Royal Antwerp v Rangers: Is it on TV, kick-off time, online stream details, who to watch, form guide, Europa League odds

Rangers' Kemar Roofe celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Europa League first-leg Group D football match between Standard Liege and Glasgow Rangers FC at Maurice-Dufrasne stadium in Liege, on October 22, 2020. (Photo by BRUNO FAHY/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images)

Steven Gerrard’s team qualified as group winners from a tricky section including Benfica, Lech Poznan and fellow Belgian Jupiler League side Standard Liege.

The last time Rangers were in Belgium Kemar Roofe’s halfway-line wonder goal stunned their hosts and Rangers will take another wonder-goal – or any goal really – if it results in another 2-0 win.

Match details

Who: Royal Antwerp v Rangers

What: UEFA Europa League – knock-out stage – round of 32

Where: Bosuilstadion, Antwerp

When: 8pm, Thursday February 18, 2021

Rangers FC's head coach Steven Gerrard gives a press conference on the eve of their match against Belgian club Standard de Liege on the first day of the group phase (group D) of the UEFA Europa League football competition, in Liege on October 21, 2020. (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR/Belga/AFP via Getty Images)

How to watch

BT Sports have the European football right in the UK which means it’s BT Sport 3 (Sky channel 413) for Rangers fans. The programme begins at 7.30pm and will also be available to stream via the BT Sport app.

Viewers with an EE mobile phone could be able to tune in free with an offer from the company, by texting SPORT to 150.

Opposition Form

Standard's Zinho Vanheusden and Kemar Roofe fight for the ball (Photo by BRUNO FAHY/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Things have been rocky for Antwerp since the draw was made. Ivan Leko, their then manager has departed to China, and then winger Lamkel Ze tried to force a move by turning up to training in rivals’ Anderlecht kit. However on-the-field things have been a bit smoother and the Great Old have moved from seventh into second in the Jupiler League with seven wins in 10 games under new boss Franky Vercauteren.

Steven Gerrard’s prediction comes true as Rangers face tricky Europa league test against Royal Antwerp

Who to Watch

Lamakel Ze has knuckled down since his training kit stunt and scored five goals since the turn of the year – but is suspended for the first leg on Thursday. Ze took on the goalscoring mantle of midfielder Lior Refaelov who hit seven in the first half of the season and will likely be the Great Old’s biggest threat to Steven Gerrard’s side. His seven-goal haul rivals veteran Dieumerci Mbokani on eight goals but the striker has been sidelined with a calf injury and is unlikely to feature against Rangers.

Previous Meetings

Rangers have never met Royal Antwerp an have a good record over Belgian sides generally. Only one defeat to Standard Liege – winning 4-1 in 1962 blots the copybook.

Of course Rangers won the October match 2-0 thanks to James Tavernier’s penalty and Kemar Roofe’s wonder-goal, and then won 3-2 at Ibrox ina dramatic game in December.

Other meetings with Belgian sides have seen wins over Anderlecht 5-2 and 2-0 in 1959 and a home win over Club Brugge in the 1992-93 Champions League group stage coupled with a 1-1 draw in Belgium.

Odds

Royal Antwerp 13/5 (Boylesports) Draw 13/5 (betway) Rangers 21/20(bet365/ William Hill)

First goalscorers include James Tavernier 15/2 (M cBookie), Ryan Kent 19/2 (M cBookie) and Alfredo Moreos 9/2 (bet365)

A draw at half-time and Rangers win at full-time is 9/2 (M cBookie, bet365 and William Hill)

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