It’s the biggest week of Barry Ferguson’s managerial career at Rangers so far – and tonight his side have the chance to book their place in the last eight of the Europa League.
The Gers shocked Jose Mourinho‘s Fenerbahce last Thursday by scoring a remarkable 3-1 victory at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, courtesy of a brace from Cyriel Dessers either side of Vaclav Cerny‘s cool finish. The Portuguese coach insists his team are better than their Scottish counterparts but know they will have to deliver a top class performance at Ibrox tonight to overturn the deficit.
Mourinho’s preparations have been overshadowed with accusations of racism labelled against them back home in Istanbul in the wake of his side’s goalless draw with Galatasaray last month. But the Special One’s resume in European competitions speak for itself.
Interim boss Ferguson had a number of successful nights under the lights in Govan during his playing days memorably captaining the side in their memorable run to the UEFA Cup final in 2009. And despite having lost their last three matches at home in all competitions, Rangers have the chance to show just why they are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the continental scene.
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier (c), Souttar, Balogun, Jefte, Sterling, Raskin, Diomande, Barron, Cerny, Dessers.
Subs: Kelly, Ridvan, Propper, Lawrence, Bajrami, Nsiala, Igamane, Hagi, McCausland, Rice, Curtis, Danilo.
Fenerbahce: Irfan Egribayat, Mert Muldur, Skriniar, Akcicek, Kostic, Szymanski, Fred (c), Amrabat, Osayi-Samuel, En-Nesyri, Talisca.
Subs: Livakovic, Cetin, Djiku, Mert Yandas, Dzeko, Tadic, Kahveci, Cenk Tosun, Tograk.
Catch all of the build, up, action and reaction with us right here in our LIVE blog on what promises to be a thrilling night at Ibrox.
21:01Anthony Evans
The stakes are obviously a lot higher tonight, but for a fourth game running at Ibrox, Rangers are running the risk of tasting a defeat.
Barry Ferguson needs to get through to his players during the half-time interval so that they can come out of the blocks flying and ger the Ibrox crowd going again.
20:58Andy MacKay
Whether or not the mindgames maestro that is Mourinho’s pre-match musings are having an effect or not is one question, but whatever the reason, Rangers have been cagey in this first half.
The Special One loves to try and outfox his opponents and his Fener side have responded with a solid showing at Ibrox.
Cerny has had a couple of half-chances to make something happen, but beyond that Rangers are yet to seriously threaten the Turks’ goal, barring that close call when the keeper nearly let in a backpass.
Fenerbahce have frustrated their opponents with some poor dives and niggly fouls, but their goal was the antithesis of that behaviour. Kostic, who grabbed the assist for Frankfurt’s equaliser in Seville, got his cross in via a Sterling deflection which looped over the head of Tavernier and onto the foot of Szymanski and his volleyed finish was truly excellent.
It sets things up for a tense second half for the home fans.
20:49KEY EVENT
Fenerbahce’s Sebastian Szymanski celebrates as he scores to make it 1-0
It’s half-time at Ibrox and that super Fener goal from Szymanski is what separates the two teams.
It’s game on in this one and Barry Ferguson has a hell of a team talk ahead of him.
Half-time score at Ibrox: Rangers 0-1 Fenerbahce (3-2 agg.)
20:48Andy MacKay
I said pre-match that Rangers were walking a tightrope going into this one and Diomande has just picked up a booking and will miss the next match after Mert Muldur goes down very easily.
20:46KEY EVENT
Fenerbahce’s Sebastian Szymanski scores to make it 1-0
Oh my that is a super strike for Fenerbahce as Sebastian Szymanski hooks a terrific volley past Butland off of a deflected Filip Kostic cross.
Game on at Ibrox.
Rangers 0-1 Fenerbahce.
20:44Andy MacKay
It’s been a fairly even first-half so far, but Rangers are entering the closing moments of it still two goals to the good, which will please the fans and management alike.
20:41Andy MacKay
The fans around Ibrox break into applause for Rangers fan Christopher Potter, who tragically died in Istanbul last week following his heroes.
A fitting tribute from both sets of fans.
20:39Andy MacKay
The free-kick is hit into the wall by Talisca, but there are a couple of balls sent back into the Rangers area, with one looking like it might fall for en-Nesyri but Barron is across to win the tackle and then clear.
20:38Andy MacKay
John Souttar is the latest into the book for a foul on Talisca as the Brazilian raced forward and he will now miss the quarter-final first-leg should Rangers progress.
20:37Anthony Evans
The hosts have been the better team so far by quite some distance.
Vaclav Cerny has been plenty of the ball and has been very dangerous coming off the right hand side to cause the Fenerbahce back line all sorts of problems.
But Mourinho’s men know that if they can get the first goal, the outcome of this tie could completely swing on it’s axis.
