Who are Rangers' opponents Alashkert and what threats will they pose?

Defeat to Malmo last week means attention now turns to earning a fourth successive group stage appearance in the Europa League. After facing Ufa in 2018, Legia Warsaw in 2019 and Galatasaray in 2020 – Alashkert make up the directory this year.

The Armenian outfit won their domestic league title last year to earn a place in the first qualifying round of the Champions League.

Passage to this point guarantees their place in European group stage football – a first for a club from Armenia – due to the loser of this tie entering the UEFA Conference League group stage.

Who are Alashkert?

Founded in 1990, the club is based in Armenia’s capital city Yerevan. They dissolved in 2000 after a tumultuous first 10 years of existence but were re-founded in 2011.

Alashkert played their first-ever European game in 2015 against St Johnstone. The Armenians won an eventful tie 2-2 on away goals to send Scottish Cup winners St Johnstone out of the Europa League qualifiers in the second round.

They were drawn against Celtic in the Champions League qualifiers and easily beaten 6-0 over two legs three years later.

Last season in UEFA’s club coefficient Alashkert were ranked 179. For context Rangers were 52nd.

What about their season so far?

Domestically speaking, Alashkert have endured an underwhelming start to their title defence. They lost 3-0 to Ararat-Armenia on the season's opening day and 2-0 to Van this weekend. The two clubs finished fifth and sixth respectively last season, but both defeated Alashkert convincingly.

READ MORE: How Alashkert rose from the ashes to earn dream Europa League date with Rangers

Away from home Ararat-Armenia recorded an xG of 2.52 to Alashkert’s 0.22, with the hosts only recording one shot in the box throughout the whole game.

On Sunday, Van inflicted a second home defeat. Again the hosts had just one shot inside the opposition penalty area and based on their 1.29 xG to their opponents 0.45, Van were deserving of their win.

Taking low-probability shots from distance is something that Alashkert have tended to do plenty of this season.

What about in European competition?

Alashkert snuck past Welsh outfit Connah’s Keys 3-2 on aggregate in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers, before a 4-1 aggregate defeat to Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol. They set up the play-off round with Rangers after beating Kairat 3-2 in extra time.

Team analysis 

Let’s take a look at Alashkert’s second-round Champions League exit to Sheriff.

After the game, their manager Aleksandr Grigoryan said: "We played Sheriff Tiraspol and they said we had no chance of winning. They may come from Moldova, but they have an excellent European record and have spent a lot of money. To lose to them was no disgrace.”

Moldovan outfit Sheriff has a higher coefficient rating than Alashkert and are regarded as a stronger team – having qualified for several Europa League group stages in the past decade.

This game is a relevant example as it shows how Alashkert approaches a European tie against stronger opposition. 

The first point of interest is their use of the ball when they get into the final third - as referenced above they are far more inclined to rush shots than patiently carve openings as their xG breakdown from the game shows.

In distribution, they seemed to be similarly wasteful, losing the ball five times from eight goal kicks. Although a minor detail, this suggests a lack of structure in not targeting areas to progress the ball but putting possession up for grabs and hoping for the best.

Their xG ranked at 0.52 to their opponents 2.95. The first goal Alashkert lost came from a set-piece, the second a loose central ball that was pounced upon and led to a Sheriff counter and the third a penalty.

Strengths and weaknesses

Goalkeeper Ognjen Cancarevic is susceptible to a mistake - and made two glaring errors in his team's earlier referenced draw in Wales.

In general, the Armenians look weak defensively, shipping five goals in two domestic matches so far this season. They are vulnerable to balls behind their backline and guilty of leaving too much space between the midfield and defence to allow central ball progression.

As Aram Basmajian told Chris Jack: "Alashkert has one clear weakness and that's the defensive line. It was simply woeful last season, and that is still the case now."

Offensively, Jose Embalo scored a superb breakaway goal in the previous round and will offer a threat. As will forward Grigor Aghekyan.