Rangers ‘disaster’ verdict shared ahead of Fenerbahce return leg
Rangers have given themselves the perfect opportunity to reach the Europa League quarter-finals with their 3-1 win at Fenerbahce on Thursday.
Barry Ferguson’s Gers returned from Istanbul having produced one of their best performances of the season to put Jose Mourinho’s side to the sword, with three goals the least their display deserved.
Cyriel Dessers’ early opener and Vaclav Cerny’s double puts Rangers on course to finish the job at Ibrox seven days later, but Bears fans will be wary that their recent home record is poor to say the least.
Despite losing their last three homes matches – the second of which, against St Mirren, resulted in Philippe Clement’s sacking – Ferguson will hope a two-goal advantage is enough to see them through.
Rangers urged to avoid ‘disaster’ as Fenerbahce prediction made
Jose Mourinho and Fenerbahce will arrive in Govan on Thursday with nothing to lose, having failed to get to grips with a Rangers side who look an entirely new team when playing on the continent this season.
| Fenerbahce | Statistics | Rangers |
| 1 | Goals | 3 |
| 1.80 | xG | 1.82 |
| 7 | Shots on target | 6 |
| 64 per cent | Possession | 36 per cent |
| 11 | Corners | 3 |
With Rangers holding all the cards ahead of the second leg despite their recent home form, Daily Record journalist Fraser Wilson gave his view on the fallout of a potential Fenerbahce victory at Ibrox (8 March).
Wilson said: “It would be a disaster if they didn’t [finish the job] now. Credit to Rangers, they were fantastic in Turkey and have put themselves in a superb position.
“Fenerbahce will need to chase the game at Ibrox, and that could play into Rangers’ hands as they look to hit [them] on the break to kill the tie.”
Rangers fans will fear disastrous slip-up v Fenerbahce
Just as Mourinho’s Fenerbahce will come to Ibrox with nothing but winning on their minds, Barry Ferguson’s Rangers have it all to lose, with the Europa League being their last chance of silverware.
Sat 16 points behind Celtic in the Premiership owing to a woeful run of results throughout this season – particularly of late – Rangers have nothing to play for and the title race is now set to be a procession.
Losing at home to second-tier Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup made history and proved to be the penultimate death-knell for Clement’s tenure, while the League Cup Final was lost to Celtic on penalties.
As a result, it’s the Europa League or bust for Rangers this term, and if Fenerbahce overturn a two-goal deficit on Thursday, it doesn’t bare thinking about what the result of the season could hold at Ibrox.