Rangers take on Aberdeen on Sunday afternoon.
It’s the second of five post-split fixtures for the Gers, and they couldn’t have got off to a much better start, beating Hearts 3-1 last weekend.
Aberdeen are likely to provide a sterner test, though. There’s plenty riding on the fixture, too, with two very different potential consequences.
Financial Boost
On Friday afternoon, the SPFL confirmed the prize money pot for the 2018/19 season.
It outlines exactly what rewards will go to the club’s who finish on each rung of the football league ladder.
Rangers’ title hopes are long gone, but another three points and a slip up from Aberdeen will secure second spot.
That translates to a substantial £2.4 million, which could effectively be banked on Sunday. It’s over £300,000 more than what’s on offer for third place.
Ibrox Embarrassment
Should Rangers fall to defeat, though, it will be an embarrassment, rather than an influx of cash, the club needs to deal with.
Steven Gerrard’s side have already lost to Aberdeen twice at Ibrox this season. Worse still, they’ve lost three times to the Derek McInnes’ outfit in Glasgow, having succumbed in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden.
Another reverse would do serious damage to Ibrox’s reputation as a fortress.
A draw wouldn’t be a whole lot better, either. A statement needs to be made with a win. Otherwise, the Gers will finish with a quite frankly pitiful return against an Aberdeen side which is youthful and talented, but hardly full of world beaters.
Let’s hope we’re talking about positive consequences, rather than negative ones, after the game.
