MY ACCOUNT
Rangers suffered penalty heartache in Wednesday’s Europa League final loss to Eintracht Frankfurt but will need to pick themselves back up for the Scottish Cup final against Hearts if they are to win any silverware this season.
Their opponents have had a strong first season back in the top flight, finishing 13 points clear in third position, and they have a chance to top it off with their first cup triumph since 2012.
Team news
Rangers had a gruelling 120 minutes in the Seville heat on Wednesday night and that will have taken plenty out of a squad that has already endured an intense season.
Borna Barisic came off with a hamstring injury that is likely to keep him out for this game while extra-time substitutes Kemar Roofe and Aaron Ramsey will hope for a bigger role.
Alfredo Morelos, Filip Helander and Ianis Hagi remain out for the Gers.
For Hearts, striker Liam Boyce is a doubt after limping off in the final game of their league campaign while defenders Craig Halkett and John Souttar are both back from injury.
The stats
Rangers have won three of the pair’s four league meetings this season, the latter of which was a 3-1 victory last weekend.
However Hearts can take encouragement from the fact that they won 1-0 the last time these two played in the Scottish Cup, in the quarter-finals two seasons ago.
The Edinburgh club have both scored and conceded in seven of their last eight games, while recent matches involving the Gers have been similarly open-ended affairs — with both teams on the scoresheet in five of their last six.
James Tavernier has been key for the Glaswegian giants this term with 18 goals in all competitions.
Predictions
After such a disappointing loss in midweek, Rangers will have a difficult time gearing themselves back up for this game.
However a rotated Gers side did beat these opponents 3-1 last weekend and may hold the edge.
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson will be boosted by the return of key defenders and his outfit should be able to give a good account of themselves at Hampden Park.
Fashion Sakala played a minor role in the Europa League final — the Zambian was brought on as a substitute before departing for a preferred penalty taker.
The striker is likely to play a prominent role at Hampden given his freshness and can use his pace to get in behind Hearts’ backline and could land on the scoresheet.
