Rangers tipped for Europa League final as bookies buy into Ibrox hype after statement Red Star win

Rangers have been ranked as joint third favourite to reach the Europa League final as bookies buy into the prospect of an Ibrox fairytale.

Gio van Bronckhorst and his team thumped Red Star Belgrade in Glasgow to put one foot in the quarter-finals.

The tie isn't over yet despite the 3-0 win with Rangers still needing to finish the job in Serbia.

But the victory makes the dream of going all the way that little bit more likely and that's been reflected in the betting market.

You'd have got 150/1 on Rangers to win the tournament pre-season and 25/1 before a ball was kicked at Ibrox on Thursday.

But they're now 20/1 with Grosvenor to win it outright - ahead of the likes of Porto, Real Betis and Monaco after their respective first leg defeats.

Perhaps more tellingly, Gers are now down to 19/10 on Oddschecker to reach the final in Seville.

Only Barcelona (evens) and RB Leipzig (5/4) are tipped as more likely with West Ham given the same chance despite losing to Sevilla on Thursday night.

There are still some top teams left though and Rangers will likely need another Dortmund-style shocker or two if they are to keep the dream alive beyond the last 16.

Braga and Eintracht Frankfurt both won their first legs and Gers would likely fancy their chances against either of those two.

But big-hitters Barcelona, Leipzig and Sevilla will all back themselves to go all the way as the competition reaches its business end.