Rangers prevail 3-2 on penalties after Fenerbahce win 2-0 to level 3-3 on aggregate
Ibrox side will face Athletic Bilbao, who won their second leg 3-1 against 10-man Roma to prevail 4-3 on aggregate
Bookings rule Rangers' Souttar and Diomande out of first leg of quarter-final
Szymanski volleys Fenerbahce into lead on stroke of half time
Szymanski slots second on 74 minutes to level tie and no more goals in extra-time as tie goes to penalties
Tavernier and Czerny fire home for Rangers and, although Egribayat touched Hagi's attempt on to post, Lawrence sets up Rangers' win
Butland saves from Tadic and Fred before Yandas fires over
FT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (3-2 pens)
Right, that should do us for another famous night at Ibrox.
For a while there, it seemed like Rangers' European journey, and perhaps any signs of light in a dark season, were about to come to an end.
But they held on, before Jack Butland's heroics secured them a plane ticket to Bilbao.
We'll see you next time. Goodnight!
Image source, SNSFT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (3-2 pens)
Some final quotes from Leon Balogun, which speaks more about Rangers' season as a whole: "Domestically it doesn't look pretty and we know this is all we've got to get something special done. I'm proud to be part of this team today.
"You need a bit of realism but I've ben part of a group that has made it to the final before. Nothing's impossible.
"We need a bit of luck, I think we've earned that today. Let's see what the next round brings. If we don't come from a place of belief we might as well just pack our bags."
Image source, SNSFT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (3-3 agg) (3-2 pens)
Rangers defender Leon Balogun tells the media: "It was tough, we made it harder for ourselves than it needed to be.
"We suffered out there, you all saw it, but we dug in, stuck together and grinded it out. It's a great moment for Jack Butland as well.
"It's one of those where you just have to take it as it is. We did the groundwork last week. In the beginning we would have loved to score one and have a bit of a breather but it wasn't meant to be.
"It's special already. Europe, for the time I've been at the club, has always been special. Thursday nights at Ibrox are so special. These guys in the stands give it their all, they don't have it easy with everything that's going on outside of football plus our season up and down domestically. I think I speak for everyone when I say it's for them."
Image source, SNSFT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (3-2 pens)
More from Mourinho, and it's typically box office.
"The fourth official was not arrogant like the referee. He was trying to put our bench calm, I was the only one calm it was everybody else, especially the ones in front of the laptops, for them it is difficult to control.
"The only thing for me is that I hope everything that's happened to me in European competitions is not a consequence of the Budapest final and I hope it's just random."
After Roma, who Mourinho then managed, were beaten by Sevilla on penalties in the 2023 Europa League final, the Portuguese manager called referee Anthony Taylor "a disgrace".
Tonight, he added: "Since that final, since my suspension the things that happened to us - we didn't play Champions league because of a penalty on 120th minute penalty that only the fourth official saw.
"Today we come here and the VAR is considered one of the best VARs, he didn't see one of three penalties. I just hope it's random. I paid for the suspension and I hope that it's over. I pray that this is just bad luck.
"I told my players there is no better place to play football than in the UK. They didn't deserve to go through but they did so they celebrate and give some money to the pubs."
Image source, SNSFT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (3-2 pens)
Fenerbache manager Jose Mourinho tells TNT Sports: "We deserved to win over 90 minutes, we deserved to win after 120 minutes, we were the best team by far.
"In the first match I was honest and I had enough to say we made mistakes, we deserved to lose but in this match I also have to be honest and say we were the best team by far.
"We did everything to win. The ref and the VAR decided that we should go to penalties.
"Congratulations to Rangers but I think my team deserves everything from me, from our supporters and even from Turkey as a country because we're the last club to represent them in the European competition.
"I'm sad for my boys because it was the dream to go through but I'm proud of them."
Image source, SNSFT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (3-3 agg) (3-2 pens)
A little more from Barry Ferguson, the man who has just put a Jose Mourinho side out of Europe. Fair play.
He tells TNT Sports: "I was delighted with how they finished the game and then you go into penalties and I'm delighted for Jack. He showed his quality.
"The fans are loving it, these nights are special. I thought the fans stuck behind the players.
"They need to realise what this club's all about. They don't always play well but the one things the fans demand is effort.
"I never practise penalties. I said to the players you decide, I'm not going to decide who's taking the penalties.
"I know they're good players but it takes more than a good player at Rangers, that's something we're trying to drill into them. Tonight was a big test for them and I think they came through it. It's easy for your head to go down at 2-0 but they never gave in.
Image source, SNSFT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (3-2 pens)
Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson tells TNT Sports: "It was nerve-wracking.
"Looking back on the game, you get so involved on the sidelines but I think there were a couple of things we could have done better for the goals.
"They showed character in abundance tonight and we have to do that going forward. Overall I'm just delighted to into the quarters.
"One thing I think has been missing is character. One thing the players are doing is they're listening. We've still got to work at a lot of things but that tonight is what my teams are built on.
