Manchester United, at least for one night, returns to what, for now, can also be considered the happy island of a season that, in the Premier League, is becoming a nightmare. The Red Devils return to the field in the Europa League to challenge, in a British derby, the Glasgow Rangers who, like their opponents, in Europe for now are doing rather well. The two teams, with 180 minutes to go in the first phase, are among the top eight (seventh and eighth) and therefore aim to stay there. Much will depend on the Old Trafford challenge that brings these two teams face off again after 15 years but, back then, it was the Champions League and, above all, it was a different Manchester United. This 2024/2025 season is going, with the move from Ten Hag to Amorim, from bad to worse but sometimes the terrible seasons in the league can coincide with those to remember in Europe and, in the Europa League, Manchester United is undefeated. The Red Devils will try to remain so even after hosting the Rangers, who are in good form at home and who in the last two Europa League games have picked up points against both Nice and Tottenham (4 in total), proving to be a real team that, in attack, is discovering with goals the Moroccan talent Hamza Igamane, the real crack of the Scots' season.

Manchester United's shape and key stats

For Manchester United, the 3-1 comeback and rather hard-fought victory against bottom club Southampton was completely erased by yet another KO, the home defeat against Brighton that sent the Red Devils to thirteenth place in the Premier League where defeats are now close to equaling half of the matches played (10 KOs in 22 matches).

In the Europa League, however, the music is different and decidedly better: 3 wins and 3 draws in 6 games with a nice average of 2 goals per game. Always considering only the Europa League and going back in time, Manchester United, at home, is unbeaten in 8 games.

Rangers' shape and key stats

The 5-0 in the Scottish Cup against Fraserburgh makes it clear that Rangers are doing well and, moreover, the current streak of 7 consecutive useful games proves it.

Away from home, the Gers have lost only 1 of their last 10 matches. Their European run, in general, is to be considered good and, in fact, 3 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat are currently worth eighth place while in the Scottish Premier League Rangers are second but 13 points behind the leaders and rival Celtic, beaten however at the beginning of January at Ibrox Stadium for a 3-0 that will remain in the season of the Glasgow blues.

Match Prediction and Tactical Overview

The two teams are playing for direct access to the Round of 16, so it is inevitable that a bit of tactics could also enter into the dynamics that see Rangers arrive with great confidence at the home of a Manchester that is always in a constant effort to get out of the quicksand of this season. The BetMines prediction therefore goes, albeit slightly, on the possibility that, in this match that could be very physical and not very spectacular and technical, there will be no more than 3 goals in total.

• The BetMines algorithm prediction for the Manchester United - Rangers match predicts an Under 3.5 goals at 52%
• The BetMines algorithm prediction for the Manchester United - Rangers match predicts an Over 3.5 goals at 48%

Manchester United Rangers predicted lineups

Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Bayindir; De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot; Diallo, Bruno Fernandes; Zirkzee. Coach: Amorim.

Rangers: (4-2-3-1): Kelly; Yilmaz, Nsiala, Propper, Jefte; Tavernier, Raskin; Cerny, Bajirami, Danilo, Igamane. All: Clement.