Rangers’ Europa League Round of 32 opponents Royal Antwerp are in dire straights after a 1-0 defeat to Zulte Waregem on Wednesday night extended a wretched run of results.
The Gers were drawn against the Belgian club on Monday, avoiding top-quality opposition like Real Sociedad and Red Bull Salzburg in the process.
Antwerp’s 12-point haul from a group that featured Tottenham, LASK and Ludogorets proved that they are a capable side.
However, they’re currently in the midst of a woeful run of form, particularly in domestic competition.
A first-half Gianni Bruno goal was enough to secure Zulte Waregem all three points at the Bosuilstadion in midweek, as Ivan Leko’s side fell to their fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions.
Zulte joined Club Brugge, Tottenham and Genk as a team to have beaten Antwerp in the past fortnight.
In fact, the Gers’ knockout opponents have only won one of their last seven in the Belgian top flight, with a 3-2 triumph over Oud-Heverlee Leuven the only positive from a run that stretches back to the beginning of November.
Remarkably, Antwerp still sit seventh in the league table, but they have lost six and drawn four of their 17 fixtures to date.
Those numbers must give Rangers confidence that a spot in the last 16 of the Europa League is there for the taking.
Steven Gerrard could also welcome back a long-term absentee in time for those matches, with supporters buzzing about the physical condition of a star who’s closing in on a comeback.
