Battle to face Rangers in Europa League intensifies as potential ...

8 days ago

The Scottish Sun

Battle to face Rangers in Europa League intensifies as potential

RANGERS’ top eight Europa League finish means they can watch on this week as clubs do battle to face them in the next round. And there certainly wasn’t any shortage of drama! Rangers be…

RANGERS' top eight Europa League finish means they can watch on this week as clubs do battle to face them in the next round.

And there certainly wasn't any shortage of drama!

Twente players celebrating a goal. — Twente left it late to beat Bodo/GlimtCredit: AP

Michel Vlap of FC Twente celebrating a goal. — There were wild celebrations after the late victoryCredit: Getty

Fenerbahce SK players celebrating a goal. — Dusan Tadic scored as Fenerbahce eased to a first leg winCredit: Getty

Rangers beat Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1 at Ibrox in their final league phase match to secure a top eight finish.

That secured Philippe Clement's men a passage directly through to the round of 16 proper, which doesn't take place until next month.

For the teams finishing 9th to 24th, however, it's a play-off round and the first legs have taken place.

While Rangers don't know the exact identity of their last 16 opponents, they do have an idea of who they'll be facing.

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The draw was conducted prior to the play-off round taking place, with the Gers learning the four teams they could end up facing.

The Light Blues will face either Twente, Bodo/Glimt, Fenerbahce or Anderlecht when they return to European action.

The first clash of relevance saw Fenerbahce ease past Anderlecht 3-0 in their first leg meeting in Turkey.

Dusan Tadic, Edin Dzeko and Youssef En-Nesyri all scored to help Fener, who finished in 24th place, see-off the Belgians who had finished in 10th.

The other game with a Rangers interest had a far more dramatic finish.

Twente took the lead against Bodo/Glimt after just five minutes.

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Sayfallah Ltaief's goal looked like it would be the difference in the first leg before Patrick Berg levelled things up on 85 minutes.

That looked like it would earn the Norwegians a valuable draw to take back with them to the second leg.

However, Twente were awarded a penalty deep into added time.

Former Norwich striker Ricky Van Wolfswinkel stepped up to strike a dramatic 95th minute winner.

Rangers flop Sam Lammers was an unused sub for the Dutch side who take a slender advantage to Norway next week.

The Gers will learn exactly who they'll be facing when the round of 16 draw takes place on Friday, February 21.

They will, in fact, learn their entire map to the final in Bilbao with the quarter-finals and semi-finals also being drawn.

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