Borna Barisic is likely to start at left-back as Rangers travel to Villarreal for Thursday’s Europa League clash.
Borna Barisic has done pretty well since his summer move to Rangers.
The Croatian international arrived at Ibrox for around £2 million this summer after impressing against them in a Europa League qualifier for NK Osijek. And Barisic’s energy down the left wing, not to mention his pinpoint crosses, have already made him a key part of Steven Gerrard’s side.
But the other side of his game could be under the microscope as Rangers begin their Europa League group stage campaign away at Villarreal on Thursday.
Because he could be coming up against the hosts’ most dangerous player on the Castellon coast. After three excellent years at Espanyol, Gerard Moreno returned to Villarreal in August for a fee of around £18 million, according to Marca.
And a tally of just one goal in four La Liga games for the Yellow Submarines should not lull Rangers into a false sense of security. Moreno is the man who makes things happen; a quick and intelligent striker who drifts out to the right to cut in on his lethal left foot.
This is where Barisic comes in. It will be his responsibility to stop Moreno from opening up Rangers’ defence with his movement and eye for a defence-splitting pass. Moreno, by the way, scored 16 goals in La Liga last season.
Barisic’s attacking instincts may be what Rangers signed him for, but the 25-year-old now needs to prove he can defend, too.
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