Rangers v Lech Poznan: Is it on TV, who to watch, form guide, Europa League preview, last match

Rangers will put a commendable European record on the line when Lech Poznan visit Ibrox on Thursday night in matchday two of the UEFA Europa League group stage.
Lech celebrate after winning their Europa League play-off with Sporting Charleroi  (Photo by LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)Lech celebrate after winning their Europa League play-off with Sporting Charleroi  (Photo by LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
Lech celebrate after winning their Europa League play-off with Sporting Charleroi (Photo by LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Steven Gerrard’s side have been imperious in continental competition and are riding high domestically too.

But the Polish side visit the south side of Glasgow aiming to be the first to register a group stage win at Ibrox in 10 years.

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The last side to win a European group stage match on Edmiston Drive was Manchester United, 1-0, on November 24, 2010 when Walter Smith was still in charge of the Gers.

Poznan's Thomas Rogne has previous in Scotland (Photo credit should read VIRGINIE LEFOUR/AFP via Getty Images)Poznan's Thomas Rogne has previous in Scotland (Photo credit should read VIRGINIE LEFOUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Poznan's Thomas Rogne has previous in Scotland (Photo credit should read VIRGINIE LEFOUR/AFP via Getty Images)

Match details

Who: Rangers v Lech Poznan

What: UEFA Europa League – Group D

Where: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow

When: 8pm, Thursday October 29

How to watch

As with last week, BT Sports have the rights to the game and will be screening the Group D encounter on BT Sport 3 (Sky channel 869) straight from kick-off at 8pm. However, the pundit line-up and pre-match preview will likely kick-off from Ibrox a lot earlier based on last week’s production. Celtic are away at Lille with kick-off at 5.55pm and the game will be screened immediately before Rangers’ clash. Last week the pundits for both games pitched up at the Glasgow venue to analyse the away match before turning attention to the live action in front of them, and that could well be the plan again.

Alternatively Rangers TV will be offering audio coverage via their subscription packages.

Who to Watch

Thomas Rogne will be a familiar face for Rangers fans among the Poznan ranks, after the Norwegian’s three years at Celtic Park, where he played 65 games including one Old Firm game in March 2012, which he scored in, but which ended in a 3-2 defeat for the Hoops.

The defender hasn’t played since earlier this month and his injury co-incided with Lech’s slump, but he returned to training last midweek so could be fit for selection.

Elsewhere there are high hopes for young midfielders Filip Marchwiński and Jakub Moder who has scored three times already this season, placing him second top goalscorer behind Swedish striker Mikael Ishak.

Opposition Form

Lech have not won since October 4, following a purple patch of 15 goals and five wins. However, since then they’ve lost and drawn in the league and were hammered at home by Benfica in matchday one of the group stages.

It has been an indifferent start to the season for Dariusz Zuraw’s side, who sit tenth in the Polish Ekstraklasa with nine points from seven games – a far cry from the start Steven Gerrard’s Rangers team have made to the 2020-21 campaign.

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Previous Meetings

Rangers have never faced Lech Poznan, a fact highlighted by Steven Gerrard in the aftermath of the group-stage draw.

The Gers have only faced Polish opposition eight times and have won four – the most recent being the 1-0 aggregate win over Legia Warsaw at the play-off stage last year. In an explosive match at Ibrox, Alfredo Morelos fired a last-gasp winner to send Rangers into the group stage. The visiting fans lit up Ibrox with their banners and flares, but there will be no supporters permitted this week for Poznan's visit.

Prior to that, Rangers’ last win in Poland was 5-0 against Amica Wronki in the UEFA Cup of 2004-05 with Alex McLeish at the helm.

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