While Rapid Vienna hit their straps halfway through the Europa League group stages, they are yet to get going in the Austrian Bundesliga.
They currently sit eighth out of twelve teams and only nine points ahead of bottom placed Flyeralarm Admira.
Not long after Rangers’ abject display in Dundee on Sunday, Rapid experienced similar frustration at home to Sturm Graz.
The point that the 0-0 draw afforded the sides, did little to improve either’s position in the league.
However, even though the home team failed to break the deadlock at the weekend, there was one eye-catching aspect of the fixture.
The home fans.
A special atmosphere awaits Rangers
Last week, we reported on the Rapidviertelstunde, a tradition unique to Thursday’s opponents. The tradition sees the fans rhythmically clap and chant their way through the final 15 minutes of every fixture.
In addition to that, it seems that they also specialise in pyrotechnics and displays.
If the fans are so pumped up for a mid-table league match, you can imagine the scenes that await Rangers.
While they may be failing domestically, the fixture represents a huge opportunity for both sides to reach the knockout stages of the Europa League.
The Rapid supporters will be all too aware of their team’s recent woes on the pitch.
Therefore, it’s inevitable they will ramp up their own efforts, to try to drag The Green-Whites over the finish line.