Rangers will have one eye on this latest round of Europa League fixtures as the Gers await the draw for the competition’s round of 16.
Friday’s draw in Nyon will determine the run to the Europa League Final in Bilbao this May and the potential hurdles Rangers will have to overcome to get there.
Before all that though, four teams will have to settle their Europa League playoff fates and should the cards fall in the right place, two current Rangers stars might be in for a romantic homecoming.
Rangers subplots aplenty in potential Europa League draw
Rangers know that they will face one of either FC Twente v Bodo/Glimt or Fenerbahce v Anderlecht.
Turkish side Fenerbahce, who blew the Belgians away 3-0 in the first leg, are the biggest potential draw of the round and one Rangers might want to avoid, or draw, depending on your outlook.
But the FC Twente and Bodo/Glimt tie is anything but over with the Dutch outfit needing a last-minute penalty to take a 2-1 lead to Norway.
Twente are the favourites to progress as things stand but Rangers know there remains four possible options when it comes to Friday morning’s draw.
Whilst the Twente/Bodo tie is still live, there are several Rangers-centric subplots when it comes to a potential tie against the Dutch club.
A potential Rangers return for Sam Lammers after he struggled at Ibrox is the headline-maker.
Rangers also upset Twente’s directors after signing Dutch defender Robin Propper ahead of the new campaign.
But there are another two players currently in the Rangers ranks who have a vested interest in a return to de Grolsch Veste.
Vaclav Cerny and Danilo could be set for Eredivisie return
Rangers duo Vaclav Cerny and Danilo are two of the Ibrox side’s most talented and glamorous players.
Whilst Cerny is only on loan at Ibrox this season, Wolfsburg paid a reported £6m to sign the Czech winger last season.
Rangers also forked out £6m to bring Danilo to Ibrox only for the ex-Feyenoord striker’s time in Glasgow to be interrupted with serious injuries.
Both will be crucial to Rangers in the Europa League knockouts, Danilo returning from injury after being added to the club’s European squad for the second half of the campaign.
And if Rangers draw FC Twente in the Round of 16, it’s not just Sam Lammers and Robin Propper who might have an emotional tie to the match.
That’s because Vaclav Cerny and Danilo actually played together for FC Twente in the 2020/21 season.
It was a productive season for both players too; Cerny managed 13 goal contributions (six goals, seven assists) whilst Danilo wound up with 22 (17 goals, five assists).
Having come through at Ajax together, Cerny and Danilo have played with one another throughout their careers.
Should they play a part in any potential Europa League reunion with FC Twente, let’s hope that understanding pays dividends for Rangers.
