Rangers Europa League rivals Sparta Prague in talisman blow

Rangers Europa League tie with Sparta Prague isn’t quite do or die, however, it will go a long way in securing knockout football for either side.

Both teams are level on four points after the draw in Prague and a win at Ibrox will give the victors a solid platform with Aris Limassol still to be played again.

Philippe Clement and Rangers will accept any bit of luck that they can get and Sparta Prague’s manager, Brian Priske, has given his former colleague a timely boost, as reported by The Herald.

Rangers given Sparta Prague Europa League lift
The Czech outfit’s captain Ladislav Krejci isn’t quite as influential as James Tavernier in terms of sheer numbers but the best comparison to make is Celtic’s Callum McGregor.

He is their metronome, the player who dictates the tempo and makes his team tick.

Speaking ahead of the group stage game on matchweek four, Priske told the media that he will have to make do without his talismanic skipper:

“Every player that we can’t use and is unavailable due to injury, we miss. At the moment we are without Ladislav Krejci.

“We all know about the qualities of Ladislav, but he is simply not available at the moment. But that’s football.”

Philippe Clement is starting to get players back fit again although there will be some missing from the Europa League squad due to mis-management and a poor transfer plan, but the less said about that the better.

With no Krejci, Rangers have a real chance to put Sparta Prague under pressure in the engine room and will look to secure midfield dominance.

Philippe Clement wants his side to be aggressive, to win the ball back as soon as possible and to dictate play even against the best opposition, with no captain running things, he will be fully aware of the opportunity that has presented itself.

An opportunity that means if Rangers can beat Sparta Prague, they will already have won foot in European football after Christmas.