Postpublished at 31 mins
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Oh Hyeon-gyu is frustrated in front of goal again as he lunges in to meet a low cross and is beaten to the ball by Rangers defender Derek Cornelius.
Summary
Listen to commentary by choosing 'listen live' at top of page
First of Rangers' eight Europa League matches
Postpublished at 31 mins
'No service for Chermiti'published at 20:31 BST
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Steven Thompson
Former Rangers & Scotland striker on SportsoundYoussef Chermiti hasn't seen much of the ball.
He's putting himself about and getting into good positions but the quality of cross that's come in hasn't been good enough.
Chairman stops for a chatpublished at 20:27 BST
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Brave man, Andrew Cavenagh...
Wonder what those Rangers fans are asking the chairman?
Image source, SNSImage caption, Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh on the far right
Image source, SNSHITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 23 mins
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland can only stand and watch as a shot from Patrik Hrosovsky fizzes against the post.
The Slovakia midfielder set himself up with a lovely touch inside the home penalty area.
'No excuse'published at 20:21 BST
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Ally McCoist
Former Rangers striker on TNT SportsOh has to score, there's no excuse.
His positioning is unbelievable, there's no challenge on the ball. He's got to be hitting the target, that's a let off.
Postpublished at 18 mins
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Genk break and the visitors should really be ahead but Oh Hyeon-gyu somehow knocks a first-time effort over the top with the goal at his mercy.
Zakaria El Ouahdi put that on a plate for the former Celtic striker.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 20:19 BST
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Steven Thompson
Former Rangers & Scotland striker on SportsoundI can't believe it!
'Remarkable clearance'published at 20:19 BST
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Ally McCoist
Former Rangers striker on TNT SportsThat's one of the best I've ever seen. The ball in is great, the header is fantastic and the clearance is better.
That's remarkable.
I cannot tell you how difficult that is.
Off the line!published at 17 mins
Rangers 0-0 Genk
James Tavernier swings in a tasty free-kick and John Souttar is free to aim a header past the goalkeeper, but Genk skipper Bryan Heynen pulls off a spectacular clearance under the crossbar.
He got his leg up like a can-can dancer to hook it away!
Postpublished at 14 mins
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Rangers are on top now and Mikey Moore rather scuffs a shot wide, with team-mate Nico Raskin perhaps in a better position to hammer in that loose ball.
Postpublished at 12 mins
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Mikey Moore has a pop from 20 yards and the teenager's curling shot is not far away.
Postpublished at 10 mins
Rangers 0-0 Genk
The left-back in question, Jayden Meghoma, does well to drive Rangers forward before releasing Djeidi Gassama. The winger's cross is not great, but that's more like it from the home side.
Image source, SNS'Left-back worries'published at 20:08 BST
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Ally McCoist
Former Rangers striker on TNT SportsI'm a wee bit concerned about that left-back position already.
You've got to be aware of what's around you and what's behind you, especially as a full-back.
That's a couple of times El Ouahdi has got down that right-hand side.
'Genk are sharper'published at 20:07 BST
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Derek Ferguson
Former Rangers midfielder on SportsoundGenk are quicker and sharper. They've come with a bit of a swagger.
It's not the start Rangers would have wanted.
Postpublished at 6 mins
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Zakaria El Ouahdi has four goals already this season and here comes the Genk defender again, sliding in at the back post - but he can't steer the ball on target.
Image source, Getty Images'Massive let-off'published at 20:06 BST
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Steven Thompson
Former Rangers & Scotland striker on SportsoundThat's a massive opportunity, I don't know why he doesn't hit it with his right foot.
Postpublished at 4 mins
Rangers 0-0 Genk
Genk are first to threaten as right-back Zakaria El Ouahdi threatens to break clear but he tries to check back inside and that allows Jayden Meghoma to recover the situation.
Postpublished at 2 mins
Rangers 0-0 Genk
A nervy start from Youssef Chermiti as he knocks an attempted pass straight out of play right in front of the Rangers dugout.
KICK-OFFpublished at 20:00 BST
Rangers 0-0 Genk
And away we go.
'Chermiti suits the game'published at 19:59 BST
Rangers v Genk (20:00)
As the teams line up for an exchange of handshakes, Rangers head coach Russell Martin reveals his reason for selecting Youssef Chermiti up top.
"A bit of freshness, a bit of energy," he told TNT Sports
"Bojan [Miovski] has played a lot of minutes and they're pushing each other which is really important. I think Youssef suits the game tonight."
Russell Martin 'excited' by 'settled' Rangers
Europa League: Rangers v Genk
Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow Date: Thursday, 25 September Time: 20:00 BST
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & Sounds, live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app
Rangers will "attack" the Europa League after the "relief" of a much-needed win over Hibernian, says head coach Russell Martin.
