Erling Haaland ruled out of Borussia Dortmund’s trip to Rangers

Erling Haaland will not travel with the Borussia Dortmund squad to Glasgow ahead of their Europa League clash with Rangers on Thursday.

BVB were beaten 4-2 by the Scottish champions at Signal-Iduna Park in the first leg of their knockout round play-off last week.

James Tavernier and Alfredo Morelos goals gave the Gers a first-half lead before John Lundstram added a third after half-time. Jude Bellingham pulled one back for the hosts, though Morelos grabbed his second soon after, and Raphael Guerreiro notched home Dortmund’s second late on to round off the scoring.

Haaland has been struggling with a muscle injury over the last month and missed last week’s loss to Rangers, though he has since returned to training and there was hope in the Dortmund camp that he would be fit for the return leg at Ibrox.

However, it is widely reported in the German media that the Norwegian will not be part of the travelling party setting off for Scotland.

Dortmund go into the second leg with a spring in their step despite needing to overturn a two-goal deficit, coming into Thursday’s encounter off the back of a resounding 6-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday.

Club captain Marco Reus grabbed a hat-trick as well as two assists, while striker Donyell Malen – who will likely continue up front in Haaland’s absence – and Emre Can also got on the scoresheet.