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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
James Delaney

Standard Liege potentially without five players for Rangers clash after positive COVID-19 tests

Standard Liege are set to be without three players ahead of their Europa League clash with Rangers after a number of positive coronavirus tests within the squad.

Steven Gerrard's men kick off their Group D campaign at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne on Thursday, with the travelling Ibrox party set to fly out on Wednesday evening.

However their opponents will be without forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha, midfielder Nicolas Raskin and full back Moussa Sissako for the tie after the trio recorded positive tests following the draw with Club Brugge on Sunday.

Goalkeeping coach Jan Van Steenberghe also tested positive for COVID-19, with the Belgian side confirming all four were now in self-isolation.

Balikwisha and Raskin both started the game against Brugge, however Sissako missed out.

Two other players, Damjan Pavlovic and Abdoul Tapsoba, roomates of Sissako, are also a doubt as they await results of new test due to being in close contact with the on-loan Paris Saint Germain defender.

A Liege statement read: "Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Nicolas Raskin, Moussa Sissako and our goalkeeper trainer Jan Van Steenberghe have tested positive for Covid 19.

“On Tuesday morning, the entire Rouche delegation underwent Covid 19 test ahead of Thursday's European match against Rangers FC.

“The results received this morning indicate that Michelangelo, Nicolas, Moussa and Jan are positive.

“The quartet went directly into quarantine and will therefore not participate in the matches this Thursday against Rangers FC and this Sunday at STVV."

It added: “As a precautionary measure, Damjan Pavlovic and Abdoul Fessal Tapsoba, both tested negative, who cohabit and spent the evening yesterday with Moussa Sissako, are also excluded from the group pending the results of a new test.”

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