It’s official, we are now at the business end of the season. With just a few months of the season to go, the battle to be crowned SPL Champions is on.
Over the last couple of seasons, winning the SPL has taken on even more significance as the winner of the league earns a direct entry into the Champions League.
The Champions League has quickly become an essential tournament for clubs all over the world, promising revenues that can’t be matched elsewhere, Champions League football will help ensure that Rangers remain on a sound financial footing.
Attracting a global audience of billions, the tournament is constantly growing. It’s the one competition every player wants to win and participate in. Many across the world tune into the action across multiple television networks and live streaming betting sites and it’s fair to say that Rangers belong on European football’s biggest stage.
Not only were we the first Scottish club to have ever played in the competition, but we have reached the semifinals on two separate occasions.
Glorious European nights at Ibrox go hand-in-hand and over the last few decades, Ibrox has garnered a reputation for being one of the most special stadiums in Europe.
Hopefully with more famous European nights to come, here is a recap of four of our most famous Ibrox European victories.
Rangers dispatch RB Leipzig to reach 2022 Europa League Final
Our run to the 2022 Europa League Final will always be one that is fondly remembered. To earn our spot in the final we had to battle past Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade and Braga.
Standing in our way and a place in the final were German side RB Leipzig. After a solid 0-0 draw away, we welcomed the German side home for the second leg.
With Ibrox rocking, James Tavernier and Glen Kamara scored two goals in six minutes to send us on our way. Despite Christopher Nkunku pulling one back for the Germans, John Lundstram booked our spot in the Sevilla final with a well taken third.
A match that will live long in the memory, it was one of our greatest European evenings.
Peter Lovenkrands earns battling draw against Inter Milan
Due to the ever-changing financial scene of European football, our best Champions League run in recent decades came back in 2005 when we qualified from our group and reached the last 16.
One of the most memorable matches from that campaign was our 1-1 draw with Italian giants, Inter Milan. Falling behind to a well taken goal from former Brazilian striker Adriano, Peter Lovenkrands sent Ibrox into a delirium with a priceless equalizer. The hard-fought draw ensured that Alec McLeish would guide us into the last sixteen where we would succumb to Villarreal on away goals.
Rangers edge Leeds in competitive all British contest
Whenever Rangers go up against an English side, the atmosphere in Ibrox goes up a notch. One of our most memorable encounters against English opposition came back in 1992 when we edged Leeds 2-1 in a second round Champions League tie.
Ironically it was a legendary Scottish player who opened the scoring for Leeds, when Gary MacAllister fired the Yorkshire team into an early lead. However, we would go onto turn the match around thanks to an own goal from Leeds Keeper, John Lukic, before Ally McCoist would score the winner.
Rangers defeat German giants en route to famous Cup Winners Cup win
In the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s the Cup Winners Cup was a serious European trophy. Pitting all European domestic cup winners together in one trophy, our greatest moment in the competition came in 1972 when we went all the way.
Heading to the second leg at Ibrox trailing 1-0, Rangers turned in a performance that will be forever remembered as we would advance to the final courtesy of a stunning 2-0 victory.
Sandy Jardine got us off to a flying start thanks to a goal in the first minute and the victory would be sealed when Derek Parlane scored in the 22nd minute – it would turn out to be the winner.
Despite the efforts of Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller, we would keep Bayern at bay and would advance to the final where we would go onto beat Dynamo Moscow 3-2 in a thrilling final.