselves being UEFA Cup runners-up 14 years ago.
In the Premiership, the Light Blues remain six points behind Celtic after a 1-1 Old Firm draw on Sunday; Fashion Sakala equalising in that one.
Rangers fans have one cup final to look forward to this month, a Hampden date with Hearts, but are still dreaming of converging on Seville three days earlier.
Who will be celebrating in Glasgow, with West Ham United or Eintracht Frankfurt awaiting at Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán on 18 May?
Rangers team news
Giovanni van Bronckhorst named a strong team for Sunday’s Glasgow derby and was rewarded with an impressive performance, especially in the second half.
Glen Kamara and Ryan Jack were the only two guaranteed starters rotated out, but both will return to midfield, in place of Steven Davis and Scott Arfield.
Aaron Ramsey isn’t likely to feature after hobbling off during the Scottish Cup semi-final on Easter Sunday.
In attack, with Alfredo Morelos injured and Kemar Roofe a doubt, Joe Aribo could continue to fill the void at centre-forward.
Ryan Kent will continue on the left-wing with either Scott Wright or Fashion Sakala completing the forward line.
Calvin Bassey will keep his place at centre-back, chosen over Leon Balogun, due to Borna BariÅ¡ić’s improved form at left-back.
40 year old goalkeeper will make his 106th appearance in UEFA competition; he missed the 2008 UEFA Cup Final due to injury.
RB Leipzig team news
Christopher Nkunku is RB Leipzig’s danger man having scored a staggering 30 goals this season, including ten in UEFA competition.
His hat-trick against Manchester City during the group stages means he’s the fourth player to score a Champions League hat-trick but lose the game.
The others are Ronaldo (2003), Gareth Bale (2010) and Ä°rfan Can Kahveci (2020), the latter scoring his against Leipzig for Ä°stanbul BaÅŸakÅŸehir.
Centre-backs Willi Orbán and Mohamed Simakan as well as midfielder Kevin Kampl all sat out the first leg due to suspension.
Orbán and Kampl are guaranteed to return to the XI, probably at the expense of Marcel Halstenberg and Tyler Adams respectively.
Nkunku was partnered by Dominik Szoboszlai in the first leg but out-and-out centre-forward André Silva could start this time.
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