Tottenham and Rangers have not engaged in many competitive games against one another, but there will be hope that this Europa League matchup returns as an auspicious fixture.
Tottenham vs Ranger head-to-head record
You have to go quite far back to find the last time Tottenham Hotspur played Rangers in a competitive fixture. The two sides have only played each other in non-friendly fixtures twice and that was partly due to it being a two-legged tie.
This was a tie in the 1962-63 European Cup Winner’s Cup tournament, which Tottenham won home and away, 5-2 and 3-2 respectively. For those who know Tottenham’s history, this was, of course, significant as Tottenham went on to win the competition, becoming the first English side to win a European trophy.
Rangers have hosted Spurs several times since, but all during different pre-season friendly tournaments. In fact, of the 14 times Rangers and Tottenham have played each other in any manner, 9 of those fixtures took place at Ibrox Stadium (4 at White Hart Lane and once in Toronto).
Tottenham Record in last 12 games:
Wins: 7
Draw: 1
Losses: 4
Goals for: 17
Goals against: 12
These friendly matches range back to 1968, so little can be drawn from the games. However, Spurs fans will be hoping that if Tottenham can defeat Rangers, it may be some kind of cosmic sign that history can repeat itself and a European trophy is in sight.
Can Ange Postecoglou teach Spurs the trick to beating Rangers?
Of everyone at the club, Ange Postecoglou will be most familiar with the challenges presented by a trip to Rangers.
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As manager of Celtic, Postecoglou faced his Old Firm rivals 11 times across the two seasons he was in charge.
Postecoglou’s Celtic Record vs Rangers:
Wins: 6
Draws: 2
Losses: 3
Goals for: 19
Goals against: 13
Even if you only consider the games played away at Rangers, Postecoglou still oversaw 3 wins, 2 losses and a draw.
Rangers have changed manager since Postecoglou’s time in Glasgow so there will not necessarily be tactical similarity. However, with Spurs’ younger players likely to be handed minutes, Ange may be able to use his personal experience to help prepare them for the tone of Thursday’s game.
Tottenham’s cup run can be the route to claw back form
Tottenham have two monumental cup fixtures ahead of them in the next two weeks. A win against Rangers will put them in a strong position to proceed in the Europa League, before a home tie against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.
Spurs have challenging Premier League fixtures ahead of them and until they can reinforce the squad in January, it is a big ask to expect them to achieve regular wins.
However, success in the cups can give fans and the squad belief there is still much to play for this season and could bolster their confidence for the second half of the season.