Rangers face a 7000-mile round trip into the Armenian unknown this week as the club look to secure their spot in the Europa League group stages.
Leading 1-0 from a disappointing first leg at Ibrox, the Gers are sizeable favourites for the clash and anything but victory will be viewed as relative disaster for Steven Gerrard’s charges.
But whilst a Europa Conference League spot awaits the defeated team from this Playoff leg, Rangers have been given extra motivation by news concerning their potential Europa League seeding.
Rangers will be in pot two for the Europa League group seeding should the Ibrox club make the second-tier European competition.
Steven Gerrard’s recent success in the Europa League has made a huge difference to the Ibrox club’s coefficient and the Gers now sit 43rd in the UEFA Club Rankings.
This is enough to edge them into pot 2 in the Europa League which means the club will be well-positioned to progress from the group should they make the tournament.
Rangers’ qualification campaign has been overshadowed by that crushing blow against Malmo FF at Ibrox which saw Steven Gerrard’s side collapse against 10 men.
The Gers had levelled the tie 2-2 at halftime in the second leg after Alfredo Morelos had given Rangers a 1-0 lead with Malmo midfielder Bonke Innocent seeing red.
But Antonio Colak would destroy the Gers defence with a second-half double sending Rangers tumbling out of the competition with fans licking their wounds ever since.
The minimum now is qualification for the Europa League group stages and Rangers will certainly enjoy the cash boost that comes with it should the club make the tournament.
To make matters worse, Malmo have now reached the Champions League group stages with fans left wondering what might’ve been.
