Rangers were given their first glimpse at what a Steven Gerrard-led Rangers side looks like when the Gers beat FK Shkupi 2-0 on aggregate in their first-round qualifier, winning 2-0 at Ibrox before drawing 0-0 in Macedonia for the return leg. Now though, the fans can’t wait for next Thursday when they take on NK Osijek in their second-round qualifier.
#RangersFC will face @nkosijek in the second qualifying round of the @EuropaLeague.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) 19 July 2018
New signing, Nikola Katic will know a lot about the Croatian outfit as he played against them last season whilst he was at Slaven Belupo playing in the Croatian first division. Osijek are one of four sides to have never been relegated from the Croatian first division and had their name in the papers this time last season when they knocked out PSV Eindhoven in the third-round qualifier, winning 1-0 both home and away for a 2-0 aggregate victory.
This summer, Gerrard will be hoping things will be different as Rangers look to march on towards the Europa League group stages. If the Ibrox club can past their stern Croatian opponents then they’ll stand just four games away from Europe’s second-tier knockout tournament. It won’t be easy though and the club will have to be much sharper in front of goal as they were against Shkupi, otherwise, Gerrard could be left with egg on his face.
You can see what the Bluenoses’ make of their upcoming fixture here:
Suppose all the tims will keep that Croatia flag at the end of their Twitter name on for a few more weeks now
— David Black (@Blackyboy89) 19 July 2018
https://twitter.com/graemejordan85/status/1020065917940781056
https://twitter.com/Racingspy191/status/1020195570227597312
Hopefully a much improved performance
— Lennox Richardson (@lennyrfc) 19 July 2018
Osijek will be a test, very decent side!
— John Renwick (@JohnRenwick19) July 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/GaryKeelor/status/1020069919793319936
https://twitter.com/Cleveland_48/status/1020148767637622784
The fans will be waiting excitedly for this game, but it’s key that they don’t underestimate their Croatian opponents, who could end up making the Gers look silly.
