Rangers enjoyed the weekend off due to their own incompetence with Barry Ferguson given the luxury of a few extra days to prepare for the visit of Fenerbahce.
The Turks have been afforded the same luxury though so the advantage is only one of a level playing field ahead of what is sure to be a raucous night at Ibrox.
Jose Mourinho warned Rangers about the tie being far from over after acknowledging that his side were lucky to escape the first leg just 3-1 down.
His opposite number now needs to stick or twist with the interim Rangers manager having to choose between going for the throat or protecting the lead.
The Europa League is all that Rangers have to play for and it looks like the prospect of a place in the quarter-finals has caught the imagination.
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Ibrox at capacity as Rangers sell out for Fenerbahce
Another blockbuster Thursday night could be on the cards with Ibrox already a sell-out just hours after tickets went on general sale.
Mourinho has taken charge at Ibrox before but it was only a friendly and the atmosphere will be a lot more intense when he brings Fenerbahce on Thursday.
A fast start similar to the sort that was seen on so many occasions in 2022 would be the perfect lift for a support that has had to endure a torrid campaign.
A positive result and Rangers’ could get a lucky draw with Roma and see the fixtures reversed in what is a well-known advantage in knock-out football.
Those lucky enough to have tickets could be in for a treat, but if you have a spare, you could maybe help these guys out who responded to Mohamed Diomande and Nicolas Raskin promoting the game:
“Any two or three spare?” pled one Rangers fan, “Any two spare?” asked another, whilst Toby McGowan, a Bluenose posting on X was “Looking for one spare.”
Joining the queue was this fan who posted, “Looking for tickets, message if selling any if you can’t make it.”
This fan, who has clearly tried before wasn’t so much looking for a spare ticket, just for Rangers to sort out the platform that fans have to navigate to watch their team:
“Would help if your website works,” they said as Dio and Raskin tried to drum up business.
What is Rangers’ record home attendance?
Most of the record attendances for Rangers are in a certain and very obvious fixture with the Old Firm derby of January the 2nd 1939 providing a staggering number that will never be beaten.
A mind-blowing 118,567 crammed into Ibrox for the last derby before the outbreak of World War II to witness the home side emerge as 2-1 victors.
Bill Struth was the man in charge with David Kinnear and Alex Venters, who is one of the Old Firm derby’s record goalscorers, making the difference on a cold Glasgow afternoon.
Incredibly, 32,000 fans were turned away at the gate and the fixture remains the highest ever attended league game in Britain.
The Ibrox capacity isn’t quite at the same level in 2025, however, the near 51,000 capacity will more than make their voices heard.