The under-fire side won their first game in six in Saturday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, with Martin taking solace in the win "rather than joy".
After a tumultuous start to the season, fans held protests against the club's new ownership group at the weekend, and have called for the head coach to be removed as his team languish 11th in the Scottish Premiership.
But on the eve of their Europa League opener against Genk in Glasgow on Thursday, he said: "We can build and go again now and improve, that's the process we have to embark on," he said.
"We have to get better, we have to win more games, and hopefully Saturday was the start of something for us."
Rangers have often fared well in the Europa League in spite of domestic form in recent seasons.
The Glasgow side reached the competition's final in 2022, only to lose in a penalty shootout to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Last season Rangers reached the quarter-finals before going out to Athletic Bilbao.
This is a marker Martin says he can draw on and is excited by.
"I think what excites me is the potential in this group," he added.
"The potential to have some amazing moments at this club and nights that you can't replicate anywhere else, and also the potential to win trophies and when we're in any competition we'll try and do our very best to win that.
"So I think, I'm not saying we're going to win in, but we'll attack it and we've got to try and enjoy it as much as we can."
Despite the continued fan unrest, Martin was keen to emphasise his desire for everyone associated with the club to use Saturday's win as a point to build momentum from.
"We have to strive for that now, to build momentum and energy, consistency," he said.
"I said to you from day one, this club and this team can be so powerful when we have that belief and we have some confidence in the group and Saturday definitely helped that.
"It's about trying to build some momentum because I think we can be really powerful when we have that."
What they said
Rangers defender Derek Cornelius: "At clubs like Rangers, there's an expectation to win.
"And that extra pressure that we're getting from outside and maybe the chaos that I'm stepping into, I view it as a privilege and as a challenge to come here and try to help the situation.
"I don't think it impacted me negatively and I tried to look at the positives in the situation.
"Individually, I don't think it was so hard to block out the noise.
"When you sign up to be a professional footballer, it's kind of the stuff that can come with the job when things are not going well, you'll hear about it, you're going to feel some sort of pressure from outside.
"But at the end of the day it comes down to what's happening on the pitch.
"So for me, it hasn't really affected me that much. I had my job to do, my role to play, to just try and win games for Rangers."
Who are Genk?
An under-performing team, a sub-standard start to the season, a manager under serious pressure with supporters calling for his removal. Sound familiar?
For Rangers, read Genk. For Russell Martin, read Thorsten Fink. The parallels are uncanny between the clubs who will go head-to-head at Ibrox in their Europa League opener on Thursday night.
The difference is, Fink, unlike Martin, has already had a year in charge, a season that started superbly but tailed off before ending pretty badly, with just two wins from their last eight in the league, leaving Genk six points behind Club Brugge and nine behind champions Union St Gilloise, both of whom have been to Ibrox recently with contrasting fortunes.
Thomas Buffel, a former favourite of both clubs, has been predicting a win for the Belgians at Ibrox, but this is a team well below the calibre of the Club Brugge side that demolished Rangers a few weeks ago.
Neither Genk nor Rangers come into the game anywhere near their best, but if either hit form on Thursday, victory should be theirs.
Match stats
This will be the first meeting of these sides. Rangers have already faced Belgian opposition this season, losing 3-1 at home and 6-0 away to Club Brugge in Champions League qualifying.
This will be Genk's first ever game against a Scottish opponent.
Rangers have won their opening game in four of their last five Europa League campaigns, with the exception a 2-0 home defeat by Lyon in September 2021.
This will be Genk's first appearance in the Europa League since 2021/22, the only season in which they failed to get out of the group stage.
James Tavernier could make his 58th Europa League appearance for Rangers, levelling Matheus of Sporting Braga for the second most games played for a single club in the competition behind only Salzburg's Andreas Ulmer (61).
How to play
Rate players out of 10 for this game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle. You must be signed in to a BBC account to play.
