Rangers looking for repeat of Braga comeback after first-leg loss to Leipzig

Rangers must overcome a 1-0 first-leg deficit against RB Leipzig at Ibrox this Thursday if they are to reach the final of the Europa League.

It will be only the fourth time the Ibrox club have gone into a second leg trailing since they returned to continental competition in 2017 following their financial meltdown a decade ago.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at how Rangers fared on the three previous occasions they were charged with having to overturn a deficit at the halfway stage of a tie.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Portugal early last month, Rangers got off to the perfect start in their comeback bid when James Tavernier levelled the tie after just two minutes at Ibrox. The contest swung hugely in favour of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side just before the break when Braga’s Vitor Tormena was sent off and Tavernier struck again from the penalty spot.

The Portuguese picked themselves up off the canvas and forced extra time with David Carmo’s 83rd-minute goal but Rangers went 3-2 ahead on aggregate through Kemar Roofe in the 101st minute before Braga’s challenged was killed off when Iuri Medeiros was also dismissed.

“It’s a big night and a big result for us,” said Van Bronckhorst. “It was a game that was up and down, 10 men, nine men, goals disallowed, it was quite hectic but at the end of the day we are through to the semis. I’m very proud.”

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Sweden, Rangers looked on course to keep their Champions League dream alive when they scored in the first half through Alfredo Morelos and then Malmo had Innocent Bonke sent off right on half-time.

Steven Gerrard’s side squandered a golden opportunity, however, when Antonio-Mirko Colak netted twice, in the 53rd and 57th minutes, to put