After seeing Rangers dispatch one of the pre-tournament favourites, scoring six goals across the tie, you can understand why the Serbian media are not exactly confident about Red Star Belgrade’s chances of securing a place in the Europa League quarter-finals.
“Alfredo Morelos is a real predator, with a killer instinct,” reads a column from Serbian newspaper Blic. “He belongs to the teams from the five strongest leagues (in Europe).
Morelos, Rangers all-time top scorer in continental competition and the demon lurking at the end of Mats Hummels’ bed, will not be the only Ibrox star haunting Red Star nightmares either.
“Borna Barisic and James Tavernier are reminiscent of Liverpool’s (Trent) Alexander-Arnold and (Andy) Robertson,” Blic continues.
“What about Aaron Ramsey? One who underestimates Ramsey, does not know football. He’s dangerous from all positions.
“We must not forget the former Liverpool kid Ryan Kent, who plays just like a boy, freely and shows lavish talent in every match.”
Can Rangers reach the Europa League quarter-finals?
But while Red Star may not be a side on the level of a Borussia Dortmund – it’s all too tempting to wipe the sweat from your brow and thank the lord Rangers didn’t draw a Barcelona, a Real Betis or an Atalanta – Giovanni van Bronckhorst will not be taking the most successful term in Serbian football history lightly.
Nor should he.
Especially after they finished top of their group, above Braga and a Midtjylland side who knocked Celtic out of the Champions League before the new Scottish Premiership season had even begun last July.
Will Rangers rue failing to sign Mirko Ivanic?
And if the name Mirko Ivanic feels oddly familiar, there’s a very good reason for that. Because, according to reports from Eastern Europe, Rangers submitted a £3 million bid for the Montenegro international during the summer of 2020, when Steven Gerrard was still at the helm and scouring the market for a goalscoring midfielder.
Ivanic has since signed a new, long-term contract in the Serbian capital.
And, after producing 20 goals and 16 assists during a remarkable 2020/21 campaign, one of the most prolific players in the tournament looks like the biggest threat to Rangers’ hopes of a last-eight berth.
But if Rangers can keep Marco Reus quiet, then there may be no limit to what Kent, Morelos and co can achieve in Europe this season.
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