Brondby’s first European campaign since 2008-09 arguably started slightly better than expected, as they managed to claim a point from their opening match after a goalless draw with Sparta Prague.
The group underdogs have since fallen to 3-0 and 2-0 defeats against Lyon and Rangers, however, and dropped to their expected position at the bottom of Group A, which takes them to 11 losses from their last 12 away games in Europe.
Things have not been going much better domestically either. The Boys from Vestegnen claimed their first Danish Superliga crown since 2004-05 last year, edging out FC Midtjylland by a single point, but their title defence started terribly as they failed to win any of their six opening games and took just one win from their first nine.
Niels Frederiksen’s men have turned things around recently, though, and four victories in the last five games has lifted them back up to sixth in the table. They will now look to take that momentum into the game on Thursday.
It may already be confirmed that Rangers will not match their achievement from last campaign of going undefeated, but they sit top of the league with a four-point cushion to rivals Celtic in second nonetheless.
They also come into Thursday’s game on the back of an impressive performance, having thrashed Motherwell 6-1 on their own turf at the weekend.
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It was actually the hosts who took the lead – and held it for half an hour – but goals from James Tavernier and Fashion Sakala late in the first half turned the match on its head, with Sakala completing his hat-trick in the second half, and Glen Kamara and Kemar Roofe also getting in on the act.
The Gers’ European campaign got off to a disappointing start with a loss to group favourites Lyon and then a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Sparta.
Their win over Brondby dragged them back into contention, though, and Steven Gerrard will know that, if they can match that result in Denmark, they will put their destiny back in their own hands heading into the final two games
