Rangers have tended to save their best performances for a Thursday night - and that proved the case once again when the Light Blues went head-to-head with Turkish giants Fenerbahce in Istanbul this week.
Rangers produced a stunning 3-1 away victory over Fenerbahce in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie, delivering a masterclass in discipline, attacking prowess, and defensive resilience.
Much had been said about Fenerbahce’s 18-game unbeaten run across all competitions going into the clash. Plus, Rangers were travelling to Türkiye managed by the inexperienced Barry Ferguson. While, legendary Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho was in the home dugout.
That’s without looking into the total value of the two squads…
But what panned out for Rangers, who have been plagued by inconsistency in domestic competitions this season, was quite remarkable, and must go down as an all-time top European performance. The key men in implementing that result were Cyriel Dessers, Vaclav Cerny, Nicolas Raskin, and John Souttar, with all four men playing a pivotal role.
Read more:
- Dessers delivers verdict on disallowed goals vs Fenerbahce
- Turkish media reacts as Mourinho 'embarrassed' by Rangers
Here we look at the quartets role in humiliating the Turkish powerhouse on their own patch…
Cyriel Dessers - Often a figure of debate among Rangers fans, Dessers silenced his critics with a clinical performance in Istanbul.
The Nigerian forward led the line with strength and intelligence, pressing Fenerbahce’s defenders relentlessly and linking play effectively. His crucial goal just seven minutes into the first half set the tone for Rangers’ dominance, as he pounced on a defensive error before calmly slotting past the goalkeeper.
He even could’ve finished the night with a hat-trick after having two ruled out after the break for extremely tight offside calls.
It was also commendable to read that the Nigerian - who now has 22 goals and six assists from 46 Rangers appearances this season - won the most duels in the match (9).
Vaclav Cerny - The Czech winger tormented Fenerbahçe’s full-backs all night with his pace and trickery. His ability to drive at defenders and deliver dangerous crosses caused chaos in the Turkish side’s defence.
John Souttar - Rangers had certainly felt the Scotland centre-backs absence, with Souttar making his injury return for this huge encounter in Türkiye.
The Gers defender produced a dominant display, winning aerial duels, making crucial tackles, and positioning himself perfectly to snuff out Fenerbahçe’s attacks.
Nicolas Raskin - In the cauldron of Istanbul, Raskin thrived with a performance full of grit and intelligence. The Belgian midfielder dictated play from deep, breaking up attacks and setting Rangers forward with incisive passing.
Raskin’s ability to transition between defence and attack throughout the 90 minutes ensured Rangers maintained control in the middle of the park, helping them pounce at the right moments.
His energy and tactical awareness were crucial in stifling Fenerbahce’s rhythm, making him one of the standout performers on a famous night for the Glasgow club.
