Rangersvs.Fenerbahce

The winners of this contest will set up a quarter-final showdown with either Roma or Athletic Bilbao.

Match preview

Rangers were not in Scottish Premiership action last weekend, so they have had a full week to rest up as well as bask in the glory of their impressive first-leg triumph in Turkey.

Cyriel Dessers's sixth-minute opener was cancelled out on the half-hour mark by Fenerbahce's Alexander Djiku, before Vaclav Cerny scored either side of half time, netting the Gers' third after finishing a superb counter-attack with a cool finish, to seal a memorable victory.

Rangers' win represents their second in three games since the appointment of interim head coach Barry Ferguson, who waxed lyrical about his team's performance after the match, but has acknowledged that "there is no way that I'm getting carried away".

The Glaswegian giants have only progressed from two of their previous 11 last-16 ties in major European competition, but the 2022 Europa League finalists have now put themselves in a strong position to avoid exiting at the last-16 stage for a second successive season.

Indeed, Rangers have advanced from 24 of their last 25 major European ties when leading by two or more goals from the first leg - the exception was going out to Borussia Dortmund in the last 32 of the 1999-00 UEFA Cup after drawing 2-2 on aggregate before losing on penalties.

Fenerbahce were regarded by many as favourites to come out on top against Rangers in last week's first leg, but they were second best in Istanbul and their first-ever European defeat to Scottish opposition ended their impressive 18-game unbeaten run across all competitions.

Mourinho acknowledged after the match that "everything went wrong" and his team were "very bad everywhere", but the Portuguese boss also described Fenerbahce's disappointing defeat as "a good result" considering their performance and has insisted that the tie is far from over.

Like Rangers, Fenerbahce have had a full week to rest and prepare for Thursday's second leg, although their brief break from the Turkish Super Lig has allowed title rivals Galatasaray to move seven points clear at the top of the table, albeit having now played a game more.

Fenerbahce are now focused fully on overturning their two-goal deficit as they endeavour to progress beyond the last 16 of the Europa League for the first time since 2012-13 when they reached the semi-finals.

The Yellow Canaries have not lost away from home in all competitions since December 7 (W5 D4), but they travel to Ibrox on Thursday having won only one of their last 11 away games in the knockout rounds of major European competition (D3 L7), conceding two or more goals in seven of those matches, including five of the last six.

Rangers Europa League form:

D

W

D

L

W

W

Rangers form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

L

W

Fenerbahce Europa League form:

L

D

D

W

D

L

Fenerbahce form (all competitions):

W

W

D

D

W

L

Team News

Rangers defender Robin Propper was forced off midway through the first half of last week's first leg following a nasty collision with goalkeeper Jack Butland and the Dutchman unlikely to be passed fit to feature due to concussion protocols.

Leon Balogun replaced Propper in a three-man defence and is set to start this time around alongside captain James Tavernier and John Souttar, with Turkey international Ridvan Yilmaz and Jefte operating as wing-backs.

No player has been involved in more Europa League goals this season than Cerny (eight - six goals, two assists). The Czech winger is expected to start again and his next goal in this season's competition will equal Tavernier's tally of seven in 2021-22 for the most goals scored by a Rangers player in a major European campaign.

As for Fenerbahce, Caglar Soyuncu was withdrawn in the first half of the first leg with a hamstring injury and has joined Jayden Oosterwolde, Rodrigo Becao, Diego Carlos (all knee), Bright Osayi-Samuel (thigh) and Ismail Yuksek (muscle) in the treatment room.

Djiku came on to score after replacing Soyuncu and he could start the second leg in central defence, unless Mourinho opts to move Sofyan Amrabat into the three-man backline next to Milan Skriniar and Yusuf Akcicek, and this would allow Fred - who is now available after missing the first leg through suspension - to return in midfield.

Anderson Talisca and Allan Saint-Maximin will both be pushing to start in attack, but Mourinho will likely stick with an experienced front three of Dusan Tadic, Youssef En-Nesyri and Edin Dzeko.

Rangers possible starting lineup:

Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun; Yilmaz, Barron, Raskin, Jefte; Diomande, Cerny; Dessers

Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:

Livakovic; Skriniar, Amrabat, Akcicek; Muldur, Szymanski, Fred, Kostic; Tadic; En-Neysri, Dzeko

We say: Rangers 2-2 Fenerbahce (Rangers to win 5-3 on aggregate)

Rangers relished their underdog status last week and they will back themselves to prevail again on home soil, considering they have not lost any of their previous five encounters with Turkish opposition at Ibrox (W3 D2).

It is difficult to write off any Mourinho side in Europe, and Fenerbahce certainly have the players at their disposal to turn this tie around, but another special European night at Ibrox could be in store for Rangers and they should have enough to progress on aggregate.

Written by

Oliver Thomas

Previews by email