Rangers are 90 minutes from making Scottish football history. Win tonight and they will qualify from the Champions League group stages, the first Scottish team to do so.
If they don’t win tonight it’s not a disaster, even a defeat could still see Rangers through to the last 16.
Alex McLeish is almost certain to leave Rangers after tonight’s game whether his team wins or not but he could leave on a high and having made history and give the new manager the chance to play amongst the giants of Europe.
Despite Rangers dire run of form, the bookmakers oddly have them down as FAVOURITES to beat the Italian giants/ Inter Milan have already qualified from and won the group and are set to rest a number of key players ahead of the Milan derby at the weekend.
Rangers who are on a terrible run of form are still without many key players including Dado Prso who has been brilliant in this Champions League campaign. The big Croatian failed a fitness test and will not make it.
It should be a fantastic atmosphere tonight at Ibrox for the final Group H game, Rangers fans have turned out at Ibrox to get ready a fantastic flag display which should look spectacular.
Whatever happens tonight, Rangers will still be in European football after christmas at they are guaranteed third spot at the least, so losing tonight won’t be a total disaster for the club.
Whatever happens tonight, McLeish looks to bow out and let’s hope that he bows out a hero and wins himself back a bit of pride. Good luck to him in whatever he does in the future.
Vital Quotes:
Alex McLeish, Rangers manager: ‘To take Rangers into the last 16 of the Champions League would be tantamount to winning a trophy in my opinion.’
Rangers Team News:
Rangers will be without strikers Dado Prso and Nacho Novo who both failed late fitness tests, Nacho Novo has been out for some time and Dado Prso has been out for a couple of weeks but the game has came too soon for the players who were desperate to play a part.
Rangers are also without Brahim Hemdani, Olivier Bernard and Julien Rodriguez but welcome Barry Ferguson back after suspension.
Rangers are likely to go into this game with Peter Lovenkrands up front on his own with Thomas Buffel playing just behind him.
Likely lineup:
Waterreus
Ricksen
Kyrgiakos
Andrews
Murray
Burke
Malcolm
Ferguson
Namouchi
Buffel
Lovenkrands
Player to watch: Thomas Buffel
Fit again Thomas Buffel looked on form on his return on Saturday and played 65 minutes, he should be a key player tonight.
Inter Milan Team News:
Inter Milan will rest key players Luis Figo, Kily González, Dejan Stankovic, Juan Sebastian Veron and Ivan Cordoba.
Ze Maria and Julio Cruz are injured but Inter are likely to play top names Walter Samuel, Santi Solari and Adriano.
Player to watch: Adriano
The world class Brazilian scored a hat-trick in the last game against Artmedia. A big big threat to Rangers.
Match Facts & Stats
Ways Rangers could qualify or NOT qualify
1. RANGERS BEAT INTER MILAN
Rangers would qualify regardless of the result in the other game.
2. RANGERS DRAW WITH INTER, PORTO BEAT ARTMEDIA
Rangers would go through due to better head to head record with Porto, Porto would quailify for UEFA Cup.
3. RANGERS DRAW WITH INTER, PORTO DRAW WITH ARTMEDIA
Rangers qualify, Artmedia go into UEFA Cup.
4. RANGERS DRAW WITH INTER, ARTMEDIA BEAT PORTO
Artmedia qualify and Rangers go into UEFA Cup.
5. RANGERS LOSE TO INTER, ARTMEDIA DRAW WITH PORTO
Rangers go through on away goals, Artmedia into UEFA Cup.
6. RANGERS LOSE TO INTER, PORTO BEAT ARTMEDIA
Porto go through, Rangers into UEFA Cup.
7. RANGERS LOSE TO INTER, ARTMEDIA BEAT PORTO
Artmedia go through, Rangers into UEFA Cup.
Match Prediction:
I think Rangers could get a draw in this one, possibly 0-0.