Rangers avoid treacherous Champions League path as brilliant Braga win boosts Euro coefficient, pounds and prestige

There are many different ways in which Rangers’ stunning success in Europe can be quantified.

Not just in reaching the Europa League semi-finals this season but since Steven Gerrard took the helm in 2018 and restored the club’s reputation in continental competition.

For many fans it’s simply about the prestige of not only rubbing shoulders with but beating some of the biggest names in football.

And for the club it’s about the riches on offer with former chairman Dave King admitting a few years ago “the club and company will only be self-sustaining when we’re consistently successful in Europe”.

Then of course there is that all-important coefficient which the Ibrox side have done so well to boost both as a nation for Scotland an in terms of their own club.

The irony is that after all their efforts in recent years that it’s rivals Celtic who are on course to benefit with this season’s Scottish Premiership champions going directly into the Champions League group stage.

That is a scenario that is hugely frustrating for Rangers yet, after seeing off Braga in that epic quarter final second leg on Thursday night, there is a chance the Light Blues could even join them if they can get their hands on that trophy in Seville on May 18.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men are still the outsiders but in reaching the last four they have still boosted those three key areas - pounds, prestige and coefficient.

To start with, even if Rangers don’t win the Europa League then in seeing off Braga they have, on paper at least, increased their chances of getting through the Champions League qualifiers.

By beating the Portuguese outfit the Scottish champions have ensured they will seeded in the qualifiers and their non-champions path to