Rangers confirmed starting XI vs Porto: 5 changes as Danny Rohl rotates squad with one eye on Hibs clash
Danny Rohl has named his Rangers starting line-up to face FC Porto in their final Europa League fixture at the Estádio do Dragão
Danny Rohl has named his Rangers starting XI to face FC Porto in this evening’s final Europa League clash at the Estádio do Dragão in northern Portugal (KO: 8pm BST).
With the Ibrox side already eliminated from the competition, only goal difference is keeping the Portuguese giants out of a place in the top eight as both teams prepare to round off their League Phase campaign.
The Light Blues have a number of academy players making up the travelling squad with their fate already sealed and head coach Rohl could be tempted to give some youngsters valuable game time against a former powerhouse of European football.
Rangers’ miserable start to the season resulted in a premature end to their Euro ambitions and they have little to play for, while victory for the hosts is likely to be enough for them to bypass the playoff round.
Team news: 5 changes from Dundee, Rohl reverts to back five
Rohl has made FIVE changes to the Rangers team from the side that ran out 3-0 winners over Dundee at home last weekend.
Max Aarons slots in at right-back, with skipper James Tavernier shuffling across to form a back five, while Mohamed Diomande and Djeidi Gassama return to the fold. Youssef Chermiti has recovered from a bout of illness, while Findlay Curtis is handed a rare start ahead of a proposed loan move to Kilmarnock.
New signings Tochi Chukwuani, Andreas Skov Olsen and Tuur Rommens are ineligible, while Mikey Moore, Thelo Aasgaard and Bojan Miovski drop to the bench along a quarters of youngsters.
What has Max Aarons said pre-match?
“We are coming into the game with eight wins in a row and we want to continue that. If we win, then it takes us into Sunday against Hibs with another good feeling.
“It is a good test for us against a team who are experienced, but we can see how far we have come. At the start of this competition we had difficult moments, but we have had good games and we are confident right now.”
Here's your confirmed starting XI’s ahead of tonight’s European clash in Portugal...
Porto XI:
Diogo Costa (C); Alberto Costa, Jan Bednarek, Jakub Kiwior, Francisco Moura, Alan Varela, Victor Froholdt, Rodrigo Mora, William Gomes, Pepe, Samu Aghehowa
SUBS: Claudio Ramos (GK), Joao Costa (GK), Stephen Eustaquio, Gabri Veiga, Zaidu Sanusi, Pablo Rosario, Borja Sainz, Dominik Prpic, Deniz Gul, Martim Fernandes, Andre Miranda, Gabriel Bras
Rangers XI:
Jack Butland; Max Aarons, James Tavernier (C), Nasser Djiga, Emmanuel Fernandez, Jayden Meghoma, Nicolas Raskin, Mohamed Diomande, Findlay Curtis, Djeidi Gassama, Youssef Chermiti.