Rangers know that, realistically, they need to take something from their Champions League clash with Napoli this evening if they want to keep their European dream alive.
Last season’s beaten Europa League Finalists can take their hunt for a Europa League finish in Group A down to the last day if Ajax fail to beat Liverpool and the Gers gain a point in Naples.
Whilst the Gers can still qualify even if they lose – provided Ajax are beaten in Amsterdam by a stuttering Liverpool – there won’t be many banking on Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men matching or bettering the 4-0 defeat to the Dutch champions earlier in the season.
Rangers are a team well out of confidence with the pressure building on their Dutch manager and the team seemingly devoid of any real ideas on the pitch.
It’s hard to remember any game in recent history – let alone one in the Champions League – where Rangers fans have been so defeatist in the build up than this one against Napoli.
There’s scarcely a bear out there who believes Rangers can firstly get a tune out of their injury ravaged squad at the moment but secondly get something from a rampant Napoli who are one game away from a club record 12th straight victory.
Oh, or that we can do it with not a Rangers fan officially in the stadium.
The Champions League visit to Napoli threatens to be a long old night in a Champions League campaign of long old nights but if Rangers are to take it to the final day then the club’s players need to rally.
Here’s the team we reckon Giovanni van Bronckhorst will go with in Italy but like the rest of the Rangers support, it’s hard to be confident for this one when we’re so busy fearing the worst.
Rangers predicted XI v Napoli – 5-2-3
GK – Allan McGregor
DR – James Tavernier
DC – Leon King
DC – John Lundstram
DC – Ben Davies
DL – Borna Barisic
CM – Steven Davis
CM – Malik Tillman
RW – Scott Arfield
ST – Alfredo Morelos
LW – Ryan Kent