STEVEN Gerrard last night claimed Bayer Leverkusen are one of the favourites to win the Europa League and admitted the German club were the toughest opponents Rangers could have been handed in the last 16.
Scotland's last remaining representatives in European competition, who defeated Braga 1-0 in Portugal on Wednesday night to progress, were yesterday drawn to play Leverkusen in a double header next month.
The Bundesliga club thrashed Porto 5-2 on aggregate in their last 32 tie and Gerrard feels that performance underlines that Peter Bosz's team are capable of triumphing in the competition this season.
"I think they are one of the favourites because of the way they've just gone and dealt with Porto," he said. "They deserve to be one of the favourites. It's exciting, but it's also going to be very tough. It's one of the toughest ties we could have got.
"My own experience from playing against German teams and German players is that it was always very tough. They are big, strong physical athletes. Tactically they are very astute."
Gerrard squared up to Leverkusen three times in the Champions League during his time with Liverpool and has played in their Bay Arena twice, winning once.
"I know the stadium, it's a fantastic venue," he said. "It's really close to the pitch and it's an exciting place to go and play football. It's not a huge stadium, if I'm guessing it's around 30,000. But the fans are all around the ground, very close to the pitch and it will be a good challenge for the players."
Meanwhile, Gerrard, who could include Jermain Defoe in his squad for the William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final against Hearts at Tynecastle this evening, backed Rangers to overcome their penalty kick problems.
Ianis Hagi had a first-half spot kick saved by Braga keeper Matheus in Portugal and James Tavernier, Alfredo Morelos and Scott Arfield have all had difficulties converting from 12 yards before him.
"We'll try and find a solution," he said. "Penalties are one where players have to take ownership, really. We've tried different solutions and, right now where we stand, those solutions haven't worked.
"But, when the next one comes around I'm sure we'll have a willing penalty taker that is brave enough to stand up and take that opportunity.
"Penalties are penalties. I see Manchester City, one of the best teams in the world, having a similar situation to ourselves. We are not the first team to have this situation and I'm sure we'll come through."
Asked about the Hagi penalty, Gerrard said: "It was a fantastic save. We practice penalties before every game with two or three different players. Ianis's penalty execution leading in to St Johnstone and Braga was outstanding. I mean outstanding. "But he never put the penalty in the place where he was practising. Which was quite strange.
"But I've missed penalties myself. It is about your reaction and your approach to the game thereafter. I've seen penalty takers that go missing in those situations.
"The good thing for me is that he moved on from it and still had the big, key important moment to win us the match. We need people can play that final pass and he so far has shown he is capable of opening people up."
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