Rangers 3-0 Red Star Belgrade: Europa League quarters in sight for Scottish champions

Rangers took a significant step towards the Europa League quarter-finals with a pulsating statement win over Red Star Belgrade at a raucous Ibrox.

James Tavernier's penalty and Alfredo Morelos' strike in the first 15 minutes sparked the game into life, before Aleksandar Katai — who had already had two efforts ruled offside — had a spot kick saved superbly by Allan McGregor.

That was all in a frantic opening 24 minutes and, although the tempo slowed, Leon Balogun's towering header gave Rangers a commanding lead to protect.

Inconsistent league form has caused the reigning Scottish champions to slip three points adrift in the Premiership, but they seem to find something within them for European nights, having done for Borussia Dortmund in a famous victory in the previous round.

And Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men rose to the occasion again against the Serbian title holders, giving themselves a golden chance to finish the job next Thursday and reach the last eight of the competition for the first time since 2008.

Having already accounted for Alashkert, Brondby, Sparta Prague and Dortmund in the Europa League, there was a fearless nature about Rangers as Red Star travelled to Govan.

That mentality was demonstrated throughout the 90 minutes as Tavernier — just as he did in both legs against Dortmund — broke the deadlock from the spot after a lengthy VAR check judged Slavoljub Srnic's lazy leg to have tripped Ryan Kent.

Van Bronckhorst couldn't watch on the touchline, but the Dutchman opened his eyes to see a bouncing Ibrox as the captain's penalty rippled in the top-right corner.

That came after Red Star's Katai had a delightful finish ruled out for offside, and the hosts suffered another scare when Katai rounded McGregor and found