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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Gavin Berry

How Rangers can qualify for Europa League knockout stages as Sparta Prague blockbuster looms

Ibrox Stadium has witnessed some great European nights.

And Rangers could serve up another as they prepare for a Sparta Prague shoot-out later this month.

The two sides are locked on four points with Brondby at the bottom on two and Lyon having clinched qualification with a perfect 12 points from four games.

The stage is set for Steven Gerrard’s men who know that if they can beat the Czech side by more than the single goal defeat they went down to in Prague then they will almost certainly qualify from Group A.

All that could stop them in that scenario would be bottom dogs Brondby winning their final two games - at home to group winners Lyon and away to Sparta Prague.

(REUTERS)

If that happened then Rangers would be required to take something in France in their final fixture against a Lyon side boasting a perfect record.

But that is highly unlikely and means the task in front of Gerrard and his troops appears pretty simple - on paper at least.

Former striker Ally McCoist, working as a pundit for the 1-1 draw against Brondby in Denmark, summed it up as he said: “I know it’s all ifs and buts but if Rangers can beat Sparta Prague by a better aggregate score than they lost to then they’ll qualify.

“Brondby aren’t, unless something dramatic happens, going to win their last two games."

And Derek McInnes said: “Steven Gerrard said before these two (Brondby) games four points was the bare minimum.

“It’s no certainty they’ll beat Prague but it’s all to play for and they’ve got that opportunity.”

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