Back in 2007, Allan McGregor was the man between the sticks for Rangers against Red Star Belgrade in both legs of the Champions League qualifiers when two clean sheets secured passage through to the group stage and the subsequent run to the UEFA Cup final in Manchester.
A repeat situation over the next week would see Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side qualify for the quarter-final of the Europa League and very suddenly, things would start to get serious in terms of the ambitions for the rest of the tournament.
It is expected that McGregor will retain his place once again for the Scottish champions meaning that he will face the Serbian giants, 15 years on from the last encounter. In that final CL qualification hurdle, the Gers recorded a 1-0 win at Ibrox thanks to a late Nacho Novo strike. In the return game, it was much of a backs to the wall effort with McGregor playing a starring role to secure a 0-0 draw and an aggregate victory.
The same Glasgow then Belgrade schedule follows for this Last 16 tie.
For the veteran goalkeeper, his 97th European game for Rangers beckons with his status as the club’s record appearance holder in continental competition already secured. In what is almost certainly going to be his last season, he will be determined to break through the 100 barrier and that is a big incentive which would come with qualification for the quarter-final.
This tie is very winnable but Red Star will fancy their chances as well – it should be a cracking clash over the two legs between two sides of a similar standard.