Rangers trio sweating on potential quarter-final ban ahead of Europa League showdown with Slavia Prague

Borna Barisic is a booking away from missing out on the first leg of Rangers’ potential appearance in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Borna Barisic celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot for Rangers in their 5-2 Europa League win against Royal Antwerp at Ibrox. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

The Croatian international left-back collected his second caution of this season’s tournament when Rangers drew 1-1 away to Slavia Prague in the first leg of their round of 16 tie last week. The 28-year-old was previously booked in the first leg of the last 32 tie against Royal Antwerp.

It means Barisic joins midfielder Glen Kamara and forward Kemar Roofe on the UEFA suspension threshold. If any of that trio receive another yellow card in the second leg against the Czech champions at Ibrox on Thursday night, they would be suspended for the first leg of the last eight tie if Rangers progress.

Barisic has been one of the stand-out performers in the Europa League for Steven Gerrard’s side this season, playing in all 12 of their matches in the tournament so far and scoring three goals.

Defender Leon Balogun, who missed the first leg in Prague because of suspension, will return to Gerrard’s squad on Thursday.

Slavia will be without central defender David Zima at Ibrox after the highly regarded 20-year-old picked up his third booking of this season’s competition for a foul on Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos last week.

Any players with cautions to their name will carry them into the quarter-finals if their team goes through. But all bookings are wiped from the record by UEFA on completion of the last eight ties with players starting out with a clean slate again from that stage onwards.

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