As Rangers get set to face Ufa at Ibrox on Thursday, Steven Gerrard can break a decade-long stat by avoiding defeat.
The Ibrox side are looking to progress to the Europa League with an aggregate victory over the Russians. The first-leg is at Ibrox on Thursday night, and Gerrard could break an unexpected record by avoiding a loss.
Should Rangers win or even draw against Ufa, they will have gone seven games unbeaten in European competition. It’s a stat that hasn’t been achieved since that famous year of 2008.
Walter’s Winners
Rangers’ run to the UEFA Cup final in Manchester came after their seven-game unbeaten run in the Champions League. The Gers managed to see off Zeta twice, Red Star Belgrade, Stuttgart, and Lyon in an impressive run.
Walter Smith’s side also secured an incredible 0-0 draw at home to Barcelona in a dream start to the group stages.
However, that run ended with a 2-0 defeat in the Nou Camp thanks to goals from Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi. Certainly, there was no shame in that run ending.
There’s no doubting Gerrard’s Rangers haven’t came up against the same class of opposition. However, it’s still a stat that could be eclipsed with anything other than a defeat on Thursday night.
There are similarities between how both managers set their sides up. However, this is just the beginning of what Gerrard could achieve in Glasgow if progress keeps going at this pace.
So far, Rangers have managed to see of Shkupi, NK Osijek, and NK Maribor in the Europa League so far. It’s not been a easy road to qualification for Gerrard, but he’s met each challenge head-on. He’ll be hoping that success can continue when the Gers face the Russians on Thursday night.