AS Rangers approach the penultimate hurdle, Steven Gerrard has a glimpse of the finishing line in the Europa League once again. For the third successive season, his side stand just 180 minutes away from the group stages.
The dynamic this time out is different, of course. When Rangers were drawn with Maribor and Midtjylland, they knew they had two legs to overcome the side that were between them and a play-off round berth.
That won’t be the case in Holland this evening but Rangers shouldn’t be daunted by this one-leg shoot-out against Willem II. The task is not an easy one, but the way in which they have overcome challenges and adversity in European competition means they won’t be fazed by Adrie Koster’s side.
The Dutch certainly won’t be treated lightly but the memories from the performances and results against the likes of Villarreal, Legia Warsaw and Porto should stand Rangers in good stead for what promises to be an intriguing contest.
Willem overcame Progres Niederkorn in the second qualifying round and made light work of Rangers’ old European foes. A 5-0 victory was commanding and comfortable and the reward of a home fixture is certainly a bonus for the Eredivisie outfit.
When the league was stopped last term, Willem were two places and six points, having played a game more, behind the Feyenoord side that Rangers beat at Ibrox and drew with away from home on their route to the last 16 of the competition. That is the only barometer that supporters have of what to expect and Gerrard has analysed their three competitive games this term as well as their last meeting with Dick Advocaat’s side.
A fifth-place finish is what is generally the aim for Willem. They are capable of matching Ajax, AZ, Feyenoord or PSV on a one-off occasion but lack the consistency to challenge for Champions League places rather than Europa League spots.
A 2-0 victory over Ajax in December was proof that Koster’s side can raise their game and the 65-year-old needs his players to produce another big performance on a hugely significant night for the team from Tilburg.
A 4-0 win at home to Heracles has certainly helped the spirits after they lost their league opener at Heerenveen the previous weekend, but it was very much a game of two halves. A double change at the break - as both wingers, Mats Koehlert and Che Nunnely, were removed - were followed by three goals in seven minutes and Gerrard will be well aware of the attacking threat that Willem can pose.
The most potent part of that forward line is the Greek striker, Vangelis Pavlidis. With Kwasi Okyere Wriedt, the former Bayern Munich youngster, out injured, it is Pavlidis that will lead the line at the Koning Willem II Stadion.
At just 21, Pavlidis has experience in Germany with Bochum and Dortmund II and has already been capped by country as he has become a firm favourite with Willem fans.
The other one to watch is Mike Trésor Ndayishimiye. The playmaker will operate in behind Pavlidis and has already shown his quality on the international stage as he scored twice for Belgium in their 4-1 win over Germany at Under-21 level last month.
Premier League teams have been credited with an interest in Tresor and a sustained Europa League run would certainly allow him to showcase his talents to a wider watching audience. Rangers will hope, of course, that he doesn’t get the chance.
With Galatasaray or Hadjuk Split awaiting in the next round, there are no guarantees that a win over Willem would see Rangers emerge as favourites to reach the Europa League for the third time in three years. An Ibrox tie would certainly be in their favour, though.
Few would have backed Gerrard’s side to record the draw in Maribor at this stage two years ago, and there was no expectation that Rangers would win as impressively in Denmark as they stepped it up after overcoming St Joseph’s and Progres.
The Willem clash will be another sharp rise in standard but Rangers have beaten better teams in more intimidating venues over the last two seasons. They cannot afford to stumble now.
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