RANGERS V UNIREA URZICENI PREVIEW

                             MATCHDAY 3               RANGERS V UNIREA URZICENI         IBROX PARK
After 3 weeks of domestic action, all the teams in Group G will be raring to go on Tuesday night when the Champions League returns. Scottish champions Rangers will be looking to get back to winning ways on the European front against Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni after being humbled by Spanish side Sevilla 1-4 at Ibrox in the last round of fixtures. Walter Smith's side come into the game on the back of a less than convincing win away to SPL new-boys St. Johnstone (1-2). Bosnian left-back Sasa Papac saved the experienced gaffer's blushes with a spectacular goal in the last 10 minutes. The Romanians managed a credible 1-1 draw at home to VfB Stuttgart on the last matchday and will be confident of making similar progress against a Rangers side lacking strength in depth. Rangers have one doubt for the game, Portuguese internationalist Pedro Mendes is fighting a thigh strain. Kirk Broadfoot and American Maurice Edu will also miss out through long-term injuries. Algerian defender Madjid Bougherra will return to the side after arriving back late from World Cup duty with the African side whereas Raul Rusescu is definately out for Unirea. Dan Petrescu, the former Chelsea player has made an impressive start to his managerial career and is no stranger to Scotland having brought his side over for pre-season matches in the last 2 years with mixed results. Rangers will look to be more attacking to make up ground on second place Stuutgart who are at home to Sevilla in the other game in this group. This could mean a return to the European scene for prolific striker Kris Boyd whose goal per game ratio matches more than most in Europe.

Matchday 1 Results - VfB Stuttgart 1-1 Rangers
                                        Sevilla 2-0 Unirea Urziceni

Matchday 2 Results - Rangers 1-4 Sevilla
                                        Unirea Urziceni 1-1 VfB Stuttgart

Possible teams    -    RANGERS (4-4-2)                                           McGregor

                                                                            Whittaker            Weir           Bougherra           Papac

                                                                          Davis                      Mendes      Thomson            Rothen

                                                                                                            Boyd            Miller

                                 -     UNIREA URZICENI     (4-5-1)                              Arlauskis

                                                                           Galamiz                   Bilasco               Varga          Nicu

                                              Vilana                        Brandan                  Balan              Fernandes           Maftei

                                                                                                              Apostol

My Prediction -    RANGERS 3-1 UNIREA URZICENI