James Tavernier whips in a lovely free kick from the right and Connor Goldson hammers a header against the crossbar. So close to the breakthrough!

Image source, SNS

The home fans rumble with anticipation as James Tavernier concedes a corner under pressure from two Rapid players.

The first delivery is ushered behind, from the second the ref spots some pushing and Rangers get the free kick.

Rangers keep the ball in the opposition half and Borna Barisic tries his luck with a low strike from a free kick some 30 yards out. A comfortable save - and it was going just wide anyway.

Here come Rangers on a counter-attack and Alfredo Morelos takes a tumble off the ball as a promising move comes to an end with Lassana Coulibaly over-hitting a simple pass to Glenn Middleton.

We have a goal in Spain, with Villarreal ahead against Spartak Moscow thanks to Samuel Chukwueze.

It's still a bit scruffy but Rangers look pretty solid when they don't have the ball, quickly finding their shape, with two solid banks of four.

Ross McCrorie gives the ball away with a careless scuff deep in his own half but the visitors are quick to get men back and a cross from the right is repelled.

Lassana Coulibaly is caught on the toe by a high boot and Rangers have a free kick in a central position - 35 yards out. James Tavernier lofts the ball into the box but the home defence is able to usher it out of play with little fuss. Disappointing.

A few nervous touches from both sides, the bobbly pitch won't help. Both sets of fans are making a good racket.

Rangers, all in blue, get the game up and running in a very cold Vienna...

Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland

Rapid Vienna: Strebinger, Muldur, Auer, Hofmann, Barac, Martic, Schwab, Ivan, Bolingoli, Murg, Berisha.

Substitutes: Knoflach, Dibon, Thurnwald, Ljubicic, Knasmullner, Schobesberger, Alar.

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, McAuley, Barisic, Jack, Ross McCrorie, Coulibaly, Arfield, Middleton, Morelos.

Substitutes: Robby McCrorie, Worrall, Lafferty, Katic, Grezda, Halliday, Flanagan.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland in Vienna

The atmosphere in the Allianz Stadion is really ramping up. The Rapid Vienna fans are no shrinking violets and the Rangers support has mobilised in its thousands for this crucial match. Many hundreds, maybe thousands have managed to get tickets in addition to the original away allocation and thousands more will watch from the bars of Vienna.

Image source, BBC Sport

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has clarified that he intends to speak to on-loan Liverpool midfielder Ovie Ejaria on Friday after rumours that his time at Ibrox may be close to coming to an end.

Speaking to BT Sport, Gerrard said he is "slightly unsettled" and that a decision was made to leave him back in Scotland. More on that later, surely?

Looking ahead to tonight's game, Gerrard adds: "The players are certainly capable. They’ve shown excellent performances in Europe and let’s hope there’s one more in them.

“Recent games [domestically] haven’t been good enough, we take responsibility but tonight is a different test.

"We’ve become too frustrated and made the last two games more complicated than they should have been.

"But tonight’s a new night and a fantastic chance to make our fans smile again."

The good news is that Rangers have a 100% record against today's hosts. However, their last visit was way back in 1964 when a 1-0 win at Ibrox was followed by a 2-0 success on the road when Jim Baxter was in his pomp.

Rangers' overall record against Austrian opposition is promising, with five wins from six outings.

Rapid have not fared so well against Scots in Europe, winning just four of their 11 contests and losing five.

Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

"We believe Rapid will come out and attack us and we're expecting a positive performance with a vocal fan base behind them," said Rangers manager Steven Gerrard at yesterday's media conference.

"We don't expect them to sit deep and contain and look to spoil like (we've faced) in the last two matches. This game will suit us.

"It's more of a 50-50 match. We have major respect for the opposition. Like ourselves, Rapid were the underdogs to progress and it's a fantastic game for both teams."

Image source, SNS

The Allianz Stadion pitch is in a pretty bad way. A section of one the goalmouths has been relaid but the rest of the surface remains rutted and patchy.

Rangers were denied the opportunity to train on it last night but boss Steven Gerrard had no problem with that, saying it was a "sensible decision".

"We'll have to see how the pitch plays," he said. "It's difficult to judge. On the eye, it looks really good but to feel it's very wet. It's the same for both teams. We don't like to use excuses and we will focus on our game plan and what we have to do to win the match.

"The pitch won't change. It is what it is and we have to go out there and give it our best shot."

Image source, SNS

Rapid have been toiling domestically and trail leaders Salzburg by 25 points just 17 games into their Bundesliga campaign.

The hosts have managed just one win from their past five league outings but they are the only side to have gathered two wins in a tight Europa League group littered with draws.

"To play for one point would be dangerous," said head coach Dietmar Kuhbauer.

"We must impose our own game. It'll be physical but we are prepared for that.

"I don't have to motivate, the players know they can achieve something special and I think that is enough motivation.

"I think Rangers are under more pressure as they have to win."

Celtic made an ideal start to their second Group B game in October, with Odsonne Edouard scoring after two minutes in Salzburg.

Brendan Rodgers' side managed to hold that lead until half-time, but home pressure continued to build after the break and Munas Dabbur and Takumi Minamino scored in quick succession to have the Austrians ahead after an hour.

Celtic's chances of salvaging a point effectively ended when James Forrest was sent off for conceding a penalty that was converted by Dabbur.

The win put Salzburg, who had opened with a win over RB Leipzig, in control of the group, with the Germans tied with Celtic after their opening win at home to Rosenborg.

Image source, Reuters