It’s like in a Hollywood action film. The time is running out, the pressure is high and the hero has just entered the scene. All eyes on him, the expectations are running high and there is no room for mistakes. Welcome back to Glasgow, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst.The former Dutch international, who spent three years as a Rangers player during his playing career, is relishing the occasion. Tonight at Ibrox Stadium, his first game in charge of Rangers will be a massively important one. If the champions of Scotland want keep their Europa League campaign on track, they must defeat Sparta Prague.𝙊𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖 𝙍𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧… 💙❤️Giovanni van Bronckhorst is the new manager of Scottish champions Rangers.The Dutchman won two league titles – including a domestic treble in 1998/99 – and made 117 appearances for the Ibrox side between 1998 and 2001. pic.twitter.com/nCr7TrJgOV— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 18, 2021 The adulation of the fans is guaranteed for their former player, but results are required to keep the positive atmosphere. With Steven Gerrard leaving the club to take up the job at Aston Villa, the Scottish giants need this new appointment to work. Van Bronkhorst is well aware of the expectations.”I am looking forward to the first game back in the stadium and of course it will bring many memories of my time when I was a player. Very good memories. I can’t wait to feel the atmosphere again in the stadium but I am old enough to separate my emotions into the focus I need to perform with the team.”##NAJAVA_MECA_6001113##The last meeting between the teams in Prague was marred when schoolchildren in attendance booed Rangers player Glen Kamara, who had been racially abused by Slavia Prague player Ondrej Kudela in March. Hopefully tonight everything will be about football as the home crowd prepares a welcome party for Van Bronckhorst.Rangers would ensure a top-two finish if they manage to win by a two-goal margin and Brondby don’t topple Lyon in their group’s other game. With the French side runaway group winners, it’s up to the other three sides to determine who will make it to the knockout round.No handshake? No problem!Sparta Prague have only won three of their last 13 UEFA Europa League matches – but all three have been against Scottish opponents – a tradition that they’ll try to continue tonight.Elsewhere in the competition, Leicester City will host Legia of Poland in the tight Group C with Brendan Rodgers looking to lift the team after a few disappointing results in the league. Meanwhile, West Ham United, who have already secured a top-two finish, fly to Austria knowing that a win over Rapid Wien would warrant them direct qualification into the Round of 32.UEFA EUROPA LEAGUEGroup stageWednesdaySpartak Moscow – Napoli 2-1 (2-0)/Sobolev 3 pen, 28 – Elmas 64/Thursday20.45: (3.00) Galatasaray (3.20) Olympique Marseille (2.60)20.45: (4.50) Lok.Moscow (3.60) Lazio (1.90)20.45: (1.40) Crvena Zvezda (4.90) Ludogorets (9.00)20.45: (2.65) Midtjylland (3.25) Braga (2.90)20.45: (1.55) Leverkusen (4.40) Celtic (6.50)20.45: (1.23) Betis (7.00) Ferencvaros (14.0)20.45: (2.35) Dinamo Zagreb (3.40) Genk (3.25)20.45: (5.90) Rapid (4.00) West Ham (1.65)23.00: (3.45) Brondby (3.40) Olympique Lyon (2.25)23.00: (1.80) Rangers (3.60) Sparta Praha (5.10)23.00: (2.60) Monaco (3.20) Sociedad (3.00)23.00: (1.22) PSV (7.00) Sturm (15.0)23.00: (1.20) Leicester (7.75) Legia (16.0)23.00: (1.40) Eintr.Frankfurt (4.90) Antwerp (9.00)23.00: (1.88) Olympiakos (3.70) Fenerbahce (4.40)***odds are subject to change
