Rangers' route to the Europa League final

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side have fallen short in their bid to make it back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles but are only 90 minutes away from becoming the first team from the country to win the Europa League.

The Gers have seen off some revered names to book their tickets to the showpiece event, which will represent their sixth major European final in their 150-year history.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at Rangers' route to the Europa League final.

GROUP A - RUNNERS-UP

Rangers' continental campaign could hardly have got off to a worse start, with the Scottish giants firstly suffering a 2-0 home defeat to Lyon before travelling to Sparta Prague only to lose 1-0.

Van Bronckhorst's side got themselves back into the top-two conversation by taking four points off Danish strugglers Brondby, and they ensured that lightning would not strike twice against Lyon and Sparta Prague later on in Group A.

Indeed, Alfredo Morelos netted twice in a 2-0 win over the latter at Ibrox - putting the Gers three clear of their Czech counterparts in second place before the final matchday.

Sparta did what they needed to do against Brondby by claiming a 2-0 win, but Rangers held Lyon to a 1-1 draw at the Groupama Stadium to finish as runners-up to the French side with eight points - advancing to the playoffs in the process.

KNOCKOUT PLAYOFFS - RANGERS 6-4 BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Facing Borussia Dortmund would seemingly signal the end of Rangers' European run, but the Gers took full advantage of Erling Braut Haaland's absence to stun the former Champions League contenders.

During the first leg at the Westfalenstadion, Rangers had four goals to their name by the 60th minute, although Dortmund kept the tie alive through Jude Bellingham and Raphael Guerreiro's efforts before the second leg.

Bellingham was once again on target at Ibrox alongside Donyell Malen, but a brace from talisman James Tavernier saw Rangers hold Dortmund to a 2-2 draw on their own patch and dump the German giants out in some style.

LAST-16 - RANGERS 4-2 RED STAR BELGRADE

Another day, another Tavernier penalty - this time against Red Star Belgrade in the last-16, as the 30-year-old right-back netted with only 11 minutes on the clock before Morelos also got in on the act at Ibrox.

Leon Balogun would steer Rangers into a healthy 3-0 first-leg advantage before the final whistle blew, although Crvena Zvezda threatened a sensational comeback after just 10 minutes of the second leg through Mirko Ivanic.

However, Ryan Kent soon restored Rangers' three-goal advantage in the tie to give the Gers plenty of breathing space, and a last-gasp penalty from El Fardou Ben would prove to be nothing more than a mere consolation for the Serbian side.

QUARTER-FINALS - RANGERS 3-2 BRAGA

There was to be no famous European away night for Rangers in the first leg of their quarter-final with Portuguese powerhouses Braga, who headed to Ibrox with a 1-0 lead in tow thanks to Abel Ruiz's effort.

The ever-reliable Tavernier had other ideas, though, as he bagged a brace for himself before half time - including yet another penalty - before an 83rd-minute David Carmo goal forced extra time.

Braga had been playing with 10 men for almost an hour, and Rangers eventually made them pay in the 101st minute through Kemar Roofe before another sending off the Portuguese side dashed their hopes of a magnificent turnaround.

SEMI-FINALS - RANGERS 3-2 RB LEIPZIG

Van Bronckhost's Rangers rearguard held out for 85 minutes against German giants RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena - not even Christopher Nkunku could break them down - but Angelino did with a stunning volley five minutes from time.

However, what followed at Ibrox will surely go down as the most famous European night at the stadium in recent memory, as Tavenier's tap-in and Glen Kamara's 20-yard effort saw the Gers turn the tie on its head before the half-hour mark.

The effervescent Nkunku would volley home to level proceedings on aggregate in the second half, but the unlikeliest of heroes in John Lundstram popped up with the crucial third for Rangers nine minutes from time to spark raucous pandemonium among the home crowd and send his side to Seville.