Athletic Club are preparing to take the trip from Spain’s Basque region to Glasgow as Rangers prepare to face the La Liga outfit on Europa League duties.
Athletic have extra incentive in this season’s Europa League with the club’s Estadio de San Mames set to host the competition’s Final in May.
But the Spaniards will have to overcome the Gers without Yuri Berchiche, the 35-year-old left-back having sustained a muscle injury ahead of the clash with Rangers at Ibrox.
Athletic have been warned of Rangers’ threat ahead of the game and now the club’s fans have been told to avoid a specific area on matchday.
Athletic Club supporters urged to avoid Rangers-centric area
Athletic Club supporters have been urged to avoid Paisley Road West ahead of the game with Rangers.
This is the part of Glasgow which is most frequented by Rangers supporters ahead of matches at Ibrox with Athletic Club urging the Spanish fans to visit different parts of the city.
Instead, Athletic fans are being urged to stick to the City Centre and the Merchant City ahead of the game which is scheduled to kick-off at 8pm.
Away fans will be able to enter Ibrox Stadium at 6:30pm and Athletic Club supporters are being told to get off at the Govan station to avoid potential clashes at Ibrox.
The guidance comes after both Athletic Club and Rangers were fined by UEFA heading into the hotly anticipated Europa League Quarter Final tie.
Athletic were fined for fan disruption ahead of the Round of 16 second leg with AS Roma whilst Rangers have been punished for a banner which has led to a suspended stand closure.
Rangers roll out welcome mat for Europa League visitors
Rangers have been accommodating to their Spanish guests ahead of the match with banners going up in the local Basque dialect for the Athletic Club fans.
Athletic supporters who are making the journey to Scotland will be greeted with a special signage outside the away end which reads: “Ongi etorri Ibroxera.”
This translates as Welcome to Ibrox.
Rangers are also offering a special tour of Ibrox stadium in Spanish on the Friday morning after the game at 11:30pm, with Athletic fans invited to buy tickets for the tour.
More information is available on the Rangers website.
