Charlie Nicholas claims Rangers pain is just getting started as he predicts nightmare Europa League scenario

Charlie Nicholas claims Rangers face crashing out of the Europa League quarter-final by the time Thursday's first leg is over.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side are still reeling from a nightmare defeat to Celtic that leaves their Premiership title defence in ruins as they prepare to take on Braga.

Rangers have slipped six points behind their city rivals as Ange Postecoglou's team came from behind to record a monumental victory at Ibrox on Sunday.

And they must now drag themselves off the floor for a trip to Portugal later this week, but former Parkhead star Nicholas reckons the tie is at risk of being over by the time the second leg kicks off in Glasgow.

He wrote in the Scottish Daily Express : "If play against Braga like they did against Celtic then they could go out of the Europa League on Thursday. It could be all over in the first leg unless there is a dramatic improvement from the weekend.

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"Rangers just didn't keep the ball and had no purpose. What will they do? Kemar Roofe, above, hasn't performed under Giovanni van Bronckhorst and I think they will go to a 5-4-1 and hit on the break.

"We know Rangers have turned in big performances in Europe. But I tipped Braga when the draw was