Rangers fans are smarting after a remarkable 4-1 Europa League victory over OGC Nice which relieves the pressure on Philippe Clement.
The Gers have all but secured qualification to the knockout rounds of the revamped Europa League group stage with ten points considered enough to make the next phase.
But it’s not just the Rangers support, Philippe Clement or a rejuvenated team who’re celebrating in France; the Ibrox board might just be jumping for joy after securing a welcome financial boost.
Rangers run riot in Europa League v OGC Nice
In a rampant performance in France, the Rangers team stepped up amid substantial criticism of their domestic performances with an emphatic victory against the Ligue 1 side.
Hamza Igamane set up Vaclav Cerny for the opening goal of the game, as the Czech winger got his eighth goal of a productive season with a twice-deflected effort.
Mohamed Diomande would then have Rangers in dreamland with a second goal minutes later, the Ivorian reacting quickly to a stunning looped ball over the top from Dujon Sterling.
Moroccan talent Igamane – who showed exactly why there is such hype around him at Ibrox in an impressive showing in the club’s number nine berth – then added a third before half-time.
Taking an impressive touch around the goalkeeper, Igamane composed himself before slotting into an empty net with the scoreline having shades of that famous victory against Lyon in 2007.
But the scoring wasn’t done there.
Hamza Igamane then got his second goal of the game after leaving Nice defender Pablo Rosario for dead and coolly slotting past the goalkeeper.
Jack Butland couldn’t keep his clean sheet on the night however, when Badredine Bouanani lashed in a stunning left-foot free kick past the Rangers goalkeeper.
The result puts Rangers up to 8th in the Europa League group, with the club’s eyes now set on a bye into the competition’s Round of 16.
Rangers earn welcome Europa League win bonus
Rangers’ victory over Nice also comes with a tidy win bonus for the Ibrox side.
The rampant 4-0 victory will also the Bears a €450k (£375k) in prize money, to add to the €900k (£750k) the club earned with victories over Malmo and FCSB earlier in the competition.
The club received no prize money from the defeat by Lyon at Ibrox, but Rangers did earn €150k (£125k) for the draw in Olympiacos.
With three games to go against Tottenham (H), Manchester United (A) and Union Saint Gilloise (H) to come, Rangers will hope to add to the £875k earned in prize money before the group stage finishes.
Rangers have already banked €4.31m (£3.6m) from qualification for the competition, with €300k (£250k) up to grabs for qualification for the playoff phase and €1.75m (£1.5m) up for grabs for reaching the Last 16.
