Rangers vs Genk

Rangers have won just four of their 14 matches across all competitions this season (D5 L5), with this their fewest wins at this stage of a season in their history and their most defeats at this stage of a season since 1994-95 under Walter Smith when they lost six in their first 14.

Genk recorded their first ever victory against British opposition in major European competition tonight in what was their seventh attempt, losing four and drawing two of those matches previously.

Since May 2024, Jack Butland has faced six penalties across all competitions for Rangers (excl. shootouts) and saved five of them, with the only exception being an Oisin Smyth goal for St. Mirren in December 2024.

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).