Updates from the 5.55pm BST kick-off in GermanyLive scoreboard: the latest from tonight’s other tiesAnd you can contact Barry by email or on Twitter 5.02pm BST Early team news: Kai Havertz starts for Leverkusen and Alfredo Morelos lines up for Rangers. We’ll have the full line-ups for you very shortly. 4.54pm BST 4.53pm BST “The situation is quite unique, having to wait so long for the second leg,” said Gerrard in his pre-match press conference. “The first leg wasn’t what we wanted in terms of a result and it has given us a bit of a mountain to climb. But we are over here to give it everything we have got and give it our best shot.” 4.52pm BST “I don’t think anyone wants to see the remainder of both competitions behind closed doors – or see teams pull out,” said Steven Gerrard in the immediate aftermath of his side’s first leg defeat. “But I’m not going to sit here after a 3-1 defeat and say the tournament should be cancelled. That’s not the right thing to say. I think all I want to say is the important thing is the people, us, protection from these situations. This virus is continuing to spread and the first thing has to be people’s health. But I’m hoping that football continues. But first things first. Health first.” 4.52pm BST Let me take you back through the mists of time, to a night in Glasgow when Kai Havertz opened the scoring for Leverkusen from the penalty spot at Ibrox. His side then doubled their lead courtesy of a volley from Charles Aránguiz. Mounting a stirring fight-back, Rangers reduced their arrears thanks to a George Edmundson header but were left with a Ben Nevis-sized mountain to climb when Leon Bailey extended the German side’s lead with a curled effort two minutes from time. Alison McConnell was there for the Guardian . Related: Rangers on brink of Europa League exit after home defeat by Bayer Leverkusen 4.51pm BST Where to start with Rangers? Matt Polster and Florian Kamberi both featured in the first leg defeat but are unavailable for selection this time around because they have left the club and now play for New England Revolution and St Gallen respectively.Summer recruits Jon McLaughlin, Calvin Bassey, Leon Bolugan, Cedric Itten and Kemar Roofe are all ineligible for this competition. Jermain Defoe is recovering from a hamstring injury and may not be risked. 4.14pm BST Just the 147 days after Rangers and Bayer Leverkusen contested the final game of football played in Scotland before lockdown, the sides reconvene at the BayArena for the second leg of this Round of 16 tie. Rangers have a big job on their hands to overturn a 3-1 deficit and book a place in the quarter-finals against Inter.They find themselves in an odd position – playing in the present and the past as the new Scottish Premiership season has just begun while they cling on in last season’s Europa League. After tonight’s game they go back to the future for Sunday’s showdown against St Mirren at Ibrox. Whether they do so as Europa League quarter-finalists remains to be seen but we’ll find out soon enough. Kick-off is at 5.55pm (BST), but stay tuned for early team news and build-up. Continue readingreadfullarticle
