Rangers fans will still be smarting from Europe League elimination at the hands of Athletic Bilbao.
And now it looks like any benefits to be gained from the Basque club winning the tournament have been snatched away by Man Utd.
Athletic set up the meeting with the Red Devils by dumping Barry Ferguson’s men out at the quarter-final stage.
But a thumping 3-0 win for the English Premier League side in their semi-final first leg means they are almost certain to be returning to the San Mames later this month for the Final.
And it could be an all English showdown with Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham, as they beat Bodo/Glimt 3-1 at home in their forst leg encounter.
But what would that mean for Rangers?
What if Athletic Bilbao DON’T win the Europa League?
Even making the Final looks a tall order for Bilbao now.
A first leg collapse saw them beaten 3-0 at home by Man Utd, with Dani Vivian seeing karma come back and bite him on the backside. big time.
After getting away with a shirt pull on Cyriel Dessers in their second leg against Rangers – ripping the striker’s shirt in the process – he did concede a penalty for hauling back Rasmus Holjund and was sent off for his trouble.
Ruben Amorim’s side punished the Basques and take a commanding lead into next week’s second leg at Old Trafford.
If, as expected, they finish the job in Manchester, then Athletic’s exit will see Rangers enter the Champions League via the League Path, starting in the second round qualifiers.
Potential opponents include the likes of Servette, Brann and Austria Vienna.
If Ernesto Valverde’s men do the unthinkable and not only stage a miraculous comeback against Utd but also win the tournament while finishing in the Champions League spots in La Liga, Rangers would be bumped up to the Champions Path thanks to their coefficient ranking.
That would see them enter in the third round of qualifiers.
