Rangers have overachieved by reaching Europa League final…but Frankfurt are not a step too far

Their Champions League qualifying round loss to Malmo has proved to be a blessing in disguise as Rangers aim to win their first European title in 50 years, and in their 150th year as a club.

It has been an emotional season for Glasgow Rangers, who lost legendary manager Walter Smith in October after a short battle with cancer before the passing of iconic kitman Jimmy Bell in the week of their Europa League semi-final second-leg triumph over RB Leipzig. Safe to say it has not been plain sailing on the pitch, either. After an unbeaten league campaign in 2020/21, the Light Blues lost their second Scottish Premiership match of the season, suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat against Dundee United. No longer invincible in the league, their loss at Tannadice was sandwiched between both their Champions League third qualifying round legs against Swedish side Malmo. 2-1 defeats home and away condemned Rangers to a Europa League play-off against Armenian outfit Alashkert – who proved surprisingly tough as Rangers could only manage a 1-0 aggregate victory.

After a poor start to 21/22, Celtic have been very impressive domestically and the so-called transitional period under Ange Postecoglou is pretty much over after one season. Their defeat at Livingston on matchday six was their last in the league and the Hoops won the title by four points. Rangers surrendered their league crown to their arch-rivals after working so hard to get it back after a decade of pain and having faltered in the Scottish top flight. So how have they found themselves in a major European final?

Both Rangers and Celtic – despite no European knockout stage victory in 18 years – have a great reputation on the continental stage. Much of that reputation comes via their