Rangers travel to Austria to face Sturm Graz in a crucial Europa League fixture on Thursday night. Russell Martin’s side, under pressure after a poor start to the season, are hoping to find relief in Europe, while Aston Villa prepare for a tough clash against Feyenoord in Rotterdam.
Rangers Seeking Europa League Respite
Rangers manager Russell Martin finally celebrated his first Scottish Premiership win last weekend with a nervy 2-1 victory over Livingston. The win ended the club’s longest domestic drought since 2005, but fans remain unconvinced, with chants calling for his dismissal still echoing after the final whistle.
The former Southampton boss was appointed to restore Rangers’ Champions League ambitions and challenge Celtic for the title. However, his team currently sit eighth in the Premiership, nine points behind surprise leaders Hearts.
Recent Struggles in Europe
European competition has been equally unkind to Rangers this season. They were humiliated in Champions League qualifying, losing 9-1 on aggregate to Club Brugge. Their Europa League opener also ended in disappointment with a 1-0 home defeat to Genk.
Despite reaching the Europa League final in 2022 and last year’s quarter-finals, Rangers face a difficult task in Austria. Another defeat against Sturm Graz, champions of Austria in consecutive seasons, could leave their knockout stage hopes hanging by a thread.
Russell Martin’s Reaction
Speaking after the Livingston victory, Martin emphasized the importance of Max Aarons’ late winner:
“It could be a really big moment for us. I’m proud of how the players fought for each other. We need to keep building, keep improving, and hopefully make everyone happy with results.”
While the manager refuses to focus on fan unrest, he knows that results in Europe will be key to changing the atmosphere around the club.
Sturm Graz vs Rangers: What’s at Stake
The new Europa League format allows the top 24 teams out of 36 to reach the knockout rounds. However, with Sturm Graz strong at home and Rangers struggling for consistency, this match could determine the Scots’ fate in the competition.
Aston Villa vs Feyenoord: A European Test
Elsewhere, Aston Villa travel to the Netherlands for a clash with unbeaten Eredivisie leaders Feyenoord. After a difficult Premier League start with no wins and just one goal in their opening five matches, Unai Emery’s men have bounced back with a Europa League win over Bologna and a 3-1 league victory against Fulham.
Emery praised his squad’s renewed energy and confidence:
“We needed to win. We played with energy and passion and recovered confidence. Now we must keep going.”
The fixture against Feyenoord, last season’s Champions League quarter-finalists, will be a strong test of Villa’s progress.
Other Key Europa League Fixtures
- Roma vs Lille – Roma look for back-to-back wins over French opposition after beating Nice last week.
- Nottingham Forest vs Midtjylland – Forest seek their first European win since 1995.
- Celtic vs Braga – A classic European night awaits at Parkhead.
- FC Porto vs Red Star Belgrade – A clash of two former European champions.
Conclusion
The Europa League returns with several high-stakes fixtures, led by Sturm Graz vs Rangers and Feyenoord vs Aston Villa. For Rangers, the clash in Austria could be season-defining, while Villa have the chance to silence early critics with a statement win in Rotterdam. Fans across Europe can expect drama, intensity, and pivotal results that will shape the group stage.
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