Rangers have reached the Europa League Quarter Finals after a dramatic penalty kicks victory over Fenerbahce at Ibrox.
Barry Ferguson hailed Jack Butland for his heroics on the night, the former England number one saving two spot kicks to help Rangers into the last eight.
Rangers fans have also toasted Butland for his performance after a difficult season which has not always gone the goalkeeper’s way.
Jose Mourinho applauded the Rangers support come full-time but the legendary Portuguese manager was less than impressed with the officiating in the game.
But whilst Mourinho reckons Fenerbahce should’ve had three penalties, it’s Rangers who progress with the Road to Bilbao now a little clearer.
Rangers to face Athletic Bilbao in Europa League Quarter Final
Rangers will face Athletic Bilbao in a tough Europa League Quarter Final clash and will need to visit the Estadio de San Mames twice if they have any hope of winning the tournament.
That’s because Athletic Bilbao are this season’s hosts, with the 52k capacity stadium the venue for this season’s Europa League Final on the 21st of May.
Before then, Rangers will play Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of the Europa League Quarter Finals on the 10th of April.
Athletic overturned a 2-1 deficit from the first leg to defeat AS Roma 3-1 in Spain (4-3) and ensure their homecoming Europa League dream is very much still alive.
Rangers’ victory over Fenerbahce came at a cost too, with two key Gers stars suspended for the first leg at Ibrox.
Rangers will then travel to Spain for the second leg against Bilbao on April 17th with the Ibrox support dreaming of another run to the Final.
Jose Mourinho reckons it’ll take something ‘phenomenal’ to overcome Athletic after Fenerbahce lost to the Spanish outfit in the League Phase of the competition.
The scale of the challenge is also laid clear by Rangers’ abysmal record against Spanish sides in European competition.
Road to Bilbao becomes clearer for Rangers
Rangers also know their potential route to the Europa League Final should they overcome Athletic Bilbao in the Quarters.
Manchester United progressed at the expense of Real Sociedad at Old Trafford with an impressive 4-1 victory inspired by a Bruno Fernandes hat-trick.
In a frenetic affair which had three penalties and a red card for the Spanish team, United lie in wait in the Europa League Semi Finals if the English giants can overcome Lyon.
Ligue 1 outfit Lyon – who hammered Rangers 4-1 at Ibrox in the League Phase – dumped FCSB 4-0 in France after winning 3-1 in Romania.
On the other side of the draw, Tottenham Hotspur overcame a 1-0 deficit against AZ Alkmaar to win the second leg 3-1 and reach the Quarter Finals.
They will play familiar Rangers foes Eintracht Frankfurt for a place in the Semis, the German outfit overcoming Ajax 4-1 in the second leg in Germany to win 6-2 on aggregate.
The winner of that tie will play either Italian side Lazio or Norwegian upstarts Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League Semi Finals.
The Serie A side overcame Viktoria Plzen 3-2 on aggregate with a 1-1 draw in Italy enough to see Lazio through on the night.
Bodo/Glimt thumped Olympiacos 3-0 in Norway and held on in Greece with a 2-1 defeat enough to secure progression to the Europa League Quarter Finals
