Joe Cole: Ibrox will make the difference in Rangers Europa League tie v Borussia Dortmund
Rangers will need Ibrox to be at its best if they are to beat Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League, says Joe Cole.
The draw for the knockout round playoffs in the competition was made today (13 December), with the Bears pitted against the side currently second in the German Bundesliga.
The first leg will be played at Signal Iduna Park on 17 February before the second leg in Glasgow a week later.
Reacting to the draw on BT Sport, Cole said: “It’s a hell of a tie. Ibrox is the factor here. You need to go away in the first leg and keep it tight.
“If ever a fanbase has been starved of these nights, it’s the Rangers faithful. They will make noise, they will make it a cauldron.
“The big problem is stopping Erling Haaland. Some of the top defenders in the Bundesliga and Champions League haven’t worked out how to do that so van Bronckhorst has got to have a gameplan. Maybe stop the supply into him, suffocate the source.
“It’s an intriguing tie. It’s probably the most difficult tie they could have got. But they’ll embrace it and it’s going to be a fantastic night at Ibrox.”
Spine-tingling
It is certainly a dauting tie for Rangers, with Borussia Dortmund undoubtedly one of the main teams they would have wanted to avoid.
As Cole highlights, what is perhaps the most ominous element is coming up against Erling Haaland, who has 17 goals in 14 appearances this season.
Nonetheless, it is a chance to cause a real upset and for this Bears squad and Giovanni van Bronckhorst to write themselves into club folklore.
They will be big underdogs, so all the pressure will be on Dortmund. As long as Rangers are not out of the tie after the first leg in Germany, they will give themselves every chance on home turf.
European nights at Ibrox are spine-tingling and games such as Inter Milan in 2005 and Fiorentina in 2008 will never be forgotten.
If supporters can evoke those memories and really be the 12thman in February, anything could happen.
In other Rangers news, a Sky Sports pundit called for VAR in Scotland following the Bears’ win over Hearts.