For just a second time in seven seasons, Rangers will not play knockout-stage European football. Having mustered just one point from a possible 18 so far in this season's Europa League, the Ibrox side's hopes of progression were effectively killed off by the 2-1 defeat at Fererencvaros. Rangers still have matches against Luodogorets and Porto before the league phase ends in January but they'd need to win both of those and have a whole lot of results go in their favour to progress.
For just a second time in seven seasons, Rangers will not play knockout-stage European football.
Having mustered just one point from a possible 18 so far in this season's Europa League, the Ibrox side's hopes of progression were effectively killed off by the 2-1 defeat at Fererencvaros.
Rangers still have matches against Luodogorets and Porto before the league phase ends in January but they'd need to win both of those and have a whole lot of results go in their favour to progress.
It is quite the fall from grace as the Europa League has been a happy hunting ground for Rangers in recent years.
Last year the club made the quarter-finals and the previous season they reached the last 16. The year before that, 2022, was the famous Europa League final run, which followed two campaigns of last-16 exits.
Rangers have now lost their past four away games in European competition and their nine-game winless streak is the third longest in their history.
In fact, Thursday night was the first time since 2019 Rangers have lost after scoring the opening goal in the Europa League, that's a run of 29 games.
The stats don't look great and for a team with such a proud history in this competition, fans will understandably be disappointed - but it could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Danny Rohl in allowing him to focus on domestic matters.
Before the German's arrival their form was woeful as Russell Martin had won just one of eight league games and the team languished seventh in the Premiership.
Rohl is unbeaten in the league since taking charge - winning five of seven - and Rangers are now just six points behind Celtic and nine behind leaders Hearts, who have played a game more.
In fact the only time Rohl's side have dropped points were the two games that followed a Europa League tie, the 1-1 draw with Braga last month.
With a testing run of festive fixtures beginning with the visit of Hibs to Ibrox on Monday, and a squad ravaged by injury, it's now all about trying to claw their way back into the title reckonining for Rohl's Rangers.
Category: General Sports