1 Give it up
10 Pure perfection
Number: 1 J. Butland
Number: 30 J. Meghoma
Number: 13 D. Cornelius
Number: 5 J. Souttar
Number: 2 J. Tavernier
Number: 43 N. Raskin
Number: 11 T. Aasgaard
Number: 10 M. Diomandé
Number: 23 D. Gassama
Number: 9 Youssef Chermiti
Number: 47 M. Moore
Substitutes
No players have been substituted yet
Number: 1 H. Van Crombrugge
Number: 18 J. Kayembe
Number: 6 M. Smets
Number: 3 Mujaid Sadick
Number: 77 Z. El Ouahdi
Number: 21 I. Bangoura
Number: 19 Y. Medina
Number: 8 B. Heynen
Number: 17 P. Hrošovský
Number: 7 J. Steuckers
Number: 9 Oh Hyeon-Gyu
Substitutes
No players have been substituted yet
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
Related topics
UEFA Europa League Scores & Fixtures
Thursday 25th September
UEFA Europa League Table
On Thursday 25th September
Skip to table keyMatch Participants:
- Rangers, Position 22, Points 1
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Panathinaikos | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|
2 Dinamo Zagreb | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|
3 Midtjylland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
|
4 Ludogorets Razgrad | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
6 Freiburg | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
8 FCSB | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
|
9 Viktoria Plzeň | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| |
11 Sporting Braga | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
15 Red Star Belgrade | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
16 Celta Vigo | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
17 Genk | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
19 Maccabi Tel Aviv | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
20 PAOK | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
21 Porto | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
23 Red Bull Salzburg | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
24 Stuttgart | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
25 Utrecht | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
26 Basel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
27 Brann | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
28 Malmö FF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| |
30 Bologna | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
31 Ferencváros | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
32 Feyenoord | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
33 Go Ahead Eagles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
34 Fenerbahçe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
|
35 Young Boys | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
|
36 Sturm Graz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
Key
- Position 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 : 8th Finals
- Position 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 : Play-off
Team Lineups
home team, Rangers
Manager: Russell Martin
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Pitch Formation
- 1, Butland, Goalkeeper
- 2, Tavernier, Defender5, Souttar, Defender13, Cornelius, Defender30, Meghoma, Defender
- 10, Diomande, Midfielder11, Aasgaard, Midfielder43, Raskin, Midfielder
- 47, Moore, Striker9, Youssef Chermiti, Striker23, Gassama, Striker
Starting lineup
- Number 1, J. Butland
- Number 30, J. Meghoma
- Number 13, D. Cornelius
- Number 5, J. Souttar
- Number 2, J. Tavernier , Captain
- Number 43, N. Raskin
- Number 11, T. Aasgaard
- Number 10, M. Diomandé
- Number 23, D. Gassama
- Number 9, Youssef Chermiti
- Number 47, M. Moore
Substitutes
home team, Rangers
- Number 18, O. Antman
- Number 8, C. Barron
- Number 52, F. Curtis
- Number 24, N. Djiga
- Number 50, J. Gentles
- Number 31, L. Kelly
- Number 64, A. McCallion
- Number 28, B. Miovski
- Number 99, Danilo
- Number 49, B. Rice
- Number 6, J. Rothwell
- Number 32, K. Wright
away team, Genk
Manager: Thorsten Fink
Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Pitch Formation
- 1, Van Crombrugge, Goalkeeper
- 77, El Ouahdi, Defender3, Mujaid Sadick, Defender6, Smets, Defender18, Kayembe, Defender
- 21, Bangoura, Defensive Midfielder
- 7, Steuckers, Midfielder17, Hrosovsky, Midfielder8, Heynen, Midfielder19, Medina, Midfielder
- 9, Oh Hyeon-Gyu, Striker
Starting lineup
- Number 1, H. Van Crombrugge
- Number 18, J. Kayembe
- Number 6, M. Smets
- Number 3, Mujaid Sadick
- Number 77, Z. El Ouahdi
- Number 21, I. Bangoura
- Number 19, Y. Medina
- Number 8, B. Heynen , Captain
- Number 17, P. Hrošovský
- Number 7, J. Steuckers
- Number 9, Oh Hyeon-Gyu
away team, Genk
- Number 32, N. Adedeji-Sternberg
- Number 28, L. Brughmans
- Number 99, J. Erabi
- Number 10, J. Ito
- Number 20, K. Karetsas
- Number 23, A. Bibout
- Number 29, R. Mirisola
- Number 44, J. Kongolo
- Number 27, K. Nkuba
- Number 34, A. Palacios
- Number 24, N. Sattlberger
- Number 30, A. Yokoyama
home team, Rangers
