Rangers’ Europa League rivals Antwerp win again to retain 2nd place in the Belgian Jupiler League courtesy of a 3-2 win over Waasland Beveren.
Wantaway striker Didier Lamkel Zé netted a double with Dylan Batubinsika getting the eventual winner after Michael Frey had twice equalised for Beveren.
The result makes it Antwerp’s second on the bounce following a 2-0 win over Eupen in midweek with new boss Franky Vercauteren steadying the ship at the Great Old following a period of upheaval.
This latest victory means the Belgian manager and Anderlecht legend has won four of his first six matches in charge with his side well in the running for a European spot in Belgium this season.
Runaway leaders Club Brugge are 11 points clear with a game in hand and it remains unlikely anyone will catch the reigning Champions this season.
But Antwerp are in with a real shout of being the best of the rest with second place in Belgium given a crack at Champions League qualification.
The Belgian side have wrestled back from difficulties towards the end of 2020 when manager Ivan Leko left for the Chinese Super League and some of their key players wanted to leave the club.
But this result proves that Rangers should underestimate this side at their peril with Royal Antwerp already beating Tottenham Hotspur this season.
The first leg of this tie is set to take place in Antwerp on the 18th of February whilst the return will be one week later at Ibrox Stadium.
Vercauteren is also not resting on his laurels ahead of the match as he made a transfer appeal to the club’s board with the Gers game on the horizon.
