UEFA Cup: Rangers Have It All to Do

After a fairly controversial week in the UEFA Champions League, it’s time to look ahead to the business end of the UEFA Cup.

Glasgow Rangers travel to Portugal to meet Sporting Lisbon while Bayern Munich head to Spain with it all to do against Getafe. Zenit St Petersburg, welcome a badly beaten Bayer Leverkusen to Russia while PSV Eindhoven are at home to Fiorentina.

Sporting Lisbon are urging their fans to buy more tickets as Scots start to arrive in the Portuguese capital. The Estadio Jose Alvalade is reportedly, far from sold out, with thousands of Scots making the journey and more than willing to snap up tickets.

The last thing Sporting need is a repeat of the EURO 2008 qualifier between France and Scotland. The Tartan Army took over the ground and cheered Scotland on to a famous 1-0 victory.

Rangers have received a boost for Thursday night’s clash with Carlos Cueller expected to be fit after a bout of flu and Gabonese striker Daniel Cousin, declaring himself fit for selection after recovering from a broken jaw.

Christian Dailly is likely to step in for the suspended David Weir, but the veteran’s absence will still be a major loss to Rangers. However there is a quiet confidence coming from the Rangers camp with the coaching staff and players believing a result is very much possible.

Should Rangers make it through it will be the furthest they have been in the competition for 36 years and with the tie sitting at 0-0, I’m not ruling anything out.

In other games the mighty Bayern Munich meet Getafe and are behind on the away goals ruling, after last weeks shock 1-1 draw in Germany. Getafe have proved to be a thorn in the side of big clubs, with the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid struggling against their La Liga rivals.

I therefore wouldn’t bet against Michael Laudrup’s side taking their place in the semi final line up, come full time tomorrow night, but Bayern will know what they have to do and as we all know, are more than capable of winning in Spain.

PSV are at home to Fiorentina following last weeks 1-1 draw in Italy. The Dutch side must be favourites to progress but this one will be tight. Tottenham Hotspur came to the Philips Stadium in the last round and won 1-0 so there is still a chance for the Viola.

I’m with PSV on this one as I just can’t see Fiorentina winning in Eindhoven. Anyway Rangers have a good European record against the boys in red and white.

The last match is already dead and buried as far as I’m concerned after Zenit’s terrific 4-1 win in Leverkusen last week. Bayer have it all to do in St Petersburg and I can’t imagine a more unfriendly place to go and do it.

If you thought Bayer were caught cold last week? Then think again.

So there we have it, another great night of UEFA Cup action awaits us.

Therefore as usual, I’ll remind you that quality European football doesn’t finish on Wednesday night after the Champions League games, but continues all the way to Thursday night with the UEFA Cup!