A pulsating, often deeply frustrating evening ended with Ibrox shaking to its foundations and José Mourinho consoling his Fenerbahce players on the pitch. They had erased Rangers’ first-leg advantage through two goals from Sebastian Szymanski and the tie’s momentum swung in both directions during a frantic spell of extra time. It took a shoot-out to spark delirium, Jack Butland saving from Dusan Tadic and Fred before Mert Hakan Yandas spooned over to ensure Rangers will face Athletic Bilbao in the last eight.
“In the eye of a Rangers storm,” read a banner displayed before kick-off, displaying the logos of their four vanquished group stage opponents but tactfully omitting Fenerbahce for now. The job was only half-done but there was the tantalising prospect that an early tornado could all but complete it. Mourinho’s players’ had simply not dealt with Rangers’ intensity in the first leg and a pulsating Ibrox was evidently ready to provoke a repeat.
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