Tynie draw will only create huge problems
LEVERKUSEN FACTFILE
FOUNDED: 1904. STADIUM: BayArena (30,210) MANAGER: Peter Bosz. The 56-year-old Dutchman has managed Borussia Dortmund and Ajax. Took charge of Leverkusen two years ago. HONOURS: German Cup winners 1993, UEFA Cup winners 1988, Champions League runners-up 2002 at Hampden.
BY ROSS PILCHER A SCOTTISH Cup stalemate between Hearts and Rangers could cause Premiership fixture chaos.
If they can’t be separated at Tynecastle the sides will face off on Wednesday and that would mean Rangers’ home game against Hamilton being moved.
But that would create a problem, as it couldn’t be moved to the following midweek since Steven Gerrard’s side will welcome Bayer Leverkusen to Ibrox.
The away leg is the next midweek, before domestic action takes a break for the Euro 2020 play-offs.
Cup games take priority, so the Hearts replay would go ahead in midweek, but it would leave Rangers needing to fit in games with Hamilton and St Johnstone.
As things stand they could play on Tuesday April 7 or Wednesday April 8.
But if Rangers get past Leverkusen they’d be in Europe again – and if they were to beat Hearts in any replay they’d have a Cup semi-final that weekend.
The following midweek would also be out due to the Europa League, with the first post-split fixtures to take place on April 18.
Both Rangers’ outstanding games would have to be played before then, but there would be no midweek to do so. A draw would also mean Tuesday’s scheduled Edinburgh derby at Easter Road against Hibs would need to be moved.
That would create a fixture nightmare for Hearts too, as their rearranged game with St Mirren is scheduled for March 11.
STAR MAN: Lars Bender. Captain and experienced campaigner who has won 19 caps for Germany. Dependable holding midfielder for the Bundesliga side and has been at the club for 11 years.
INTERESTING FACT: They got their name from the massive Leverkusen-based pharmaceutical company Bayer, whose employees founded the club 116 years ago. They were also managed by former Scotland gaffer Berti Vogts for seven months in 2001.
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QUARTER-FINALS (-) Hearts v Rangers ................... 5.30 (-) St Mirren v Aberdeen .............. 7.20 LADBROKES CHAMPIONSHIP (-) Alloa v Ayr ...................................... (-) Dundee v Arbroath ......................... (-) Dunfermline v Dundee Utd ............. (-) Queen of South v Morton ...............
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LADBROKES LEAGUE TWO (43) Albion Rovers v Elgin .................. (44) Brechin v Stirling ........................ (-) Cowdenbeath v Edinburgh City ...... (-) Queen’s Park v Annan .................... (45) Stenhousemuir v Cove R ............
VANARAMA PREMIER (46) Boreham Wood v Hartlepool ....... (47) Bromley v Sutton ........................
VANARAMA NORTH (48) Blyth v Kettering ........................ (49) Boston v Farsley ..........................
EFL LEAGUE CUP FINAL (-) Aston Villa v Man City ............ 4.30 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE (-) Everton v Man Utd ................... 2.0 (4) Tottenham v Wolves ................ 2.0 SKY BET LEAGUE ONE (-) Coventry v Sunderland ........... 12.0 WILLIAM HILL SCOTTISH CUP QUARTER-FINAL (-) St Johnstone v Celtic ............. 1.30
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