Heartbreak in Seville: Rangers' 2021/22 UEFA Europa League campaign

Defeat in UEFA Champions League qualifying means Rangers face a season out of Europe's premier club competition, with success in the UEFA Europa League perhaps more feasible.

Starved of European silverware since winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972, Rangers boss Philippe Clement will take inspiration from the class of 2021/22 who made it all the way to the final.

We take a look back at Rangers’ memorable road to Seville in the 2021/22 season.

Group Stage

Rangers 0-2 Lyon
Sparta Prague 1-0 Rangers
Rangers 2-0 Brøndby
Brøndby 1-1 Rangers
Rangers 2-0 Sparta Prague
Lyon 1-1 Rangers

Rangers were handed a tough UEFA Europa League draw which would see them take on French side Lyon in their opening fixture.

A 2-0 home loss to Lyon followed by a 1-0 away loss at Sparta Prague left Steven Gerrard’s side lacking in confidence heading into the final four group stage games.

A change in fortunes saw the Scottish side pick up four points in their following two games, with all four points picked up against Danish side Brondby.

However, it was not just a change in fortunes for Rangers, but also a change in manager. Mid-campaign, Gerrard left the club to pursue a Premier League role at Aston Villa.

With Gerrard having left Rangers with only four points on the board, new gaffer Giovanni Van Bronckhorst had a job on his hands to take Rangers to the knockout rounds.

The Dutchman’s first game in charge saw Rangers host Sparta Prague. Following disappointment in the first affair in Czech Republic, it was the fiery Alfredo Morelos who ensured three points for Rangers this time round, with an impressive brace securing victory.

A point away at Lyon thanks to a deflected effort from Scott Wright was enough to sneak through to the knockout phase, finishing just one point ahead of Sparta Prague.

Knockout Phase

Knockout round play-offs

First Leg – Borussia Dortmund 2-4 Rangers
Second leg – Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Rangers
(6-4 aggregate score)

After finishing second in the group stage, Rangers would face an even bigger task in the next stage of the competition in the form of German giants Borussia Dortmund.

Van Bronckhorst’s men, along with thousands of faithful Rangers supporters, travelled to the Westfalenstadion for one of the greatest nights in Rangers’ European history.

Facing a strong Dortmund side consisting of Marco Reus, Mats Hummels, Manuel Akanji and Jude Bellingham, avoiding defeat away from home would have been a great result for Rangers.

The Gers found themselves in dreamland heading into half time, 2-0 up with goals coming from captain James Tavernier and Colombian centre forward Morelos.

A flurry of goals at the start of the second half saw Rangers winning 4-1 after 54 minutes. A late consolation from Raphael Guerreiro meant Rangers had a 4-2 lead heading into the second leg.

With Ibrox rocking as expected, Rangers needed to avoid defeat by a two-goal margin to secure qualification into the round of 16.

They went into half time with a glimmer of doubt, with Tavernier’s opener countered by two Dortmund goals.

In the 57th minute, Rangers fans could breathe a sigh of relief. It was that man again, Tavernier, scoring his third over the two legs to send Rangers flying into the next round.

Round of 16

First leg – Rangers 3-0 Red Star Belgrade
Second leg – Red Star Belgrade 2-1 Rangers
(4-2 aggregate win)

It’s rare that the standard of opposition drops as a team gets further into the competition, but you could argue this was the case for Rangers.

A routine start to the first-leg of the last 16 against Red Star Belgrade saw Tavernier score yet another penalty. Morelos doubled the lead before half time, settling the nerves of the Rangers fans.

The influential Tavernier then saw his corner headed in by Leon Balogun, handing Rangers a 3-0 lead going into the second leg, with the job half done.

Red Star gave Rangers an early scare in Serbia, scoring a close range effort from a corner in just the 10th minute.

Ryan Kent’s deflected effort effectively put the tie to bed in the 56th minute, levelling things up on the night to send the travelling Rangers fans into raptures.

Deep into stoppage time, Red Star scored a consolation goal, which was not enough to prevent Rangers from reaching the quarter-finals.

Quarter-finals

First leg – Braga 1-0 Rangers
Second leg – Rangers 3-1 Braga
(3-2 aggregate win)

Rangers travelled to Portugal for the first-leg of the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals against Braga in their numbers, in what turned out to be a relatively quiet European night.

Braga took a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute through talisman Abel Ruiz.

Rangers failed to record a single shot on target on the night. Rangers had work to do in the second leg in Govan.

Goal-scoring right-back Tavernier netted two in the first half, including a trademark penalty.

Rangers’ job was made a whole lot easier with the sending off of Braga defender Tormena de Farias. Or so it seemed.

A late leveller from David Carmo took the game to extra time, for the first time in Rangers’ UEFA Europa League campaign.

in extra time, Rangers got themselves in front when Joe Aribo’s drilled ball across the box was tapped home by Kemar Roofe.

Just minutes later, Braga got their second red card of the night.

Job done at Ibrox and a second trip of the competition to Germany up next.

Semi-finals

First leg – RB Leipzig 1-0 Rangers
Second leg – Rangers 3-1 RB Leipzig
(3-2 aggregate win)

A trip to the Red Bull Arena for the first-leg of the UEFA Europa League semis saw Rangers come away disappointed but with the tie well within reach.

A late goal from former Manchester City full-back Angelino meant Rangers returned to Glasgow with a 1-0 deficit to overturn.

Into the second leg of the semi-finals and James Tavernier was once again on the scoresheet, netting a tap in at the back post.

Glen Kamara’s sweetly struck left-footed strike sent Rangers ahead at the break.

It wasn’t until the 70th minute that Christopher Nkunku levelled things up on aggregate, with the German side still trailing on the night.

10 minutes later, John Lundstram became the hero of the night for Rangers, firing the ball into an empty bottom left corner.

A VAR check left Rangers fans anxiously waiting, but the goal was eventually given to see Rangers make it through to their first European final in 14 years.

Final

Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Rangers (Eintracht Frankfurt win 5-4 on penalties)

After a dream campaign for Rangers fans up to this point, they faced yet another German side in the final in Seville. This time, they were up against Eintracht Frankfurt.

It took until the 57th minute for Rangers to take the lead through Joe Aribo, sending a sea of blue shirts in the crowd into pandemonium.

Rangers didn’t lead for long. Rafael Borre’s effort found its way past Allan McGregor and into the Rangers net.

After a scoreless extra-time, penalties was all that could separate the two sides.

Aaron Ramsey’s spot-kick was the only one denied in the shootout. Heartbreak for Rangers while Eintracht Frankfurt claimed European glory.