Manager: Russell Martin
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Pitch Formation
- 1, Butland, Goalkeeper
- 2, Tavernier, Defender5, Souttar, Defender13, Cornelius, Defender30, Meghoma, Defender
- 10, Diomande, Midfielder11, Aasgaard, Midfielder43, Raskin, Midfielder
- 47, Moore, Striker9, Youssef Chermiti, Striker23, Gassama, Striker
Starting lineup
- Number 1, J. Butland
- Number 30, J. Meghoma
- Number 13, D. Cornelius
- Number 5, J. Souttar
- Number 2, J. Tavernier , Captain
- Number 43, N. Raskin
- Number 11, T. Aasgaard
- Number 10, M. Diomandé
- Number 23, D. Gassama
- Number 9, Youssef Chermiti
- Number 47, M. Moore
Substitutes
- Number 18, O. Antman
- Number 8, C. Barron
- Number 52, F. Curtis
- Number 24, N. Djiga
- Number 50, J. Gentles
- Number 31, L. Kelly
- Number 64, A. McCallion
- Number 28, B. Miovski
- Number 99, Danilo
- Number 49, B. Rice
- Number 6, J. Rothwell
- Number 32, K. Wright
away team, Genk
Manager: Thorsten Fink
Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Pitch Formation
- 1, Van Crombrugge, Goalkeeper
- 77, El Ouahdi, Defender3, Mujaid Sadick, Defender6, Smets, Defender18, Kayembe, Defender
- 21, Bangoura, Defensive Midfielder
- 7, Steuckers, Midfielder17, Hrosovsky, Midfielder8, Heynen, Midfielder19, Medina, Midfielder
- 9, Oh Hyeon-Gyu, Striker
Starting lineup
- Number 1, H. Van Crombrugge
- Number 18, J. Kayembe
- Number 6, M. Smets
- Number 3, Mujaid Sadick
- Number 77, Z. El Ouahdi
- Number 21, I. Bangoura
- Number 19, Y. Medina
- Number 8, B. Heynen , Captain
- Number 17, P. Hrošovský
- Number 7, J. Steuckers
- Number 9, Oh Hyeon-Gyu
Substitutes
- Number 32, N. Adedeji-Sternberg
- Number 28, L. Brughmans
- Number 99, J. Erabi
- Number 10, J. Ito
- Number 20, K. Karetsas
- Number 23, A. Bibout
- Number 29, R. Mirisola
- Number 44, J. Kongolo
- Number 27, K. Nkuba
- Number 34, A. Palacios
- Number 24, N. Sattlberger
- Number 30, A. Yokoyama
Match Officials
- Referee:
- Matej Jug
- Video Assistant Referee:
- Alen Borosak
- Assistant Referee 1:
- Matej Zunic
- Assistant Referee 2:
- Manuel Vidali
- Fourth Official:
- Mihael Antic
- Assistant VAR Official:
- Asmir Sagrkovic
Match Stats
Key, Rangers v GenkOverall possession
Rangers 58.2%Genk 41.8%
Shots
Rangers 5Genk 5Shots on target
Rangers 1Genk 0Total touches inside the opposition box
Rangers 6Genk 13Goalkeeper saves
Rangers 0Genk 0Fouls committed
Rangers 0Genk 5Corners
Rangers 1Genk 0In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Rangers 5Genk 5Shots on target
Rangers 1Genk 0Shots off target
Rangers 2Genk 4Attempts out of box
Rangers 2Genk 0Hit woodwork
Rangers 0Genk 1Total offsides
Rangers 0Genk 1Distribution
Total passes
Rangers 230Genk 168Pass accuracy %
Rangers 91.7Genk 86.3Backward passes
Rangers 52Genk 31Forward passes
Rangers 63Genk 46Total long balls
Rangers 9Genk 20Successful final third passes
Rangers 46Genk 22Total crosses
Rangers 12Genk 6Defence
Total tackles
Rangers 4Genk 5Won tackle %
Rangers 25Genk 60Fouls committed
Rangers 0Genk 5Total clearances
Rangers 4Genk 15Clearances off the line
Rangers 0Genk 1
Season so far
UEFA Europa League
Key, Rangers v Genk
League position, Rangers 22nd, Genk 17thTotal points, Rangers 1, Genk 1
Form guide
All competitions
Rangers won
v Hibernian
2
0
League Cup
Genk lose
v Union Saint-Gilloise
1
2
First Division A
Rangers lose
v Hearts
0
2
Premiership
Genk lose
v Sporting Charleroi
0
1
First Division A
Rangers draw
v Celtic
0
0
Premiership
Genk draw
v Anderlecht
1
1
First Division A
Rangers lose
v Club Brugge
6
0
UEFA Champions League
Genk won
v Zulte Waregem
3
2
First Division A
Rangers draw
v St. Mirren
1
1
Premiership
Genk lose
v Lech Poznań
1
2
UEFA Europa League
Match Facts
This will be the first ever meeting between Rangers and Genk – the Gers have already faced Belgian opposition this season, losing 3-1 at home and 6-0 away to Club Brugge in qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.
This will be Genk’s first ever game against a Scottish opponent in European competition – the Belgian side are unbeaten in each of their last three games when meeting a team for the first time in major European competition (W2 D1) but lost 3-0 to West Ham in their most recent such match that came in the UEFA Europa League in October 2021.
Rangers have won their opening game in four of their last five UEFA Europa League campaigns, with the exception coming via a 2-0 home defeat to Lyon in September 2021.
This will be Genk’s first appearance in the UEFA Europa League since the 2021-22 campaign, the only season in which they failed to get out of the group stage in the competition. KRC have won their first game to nil in four of their five prior appearances in this competition (L1).
James Tavernier could make his 58th appearance in the UEFA Europa League for Rangers, levelling Matheus (58 for Sporting Braga) for the second most games played for a single club in the competition, behind only Salzburg’s Andreas Ulmer (61).