Rangers Eye Athletic Bilbao Clash in Europa League Quarter-Finals
Rangers can now shift focus to a mouthwatering Europa League quarter-final tie against Athletic Bilbao at Ibrox, promising a thrilling night of European football.
The Light Blues battled through a challenging League Phase, clinching 8th place on the final day under Philippe Clement. Following that, Barry Ferguson led Rangers to an impressive win away to Fenerbahce, before Jack Butland starred in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Ibrox to seal their progression.
Now, Athletic Bilbao await. However, Rangers’ historical record against Spanish opposition is poor, and they’ll face an uphill battle without two key players for the first leg.
Souttar and Diomande Suspended for First Leg
John Souttar and Mohamed Diomande will both be sidelined for the Ibrox leg after picking up bookings in the win over Fenerbahce. With a trip to Spain looming, Rangers will hope to carry a strong result from the first leg—but without Souttar, the defense will be tested against Athletic’s attacking arsenal.
The Basque side boast serious firepower, including rising star Nico Williams—being courted by top European clubs—and potentially their top scorer Oihan Sancet, who may return for the tie.
Despite the setback, Souttar remains focused on the team’s success. Speaking ahead of Rangers’ league game with Hibs, he said:
“I’m suspended for Thursday so it’ll be a tough one to watch. But it’s not about me, it’s about the team. If I don’t play and we win, I couldn’t care less.”
Contract Talks on Hold Amid Club Uncertainty
Souttar also addressed the uncertainty surrounding his future at the club, revealing that discussions over a new contract have been paused amid ongoing changes at Ibrox.
With Rangers searching for a new sporting director and a US-based takeover underway, Souttar says contract talks have been placed on hold until the dust settles.
“To be honest, I’ve not spoken about that for a while,” he said. “There’s been loads of change at the club, so that situation’s been pushed to the back-burner.
“I’m just focusing on my football and letting others take care of what they need to. Hopefully it’ll all be resolved when there’s more stability.”
