Rangers might be getting a hiding in the Champions League, but the scale of the club’s achievement in getting there has been highlighted by the Europa League success of Union Saint Gilloise and PSV Eindhoven.
The Gers came back from 2-0 down to defeat USG 3-0 at Ibrox in a memorable victory over the Belgian side in Champions League QR3.
The first leg in Belgium was atrocious whilst the return was glorious with the turnaround not exactly expected given the abject nature of the performance in the first 90.
But if Rangers fans need any reminder of just how big a result this was for the club – not including the reported £40m it could rake into the coffers – they need only look at the performances of USG in the Europa League.
USG and PSV unbeaten in Europa League after Rangers exits
The Belgians remain unbeaten in Europa League Group D after this week’s 3-3 draw with SC Braga – a team Rangers are very familiar with – followed on from a 2-1 win in Portugal.
This comes after victories over Bundesliga side Union Berlin and Swedish outfit Malmo FF.
In the Champions League Playoff round, Rangers would then take on PSV Eindhoven and after a 2-2 draw at Ibrox put in a monumental performance to win 1-0 in Eindhoven.
That result was met with huge celebrations as Rangers qualified for their first Champions League campaign in 12 years even if since then the performances have not been up to scratch.
PSV Eindhoven are also unbeaten in this season’s Europa League, but have played a game less courtesy of a fixture with Arsenal being rescheduled due to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
This week the Dutch club thumped FC Zurich 5-0 in the Netherlands, following on from 5-1 victory in Switzerland last week. They also drew 1-1 with Bodo/Glimt in the Philips Stadion on opening night.
The unbeaten Europa League campaigns of PSV Eindhoven and USG highlight just how big an achievement it was for Rangers to get through to the Champions League by beating these teams.
But it’s clear there is a mentality issue at the top table for the Gers who are now up against it to prevent themselves going down as the worst team in the competition’s history.
Meanwhile, one former Rangers star has been spotted back in Ibrox after leaving in 2020.