Rangers momentum key as path to Europa League final revealed
Rangers will be hoping to channel the momentum from their run to the Europa League final in 2022 after discovering their path for this season.
Philippe Clement and his side have little to fight for in the Scottish Premiership other than mere pride, but will look to try and achieve the unthinkable on the continent this season as they so nearly did in Seville three years ago.
The draw for each European competition’s knockout phase was made on Friday (21 February), in which the Gers sealed their place with a top-eight berth in the league phase of the Europa League with their win over Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox (30 January).
Rangers discover opponents until Europa League final
With the draw having been made on Friday afternoon, Rangers have been pitted against Fenerbahce in the last 16 of the Europa League.
Jose Mourinho will be making the visit to Ibrox in the second part of the two-legged tie next month, while the Light Blues travel to the Turkish capital of Istanbul first up.
Should Clement’s men progress, they will face a tie with either Athletic Club (Bilbao) or Roma, before a potential semi-final reunion with Manchester United, who they visited at Old Trafford in January.
Lyon, Real Sociedad and FCSB are among the other semi-final opponents Gers could face should they reach the last four, while the final would present one of several sides including Tottenham – with whom a draw was played out at Ibrox earlier this season – and 2022 final opponents Eintracht Frankfurt.
| POS | Europa League – league phase | PLD | PTS | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Lyon | 8 | 15 | 8 |
| 7 | Olympiacos | 8 | 15 | 6 |
| 8 | Rangers | 8 | 14 | 6 |
| 9 | Bodo/Glimt | 8 | 14 | 3 |
| 10 | Anderlecht | 8 | 14 | 2 |
Gers have been a different beast in Europe before
Rangers seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to European football; another level to which they can stretch.
It doesn’t always apply – there have been some underwhelming European nights as well as the iconic Ibrox evenings – but the contrast at times between the way the Gers perform in the Europa League compared to the Premiership is stark.
In 2022, of course, it was extremely prevalent, as Rangers won 4-2 away at Borussia Dortmund before the cliched ‘hangover’ in the league of successive draws with Dundee United and Motherwell.
Last October, the 4-0 thrashing of FCSB at Ibrox arrived four days after stumbling to defeat without reply at Kilmarnock in the league; the following month, the rampant 4-1 win in Nice followed a gloomy 1-1 home draw with Dundee United.
There seems to be a unified feeling on European nights that is not always present in the league and domestic cups, for various reasons – though this could be about to change should the proposed takeover deal go through with 49ers Enterprises.
The potential new ownership group could unlock a permanent feeling of glory at Rangers which for now only appears accessible in Europe.