Rangers' Europa League opponents Sparta Prague haven't prepared well for the crucial match at Ibrox after a heavy loss on the domestic front.
Pavel Vrba's side are one of four times strongly in the race for the 1. Liga title in Czech Republic but their hopes suffered a blow courtesy of a 4-0 defeat to Slovacko.
The Czech side travel to Glasgow this Thursday to face Rangers in Group A's penultimate match.
A win would almost certainly put Sparta into the Europa League round of 32, with both side's locked on four points.
But Rangers lost 1-0 in the Czech Republic earlier in the group, meaning Sparta Prague would have the head-to-head advantage with another win.
Preparations have not gone well. Jan Kalabiska put Slovacko ahead after 16 minutes and it was 2-0 before half-time when Vaclav Jurecka struck.
Daniel Holzer and Rigino Cicillia goals rounded off a miserable day for Sparta Prague that leaves them fourth and five points off leaders Slavia Prague.
Vrba admitted the result was one of the lowest points in his management career.
He told the Czech press post-match: "When I started in Baník, we lost even more significantly in Slavia. But if I put it in the context of our ambitions, it is probably the most overwhelming. Definitely for me personally. "
Rangers preparation have arguably gone worse after a 3-1 defeat to Hibs in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final.
New boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst will take charge of the Ibrox side for the first time on Thursday.
