Leon Balogun not complaining about Erling Haaland absence as Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst urges side not to sit back against Dortmund

Lewis Anderson
By Lewis Anderson
Published 24th Feb 2022, 12:43 BST
Updated 24th Feb 2022, 12:49 BST
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The Nigerian international claims the German outfit are “weaker” without their star striker but has compensate for his absence

Rangers defender Leon Balogun admits he isn’t complaining about the absence of striker Erling Haaland ahead of tonight’s Europa League second leg showdown with Borussia Dortmund.

The 21-year-old Norwegian star has not travelled with the Bundesliga giants to Glasgow after failing to recover from a groin injury in time.

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Haaland, who has scored 28 goals for club and country this season, sat out of his side’s 4-2 defeat in Germany last week.

Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland receives treatment for the injury he suffered against Hoffenheim last month and which will see him still sidelined for Thursday night's Europa League game against Rangers at Ibrox. (Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images)Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland receives treatment for the injury he suffered against Hoffenheim last month and which will see him still sidelined for Thursday night's Europa League game against Rangers at Ibrox. (Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland receives treatment for the injury he suffered against Hoffenheim last month and which will see him still sidelined for Thursday night's Europa League game against Rangers at Ibrox. (Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images)

The Light Blues will know the tie is far from over, despite their two-goal advantage as both sides target a place in the last 16.

Centre-back Balogun, who is available for selection again after shaking off a knock, believes Dortmund are still capable of mounting an Ibrox onslaught without the presence of their star man.

He said: “In these competition you want to compete against the best and he is one of the best at the moment, so from that perspective it is a sad thing.

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“If you look at what he means to Dortmund, it’s obviously a disadvantage to them. It’s going to weaken them up front a little bit but then again they’ve got enough to compensate with the same level.

“There are mixed feelings but I’m definitely not going to complain about that!”

Gers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has urged his side to replicate the positive aspects of the outstanding performance in Germany last Thursday.

The Rangers players celebrate after captain James Tavernier had opened the scoring in their 4-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Europa League knockout round play-off tie in Germany last week. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)The Rangers players celebrate after captain James Tavernier had opened the scoring in their 4-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Europa League knockout round play-off tie in Germany last week. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)
The Rangers players celebrate after captain James Tavernier had opened the scoring in their 4-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Europa League knockout round play-off tie in Germany last week. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)