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Molde head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been speaking to BBC Scotland about the loss ofErling Braut Haland.

"He has travelled down to negotiate his contract to agree a deal," he said.

"He's down there and probably signing for Red Bull Salzburg.

" It is a big loss for us, but it is a big step for him and we'll feel the backlash for us.

"Today is the first real test for us this season in the Europa League.

"John McGinn has been influential and will be a big miss for Hibs too.

"It is going to be a tight game and it is going to be a great atmosphere."

Marcos Tavares had justifiable reasons to be confident as he spoke to the media this week ahead of facing Rangers.

The 34-year-old Brazil-born striker has faced Scottish opposition four times since joining Maribor from APOEL Nicosia in 2008 - and has come out on top in them all.

A year before the aforementioned Europa League win over Rangers in 2011, his side thumped Hibs 6-2 on aggregate in the same competition, with Tavares scoring three of their goals.

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The Brazilian also found the net late on to secure Maribor a 2-1 aggregate win over Celtic in 2014 to reach the Champions League group stage.

Two years ago, it was Aberdeen's turn to fall victim to the Violets when Graeme Shinnie's stoppage-time own goal handed the Slovenians a 2-1 aggregate victory in Europa League qualifying.

"I have nice memories of Scotland, but we do not live on memories," Tavares said. "Every game is a new story.

"I believe we are better than we were then. We have great motivation, immense energy and we want a positive result."

Like Hibs, Molde have lost a vital part of their squad ahead of tonight's game.

Their top scorer this season is 18-year-old Erling Braut Haland, but the son of former Leeds United and Manchester City defender Alf-Inge Haland is in the process of being sold to Red Bull Salzburg for £9m.

Molde are midway through their season and the side managed by former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sit fourth in the top-flight Eliteserien with 30 points from 17 matches.

While Hibs were starting their Premiership campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Motherwell on Saturday, Molde were drawing 2-2 away to Lillestrom to slip eight points behind leaders Brann.

Neil Lennon has made two changes from the team that eased aside Motherwell on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Adam Bogdan, who was a virtual spectator at Easter Road in the 3-0 win, has dropped out through injury and Ross Laidlaw will step in.

The departed John McGinn is replaced with Vykintas Slivka, with the Lithuanian hotly tipped to be the man to take over from the new Aston Villa midfielder at Easter Road. Here's his chance.

Central defender Darren McGregor failed to make squad despite a late push.

Darko Milanic, who had a spell in charge of Leeds United before taking charge of Maribor two years ago, is relishing the return to Ibrox for the side he led to the runners-up spot in the PrvaLiga last season.

"Here is where we experienced the first great European moment in the recent history of NK Maribor, so we have made nice memories so far in Scotland," he said.

"Rangers will be extremely motivated. We know their mentality, especially at home.

"They will be breathing down our necks. We are ready for this.

"We have a strategy to get home with a positive result that will enable us to advance."

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Peter Houston
Former Scotland assistant manager on BBC Sportsound

Hibs head coach Neil Lennon has been speaking to BBC Scotland about the departure of John McGinn to Aston Villa.

"It is impossible to replace a player of that quality," he said.

"We have brought in Emerson Hyndman, who is a good attacking midfielder - perhaps not as good defensively as John.

"We have lost Dylan McGeouch as well, but Stevie Mallan has come in and done well.

"We had a few games without John last season and we still did well.

"We knew this day would come and we have a huge game tonight to think about.

"It is a success story for Hibs - not anything to be down about."

Steven Thompson
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard makes three changes from Sunday's 1-1 draw with Aberdeen.

With the Ibrox club having rejected a £2m for James Tavernier from West Bromwich Albion, the team captain continues at right-back.

But Josh Windass has been sold to Wigan Athletic, Ryan Jack is out through injury, while Jamie Murphy drops to the bench.

Ryan Kent and Daniel Candeias come into the side on the wings and Ovie Ejaria is in central midfield.

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It's been a busy couple of days for Hibs and Rangers ahead of today's early closure of the English transfer window.

Both have lost players ahead of tonight's games, with Scotland midfielder John McGinn being sold to Aston Villa by Hibs.

Rangers, meanwhile, today sold left-back Declan John to Swansea City and midfielder Josh Windass to Wigan Athletic.

More on that to come.

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The build-up to both games has already started on BBC Radio Scotland 810MW.

Richard Gordon is your host, with former Hibs midfielder Michael Stewart giving expert analysis from Easter Road and former Rangers striker Steven Thompson keeping an eye on events at Ibrox.

Celtic's Champions League hopes were left hanging in the balance last night - and now it's the turn of Scottish Premiership rivals Hibernian and Rangers to try to establish a first-leg lead to take on their Europa League travels.

Like Brendan Rodgers' Scottish champions, the sides managed by Steven Gerrard and Neil Lennon have both come through two rounds of qualifying but face two more if they are to make the group stage.

Gerrard's Rangers host old foes Maribor of Slovenia, while Lennon's Hibs are also at home - to Norway's Molde. Can they do better than the 1-1 draw Celtic managed ahead of their second leg away to AEK Athens?

Stay with us for live text and radio commentary from both games to find out.

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