Rangers, featuring Nigerian stars Cyriel Dessers and Leon Balogun, have advanced to the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals after a tense penalty shootout victory.
Despite holding a 3-1 lead from the first leg, the Scottish side faced a determined Fenerbahçe, who overturned the deficit by winning 2-0 in Glasgow. With the aggregate score tied, extra time failed to produce a winner, forcing the contest into a penalty shootout. Rangers ultimately triumphed 3-2 to book their place in the last eight, where they will face Spanish side Athletic Bilbao.
Elsewhere, Lazio secured their quarterfinal berth with a 4-2 aggregate win over Viktoria Plzen, following a 1-1 draw in the second leg. Nigerian striker Rafiu Durosinmi assisted Plzen’s opening goal in Rome, though Lazio recovered to equalise. Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru appeared as a late substitute for Lazio.
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Another Nigerian international, Bruno Onyemaechi, featured for Olympiacos in their 2-1 home win over Bodo/Glimt. However, last season’s Conference League winners were eliminated after a 4-2 aggregate defeat, losing the first leg 3-0 in Norway.
With the quarterfinals set, Rangers will now focus on their clash with Athletic Bilbao, as they continue their quest for European glory.
Editorial
Rangers’ path to the Europa League quarterfinals underscores the unpredictable nature of knockout football. Entering the second leg with a comfortable 3-1 advantage, few would have expected such a dramatic night in Glasgow. But this is European football, where no lead is truly safe.
The resilience shown by Fenerbahçe is a reminder of why experience and mentality are just as important as tactics. The Turkish giants refused to bow out quietly, proving that a two-goal lead can be erased in an instant. Rangers, on the other hand, demonstrated nerves of steel when it mattered most. Their penalty shootout victory speaks volumes about their mental toughness—something that will be crucial in the next round.
Looking ahead, the challenge intensifies. Athletic Bilbao are no strangers to European competition, and their physical, high-pressing style will test Rangers to the limit. If the Scottish club harbours serious ambitions of lifting the trophy, they must learn from this narrow escape. They cannot afford to invite pressure as they did against Fenerbahçe.
Cyriel Dessers and Leon Balogun’s presence in the squad adds a valuable layer of experience, but Rangers must collectively step up their performances. The knockout rounds are unforgiving, and one lapse in concentration could end their European dream. If they can tighten up defensively and capitalise on their attacking opportunities, they stand a chance of progressing further.
For now, Rangers fans can celebrate. But the real test begins now.
Did You Know?
- Rangers reached the Europa League final in 2022 but lost to Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties.
- Athletic Bilbao, their quarterfinal opponents, have never won a European trophy but finished as runners-up in the 2012 Europa League.
- Cyriel Dessers was the top scorer in the 2021-22 Europa Conference League while playing for Feyenoord.
- Leon Balogun has previously played in the English Premier League for Brighton & Hove Albion.
- The last time Rangers won a European title was in 1972, when they lifted the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
