Rangers are set to face a glamour Round of 16 Europa League tie against Turkish giants Fenerbahce as the two clubs eye this season’s Final in Bilbao.
Rangers drew the toughest possible route to this season’s Europa League Final with the orange side of the draw fraught with challenges.
But before Rangers can even think of clashes against this season’s hosts Athletic Bilbao or Premier League giants Manchester United, they’ll need to overcome Fenerbahce and the Special One.
And whilst Jose Mourinho might never have taken a team to Ibrox for a competitive match, Rangers and Fenerbahce do have some history.
Rangers see red in Fenerbahce first leg
Rangers will face Fenerbahce for only the second time in their history when they welcome the club to Ibrox next month.
The only other time Rangers have faced the Turkish giants was way back in 2001 during the third round of the 01/02 Champions League qualifiers.
A star-studded Rangers hosted the Turkish outfit in the first leg at Ibrox in a tense 0-0 draw which was overshadowed by a crazy red card shown to Michael Mols.
Mols had replaced Claudio Caniggia at half-time in the clash but was sent off after getting involved in an altercation with Ghanaian defender Samuel Johnson.
The Dutch striker wound up lashing out, kicking the defender and being shown what would eventually prove a costly red card.
Rangers manager Dick Advocaat was left incensed on the Ibrox touchline.
The incident sparked remarkable scenes where several players became involved in altercations as a raucous Rangers support cranked up the atmosphere.
Rangers tested legendary Fenerbahce goalkeeper Recber Rustu throughout the game but could not find the goal which would give them an advantage in Turkey.
Rangers team v Fenerbahce (08/08/01): Klos, Ricksen, Moore, Wilson, Numan, Vidmar, Konterman, Hughes, McCann, Caniggia, Flo
Bench: Christiansen, Mols, Dodds, Kanchelskis, Latapy, Ross, Miller
Resolute Rangers beaten in Turkey
In the second leg Rangers headed to the legendary Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi in Istanbul.
The Gers faced a tough task to get the victory but might’ve hoped for an away goals win after keeping a clean sheet in Ibrox.
Fenerbahce took the lead in the match when Israeli attacker Haim Revivo netted a stunning left-foot free-kick which curled away from Stefan Klos.
Rangers looked dead and buried when Turkish striker Serhat made it two, taking advantage of some nervous defending to put the Ibrox defence to the sword.
But Rangers did fight-back almost immediately, Fernando Ricksen netting a deflected effort after a neat turn at the edge of the Fenerbahce box.
Fenerbahce then narrowly avoided conceding the equaliser when they managed to clear a long-range drive off the line.
Rangers suffered heartbreak in Turkey that night and will hope to avoid a similar fate when they travel to Istanbul on March 6th.
Rangers team v Fenerbahce (22/08/01): Klos, Ricksen, Amoruso, Wilson, Numan, Vidmar, Konterman, Reyna, De Boer, Kanchelskis, Flo
Bench: Christiansen, Caniggia, Dodds, Hughes, Latapy, Ross, Miller
