Rangers collapsed in Celtic atmosphere, must not do the same in Belgrade
Rangers face a hostile atmosphere Red Star Belgrade as they take a 3-0 lead to Serbia, and must not do the same as the collapse against Celtic.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side go into the game at the Rajko Mitic Stadium tonight (Thursday 17 March) as favourites after a strong, if fortuitous performance, at Ibrox last week, and having bested the expected tournament winners Borussia Dortmund in the previous round.
But the 3-0 collapse at Parkhead at the beginning of February leaves a seed of doubt, as the players were blown away by the atmosphere inside Celtic Park.
Due to the ongoing dispute between the two sides of the Old Firm rivalry regarding away ticketing, there were no Gers fans in attendance that night.
Light Blues supporters have traveled to Belgrade for the match tonight, but it will be taking place in a stadium which ex-Ibrox hero Ally McCoist called “the most intimidating place I’ve ever been” on talkSPORT this morning (09.15am).
Lessons must be learned
The players have benefited from being roared on by the home crowd in Glasgow against Red Star and Dortmund, but Covid-19 restrictions meant the away leg in Germany was only part-full.
The performance in the 4-2 was sensational, it cannot be denied, but there is no way of knowing how much of a factor below-capacity Westfalenstadion crowd was.
The Bundesliga side have a famous support, but even their’s does not have the reputation of the fans of Red Star.
While perhaps not at the level of infamous away trips there during the Serbian club’s heyday in the 1990’s, such as the one McCoist was a part of, it will by no means be a walk in the park tonight.
The elevated level of the performances in Europe in the last couple of months may be enough to negate any effect from the crowd, but it is enough to cause worry for Bears fans.
They should have enough to finish the job, but Dejan Stankovic’s men showed in the first leg they carry significant threat, and an early goal or two for the hosts would change things completely.
The last time van Bronckhorst’s players walked out into a comparable atmosphere defending a lead, points at the top of the SPFL rather than goals on aggregate, they fell apart in the Old Firm derby.
If they did not learn from that experience, it could be a very difficult European night.
In other Rangers news, McCoist admits concern ahead of the second leg.