Rangers v Sevilla Champions League Preview; The Return to the Land We Once Conquered

By: Anthony | September 28th, 2009

So as you can see I have a small infatuation with our new boy, Álvaro Negredo. Everything he’s done so far has impressed me and I have no doubts in my mind exactly why we signed him. He’s done his job perfectly as he filled in for Kanouté alongside Fabiano when he was suspended and alongside Kanouté when Fabiano picked up a knock, scoring in both those matches. He gives us the depth to truly be considered a top side and the versatility to catch any team off guard.

It was just two years ago when we faced a much earlier than expected exit from Europe’s largest competition at the hands of Fenerbahçe in a penalty shootout that went all wrong. We’re back though and stronger than ever, we have a much deeper squad in which Jiménez mix and match to field a starting XI capable of challenging any team in the continent.

We travel to Glasgow for the first time since that historic UEFA Cup match three seasons ago when we walked out triumphant over Espanyol. It was a match which all Scots should take a look at to get an idea of just what they’ve got themselves involved with. Having said that though, this is a team who has changed much since the days when Alves missed a penalty and Martí was pulling the strings in the midfield.

It will be far from easy against the defending Scottish Premier League champions but then again, this match will be far from anything that Rangers face domestically. The SPL is generally a two horse race with the last decent outside competition coming from Aberdeen some 25-odd years ago. The “Gers” haven’t lost a match in any competition since March 15th against domestic rivals and former winners of this tournament, Celtic. Then again, to add to our favouritism once again, it will be noted that Rangers haven’t won against Spanish opposition since the 85/86 season.

The key to this match will be to contain our confidence. Since losing the first match of the season against Valencia we have gone on to win 5 straight matches in all competitions and more times than not, emphatically. Our resurgent side has shown not only that they have what it takes to respond to defeat, but also that we have what it takes to compete with the big boys of La Liga and Europe as a whole.

More good news for us as the defending Scottish Champions are also lacking in the scoring department having not scored a goal now for 293 minutes against domestic competition.

After absolutely demolishing Athletic Bilbao on the weekend we head into the land of Haggis and Irn-Bru with absolutely peaking confidence – just the way to head into a Champions League match up. Summer signings Sergio Sánchez, Didier Zokora and especially Álvaro Negredo have all impressed thus far and have basically cemented themselves in the starting XI more times than not.

Let’s get to the bit of bad news now as we’ll be without our ENTIRE Argentine contingent. Perotti still hasn’t recovered from that Achilles tendon he aggravated against Mallorca last week, Duscher is still recovering from his lengthy back injury while Fazio is out with a slight ankle knock picked up a couple weeks back. Acosta has a muscle strain and needs to undergo a further scan to dictate the seriousness of the injury and Chevantón is still out with a long term calf injury.

Okay so enough of the depressing stuff because all is good of late in Nervión. If you saw the weekend match you would have seen that two of our potentially most valuable players for tomorrow’s match played absolutely out of their skin, fantastic. Diego Capel showed this weekend just why he was not too long ago considered a regular in our lineup and Renato showed just what experience he brings to the squad. The Brasilian scored in our last Champions League against Unirea and will have to have another strong performance tomorrow if we are to overcome Rangers at Ibrox. Some more good news for us as Romaric has returned to the squad after regaining full fitness giving Jiménez more depth and options in the centre of the park. Speaking of the centre of the park, Lolo had a solid match against Bilbao giving Manolo more selection headaches (as if he didn’t already have enough) and showing exactly why Monchi was so reluctant to let him go back to Málaga.

Rangers may have drawn Stuttgart in Germany and think they have a shot being at home against us but I think anything less than a full three points will be embarrassing. If we truly want to establish ourselves among the elite sides in Europe we must get results in places where they are expected; Scotland being one of them. It will be interesting to see who gets the start up front as all three of our strikers are in red hot form.