20:37Andy MacKay
It’s a good half-chance for the big striker as his fellow Morrocan Amrabat picks him out with a good ball over the top. The former Sevilla attacker elects to take it first time but fires wide.
20:34Andy MacKay
Oh my. Fenerbahce almost gift Rangers the opener as Akcicek plays it back to his goalkeeper, who lets it run across him inside the six-yard area and so close to going over the line before he hoofs it clear.
Heart-in-mouth moment right there for Egribayat.
20:32Andy MacKay
Balogun is cautioned for a foul on Talisca after the Brazilian had looked to get his team on the break.
20:31Andy MacKay
Cerny does brilliantly to get the ball on the half turn and races forward, with the space opening up for a right-foot shot not once, but twice after some neat footwork, but he elects to try and get on his left-foot both times and Fener eventually get a foot in and the chance is gone.
20:30Anthony Evans
Potential Rangers new owner Andrew Cavenagh
Earlier today ,Record Sport told you that one of the key players in the 49ers Enterprises takeover of Rangers, Andrew Cavenagh, would be in attendance tonight at Ibrox.
We previously revealed that the US-business tycoon had taken in Rangers’ league clash with St Johnstone back in January and the takeover king has got the VIP treatment again tonight.
20:28Andy MacKay
It’s a flailing arm from Bright Osayi-Samuel that’s caught the Brazilian in the face, but he’s ok to continue.
20:27Andy MacKay
Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho debates with the fourth official
It did look like the yellow card had been flashed the way of the legendary manager after that Talisca incident, but we’re being told it was the Fener kit man who got the sanction.
20:26Andy MacKay
Cerny has another effort at goal as Barron again wins the ball in midfield. It ripples the wrong side of the side netting, which leads a few inside Ibrox to momentarily think it’s a goal, but it remains 0-0.
20:25Andy MacKay
Dujon Sterling is into the book after a tackle on Filip Kostic.
20:24Andy MacKay
Fenerbahce see their short corner routine cut out and Rangers get on the break through Diomande. The final ball is not quite there again and the Turks can clear.
Still 0-0, with 24 minutes on the clock.
20:22Andy MacKay
In the aftermath of that incident, Jose Mourinho has also been booked for his protestations, much to the amusement of the home fans.
20:21Andy MacKay
Fenerbahce’s Brazilian striker Talisca reacts as his penalty appeals are waved away
Fenerbahce fling themselves forward with Mert Muldur and Jefte does well to initially cut out the full-back’s forward pass, but as Talisca looks to get onto the loose ball, his fellow Brazilian Jefte puts a challenge in that sees the attacker hit the deck, but the referee opts to book Talisca for simulation.
He did fling himself to the ground a lot when he came on inthe first leg, and he’s looking for it there, but that could have gone the other way.
Still 0-0.
20:17Anthony Evans
The Rangers faithful have been impressed with what they have seen in the last few minutes and are cranking up the volume inside Ibrox.
It’s been a positive first 15 minute spell for the hosts but they know that breaking the deadlock is imperative.
20:16Andy MacKay
The big centre-half for Fenerbahce is penalised after grappling with Cyriel Dessers for a Rangers free-kick from the right hand side.
Diomande wins the header, but it loops into the keeper’s arms.
The feeling is that this battle between centre-half and centre-forward is just beginning.
20:14Andy MacKay
John Souttar takes on Sofyan Amrabat of Fenerbahce
Rangers have another effort as Diomande plays a neat touch inside for Barron, who plays it forward for Cerny.
He cuts inside on his left-foot and has the effort at goal, but a deflection takes the sting out of it and the Fener keeper saves easily.
20:12Andy MacKay
Rangers work their best opening of the opening moments here as Diomande plays it over the top for Jefte to play a first-time ball across, but Cerny takes his eye off it as he opens up for the right-footed effort and gets it all wrong.
20:11Andy MacKay
The ball is played forward by Balogun and Diomande gets himself between ball and man, and Amrabat duly knocks the Rangers midfielder over.
20:10Andy MacKay
The Nigerian is penalised for a barge on Talisca, resulting in a Fener free-kick in a dangerous area.
20:10Anthony Evans
Jose Mourinho (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho has recently reminicised about his time studying in Scotland before launching his career in management.
The Portuguese icon has also confirmed he was once in attendance in Glasgow for an Old Firm clash between Rangers and Celtic but tonight the two-time Champions League winner gets to experience Ibrox up, close and personal from the dugout.
Rangers fans will be hoping he doesn’t get the opportunity to run down the touchline and celebrate a goal in a repeat of his iconic antics at Old Trafford during his time as Porto boss.
20:08Andy MacKay
Rangers win it back in the midfield and break forward at pace, but Raskin delays his pass and it’s eventually dealt with by the defenders.
Still 0-0, and it’s been a bit of a cagey start from both sides.
