They face Aris Limassol in a much better place than they were for the reverse leg with Philippe Clement restoring the good vibes after the doldrums that came in the immediate aftermath of Michael Beale’s tenure. They welcome the Cypriots to Ibrox knowing they can qualify with a game to spare if all goes to plan.
It’s a big game for Aris too though, who know they need to win to keep their own European hopes alive. They sit bottom of the group, those three points against Rangers the only ones they have mustered so far, and really need to repeat the feat to keep up with the teams above them. And all of that is before we consider the other game where Betis travel Sparta Prague knowing they can win the group for themselves.
If Rangers win
The task for Rangers is simple: win and they are guaranteed Europa League football after Christmas. Any win would put them out of reach and into the knockout stages regardless of what happens in the other game.
If Rangers win and Betis lose against Sparta, it gets even more interesting. Rangers would then take top spot and hold the initiative going into the final game against Betis. And winning the group rather than finishing second is a big deal as it gets you straight into the last 16, bypassing the last 32.
But regardless of what happens, if Rangers win, they are through, and will still be able to win the group on the last day. The variable is whether they will need to beat Betis or just avoid defeat.
If it’s a draw
With nine points from four games, Rangers can qualify tonight even without winning, but it’s a little less straightforward. They would then need to hope Sparta don’t beat Real Betis to leave them far enough clear in second place to be sure of their spot in the knockout stages.
Of course that all gets a little messy because if Sparta do win, it’s squeaky bum time. Rangers would then likely need something against Betis on the final day to go through.
If Rangers lose
If Philippe Clement’s team fall to a second straight defeat to the Cypriots, then all hell breaks loose and qualification is open to anyone. If Sparta fail to beat Betis, Limassol would then leapfrog them into third place and occupy the parachute spot into the Europa Conference League, but Rangers would remain in second and with their fate firmly still in their own hands.
If Rangers lose and Sparta do beat Betis, that’s the worst possible outcome from an Ibrox perspective. Sparta would move into second, and within a win against Limassol of qualifying. Rangers would then sit third, just a point ahead of Aris, who would have a chance of overtaking them on the final day by bettering their result.
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