"When you play against really good teams they're going to hurt you in stages and you have to let them have the ball.
"I'm proud of the players and I'm just delighted for the club as whole."
Image source, SNSFT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (3-2 pens)
Steven Thompson
Former Rangers striker on BBC Radio Scotland
They'll have aged tonight, that's for sure - as will most of the supporters inside this stadium.
I've got to give them massive credit because at 2-0 down, heading into extra time, I feared for Rangers.
But they managed to galvanise themselves and regain composure. They showed a lot of bravery, shown mostly by their captain James Tavernier.
Rangers' penalties were excellent and Jack Butland was phenomenal.
FT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (3-2 pens)
Rangers captain James Tavernier tells TNT Sports: "We probably did it the hard way today but we got through to the next round and you see how much it means.
"These are the special nights in European football which you can't replace."
"We didn't actually practice [penalties] this week! Maybe that helped."
Image source, SNSFT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (3-2 pens)
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland tells TNT Sports: "It's not tough. When you play in this place with everything that's on the line, it's your nature.
"We are something special. I wanted to put something up for the guys, I wanted to get it done. You can't top this feeling.
"We fully believed we were going to get the job done. The boys dug deep and this is the reward you get, it's what the fans deserve.
"We could have been more clinical but, boy, we deserved this."
FT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (3-2 pens)
Andy Halliday
Motherwell midfielder on BBC Sportsound
Jack Butland is the hero. We talked about his lack of form this season, compared to last. All of that is firmly out the window.
Rangers were second best for large parts of the night, but they will not care.
FT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (3-2 pens)
Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland at Ibrox
Wow! What a match that was!
At the end of 90 minutes it looked liked Fenerbahce were on top, they had the momentum but Rangers found some energy from somewhere.
They dispatched their penalties well, Jack Butland played his part and this place is absolutely rocking.
Rangers' Europa League journey goes on.
FT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (3-2 pens)
Rangers are celebrating in front of the Copland Road End, with players and staff bouncing around.
It's been a tough night for them, they've watched their side lose 2-0 but come through on penalties.
It's another European trip for their fans, another famous European run, and they're taking it all in.
FT: Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (3-2 pens)
They've won on penalties!
Jack Butland is mobbed! He is the Ibrox hero tonight as Rangers head to the Europa League quarter-finals!
Athletic Bilbao await them.
Image source, SNSRangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (0-0 pens)
Over the bar! High, high over the bar!
Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (3-2 pens)
Rangers are back in front!
A carbon copy of the Cerny penalty!
Barry Ferguson roars into the Ibrox sky!
Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (2-2 pens)
Wrong side, Fred!
He puts it to goalie's right with pace, trying to curl it into the corner, but Jack Butland flies and makes a super save.
Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (2-2 pens)
Fenerbahce are back on terms.
Hagi tries to roll it to the goalie's left, but it doesn't have the pace and Egribayat tips it onto the post and wide.
Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (2-2 pens)
Aleksander Djiku, who scored against Rangers last week, sends Jack Butland the wrong way.
A little hesitation in that run up, which shows him where the goalie is going. Not a fan of them, personally.
Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-3) (2-1 pens)
Down the middle!
Absolutely rocketed it, too. Decent hit and Rangers are ahead again.
Mert Hakan Yandas' penalty miss sparked joyous celebrations at Ibrox
Jack Butland's penalty shootout heroics earned Rangers a place in the Europa League quarter-finals after Fenerbahce overturned a 3-1 first-leg deficit at Ibrox.
The home goalkeeper saved from Dusan Tadic and Fred before Mert Hakan Yandas skied his effort over the bar, sparking jubilant scenes both on the pitch and in the stands.
Barry Ferguson's side brought a two-goal lead back to Glasgow after a magnificent performance last week in Istanbul, but they were unable to replicate those levels as their recent struggles in front of their own fans continued.
Goals from Poland midfielder Sebastian Szymanski either side of half-time brought the visitors level on aggregate and Jose Mourinho's side pushed for a winner in normal time.
Tadic curled a shot just wide and Youssef En-Nesyri was denied only by a last-ditch James Tavernier tackle in the dying embers of normal time.
Vaclav Cerny was Rangers' main threat throughout, taking defenders on at will and forcing several saves from visiting goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat.
However, neither side could find a decisive goal before the 90 minutes were up and, although Cerny and Tavernier went close for Rangers in extra time, spot kicks were needed to decide the tie.
Tavernier, Cerny and Tom Lawrence converted for the hosts in the shootout, setting up a meeting with Athletic Bilbao in the last eight after the Spanish outfit overcame Roma.
It is the first time Rangers have lost four successive home matches in their history, but the overriding emotion was that of joy and relief at Ibrox after Ferguson's players held their nerve.
Barry Ferguson led the celebrations after the shootout drama
In a season of domestic disappointment, European competition has been the one positive for Rangers and that continued on a night of high drama at Ibrox.
