Lowdown on Rangers’ potential Europa League quarter-final and semi-final opponents

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side progressed to the last eight in Belgrade on Thursday night
Lewis Anderson
By Lewis Anderson
Published 18th Mar 2022, 12:31 BST
Updated 18th Mar 2022, 12:38 BST
Scott Arfield of Rangers celebrates after progressing through the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Leg Two match between Crvena Zvezda and Rangers FC at Rajko Mitic Stadium on March 17, 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)Scott Arfield of Rangers celebrates after progressing through the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Leg Two match between Crvena Zvezda and Rangers FC at Rajko Mitic Stadium on March 17, 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
Scott Arfield of Rangers celebrates after progressing through the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Leg Two match between Crvena Zvezda and Rangers FC at Rajko Mitic Stadium on March 17, 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

Rangers fans will be dreaming of reaching their first European final since 2008 ahead of today’s Europa League quarter-final and semi-final draw in Nyon.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side ended their last-16 hoodoo by knocking out Red Star Belgrade 4-2 on aggerate, despite falling to a 2-1 defeat to the Serbian champions in the second leg at the hostile Rajko Mitic Stadium last night.

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So who can the Ibrox club face next? The Light Blues have faced RB Leipzig, Braga and Lyon in European competition in recent seasons, while there is a Battle of Britain clash and a five-time Champions League winners also in the draw.

GlasgowWorld provides the lowdown of Rangers’ potential opponents and key players to watch out for:

ATALANTA (Italy)

Domestic League Position - Serie A (6th)

Head Coach - Gian Piero Gasperini

Ground - Gewiss Stadium (21, 747)

Star Players - Merih Demiral, Ruslan Malinvoski, Marten De Roon, Davide Zappacosta, Josip Ilicic

Top Scorer - Duvan Zapata

BARCELONA (Spain)

Domestic League Position - La Liga (3rd)

Head Coach - Xavi

Head coach Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona directs his players during a training session at Camp Nou on January 03, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. Head coach Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona directs his players during a training session at Camp Nou on January 03, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain.
Head coach Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona directs his players during a training session at Camp Nou on January 03, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain.

Ground - Camp Nou (99, 354)

Star Players - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Adama Traore, Ferran Torres, Memphis Depay, Dani Alves

Top Scorer - Memphis Depay

WEST HAM UNITED (England)

Domestic League Position - Premier League (6th)

Head Coach - David Moyes

Ground - London Stadium (60,000)

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Star Players - Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek, Michail Antonio, Angelo Ogbonna, Manuel Lanzini

Top Scorer - Jarrod Bowen

OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS (France)

Domestic League Position - Ligue 1 (10th)

Head Coach - Peter Bosz

Ground - Groupama Stadium (59, 186)

Rangers defender Calvin Bassey (left) tussles with former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele during Thursday's Europa League match in Lyon. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD/AFP via Getty Images)Rangers defender Calvin Bassey (left) tussles with former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele during Thursday's Europa League match in Lyon. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD/AFP via Getty Images)
Rangers defender Calvin Bassey (left) tussles with former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele during Thursday's Europa League match in Lyon. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD/AFP via Getty Images)

Star Players - Moussa Dembele, Karl-Toko Ekambi, Lucas Paqueta, Jerome Boateng, Houssem Aouar

Top Scorer - Karl-Toko Ekambi

S.C. BRAGA (Portugal)

Domestic League Position - Primeira Liga (4th)

Head Coach - Carlos Carvalhal

Ground - Estadio Municipal de Braga (30, 360)

Star Players - Ricardo Horta, Vitinha Galeno, Abel Ruiz, Paulo Oliveira, Matheus

Top Scorer - Ricardo Horta

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (Germany)

Domestic League Position - Bundesliga (9th)

Head Coach - Oliver Glasner

Ground - Deutsche Bank Park (51, 500)

Star Players - Filip Kostic, Kevin Trapp, Martin Hinteregger, Timothy Chandler, Daichi Kamada

Top Scorer - Rafael Borre

RB LEIPZIG (Germany)

Domestic League Position - Bundesliga (4th)

Head Coach - Domenico Tedesco

Ground - Red Bull Arena (47, 069)

Star Players - Christopher Nkunku, Yussuf Poulsen, Andre Silva, Emil Forsberg, Kevin Kampl

Top Scorer - Christopher Nkunku

Related topics:Europa LeagueIbrox

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