The outpouring of joy that met Yandas' miss came after 120 minutes of nerves, frustration and fear as fans were put through an emotional wringer.
Rangers started well on the night, with Cerny's directness causing plenty of issues for the Fenerbahce backline, but when Szymanski swept home Filip Kostic's cross on the volley, it swung the momentum towards the visitors.
They then dominated the second half and, when Szymanski stabbed in his second on 73 minutes, there only looked like one winner.
Mourinho's side were incensed by a decision in extra-time to not award a penalty after Nicolas Raskin appeared to trip Yandas in the box. Referee Espen Eskas waved play on and VAR opted not to intervene.
Rangers stood tall defensively and rode their luck at times to take the tie to penalties and then showed character to regroup and win the shootout.
Ferguson has issues to fix, not least the dismal recent home form, but he appears to have restored a sense of togetherness and belief at the club, both among the players and fans.
He will be without both Mohamed Diomande and John Souttar for the first leg against Bilbao - they were both booked and pick up one-match suspensions as a result.
Before that though, attentions turn to Sunday's Old Firm derby against the Scottish Premiership leaders at Celtic Park, where some weary bodies will have to go again.
Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson on TNT Sports: "They showed character in abundance and we have to do that going forward. Overall, I'm just delighted to be into the quarters.
"One thing I think has been missing is character. One thing the players are doing is they're listening. We've still got to work at a lot of things, but that tonight is what my teams are built on.
"When you play against really good teams, they're going to hurt you in stages and you have to let them have the ball. I'm proud of the players and I'm just delighted for the club as whole."
Fenerbache head coach Jose Mourinho on TNT Sports: "We deserved to win over 90 minutes, we deserved to win after 120 minutes.
"In the first match, I was honest and I had enough to say we made mistakes, we deserved to lose, but in this match, I also have to be honest and say we were the best team by far.
"We did everything to win. The ref and the VAR decided that we should go to penalties. I'm sad for my boys because it was the dream to go through, but I'm proud of them."
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 19 |
| |
| 2 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 19 |
| |
| 3 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 18 |
| |
| 4 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 17 |
| |
| 5 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 16 |
| |
| 6 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 15 |
| |
| 7 | Olympiakos Piraeus | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 15 |
|
| 8 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 14 |
| |
| 9 | Bodø / Glimt | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 14 |
|
| 10 | Anderlecht | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 14 |
|
| 11 | FCSB | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 14 |
|
| 12 | Ajax | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 13 |
|
| 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 13 |
| |
| 14 | Galatasaray | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 13 |
|
| 15 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 12 |
| |
| 16 | Viktoria Plzeň | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 12 |
|
| 17 | Ferencváros | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 12 |
|
| 18 | Porto | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 11 |
|
| 19 | AZ | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 11 |
|
| 20 | Midtjylland | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 11 |
|
| 21 | Union Saint-Gilloise | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 11 |
|
| 22 | PAOK | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 10 |
|
| 23 | Twente | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 10 |
|
| 24 | Fenerbahçe | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 11 | -2 | 10 |
|
| 25 | Sporting Braga | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 10 |
|
| 26 | Elfsborg | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 14 | -5 | 10 |
|
| 27 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 14 | -3 | 9 |
| |
| 28 | Beşiktaş | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | -5 | 9 |
|
| 29 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 17 | -9 | 6 |
|
| 30 | Slavia Prague | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 5 |
|
| 31 | Malmö FF | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 17 | -7 | 5 |
|
| 32 | Rīgas FS | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 13 | -7 | 5 |
|
| 33 | Ludogorets | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 4 |
|
| 34 | Dynamo Kyiv | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 18 | -13 | 4 |
|
| 35 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 16 | -9 | 3 |
| |
| 36 | Qarabağ | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 20 | -14 | 3 |
|
Manager: Barry Ferguson
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: José Mourinho
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Barry Ferguson
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: José Mourinho
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
UEFA Europa League
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Rangers are unbeaten in their five home matches against Turkish sides in European competition (W3 D2), conceding only one goal in those five games in a 2-1 win over Galatasaray in October 2020.
Rangers have lost just two of their last 14 home games in the UEFA Europa League (W9 D3), though did lose their last game in the knockout stages in March 2024 against Benfica 1-0.
Fenerbahçe have won only one of their last 11 knockout stage away games in major European competition (D3 L7), conceding 2+ goals in seven of those games, including five of the last six.
Rangers come into the second leg with a 3-1 aggregate lead – they’ve progressed from 24 of their previous 25 major European ties when leading by 2+ goals from the first leg, going out to Borussia Dortmund in the last 32 of the 1999-00 UEFA Cup in the other (2-2 on aggregate, lost on pens).
No player has been involved in more goals in the UEFA Europa League this season than Rangers’ Václav Cerny (8 – 6 goals, 2 assists), with his next goal in this season’s competition equalling James Tavernier’s tally of seven in 2021-22 for the most goals by a Rangers player in a campaign of major European competition.
