Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BAYER LEVERKUSEN (3) v RANGERS (1) NIGE: LEVER SAY NEVER..
Spackman is bullish about Gers’ chances of pulling off stunning win
FORMER Ibrox star Nigel Spackman believes Rangers can pull off a spectacular success on Thursday night.
His old side might need to overturn a 3-1 deficit in Leverkusen if they want to clinch a Europa League quarter-final spot.
But Spackman, now a co-commentator on German football for BT Sport, reckons fate might just be shuffling itself into the Light Blues’ corner at the right time.
Had the second leg gone ahead as scheduled in March, he’d have given Steven Gerrard’s (inset) side next to no chance.
Leverkusen were on the back of a 10-match unbeaten run, Rangers were stumbling in Scotland and the Bayarena would have been full of expectant Bayer fans baying for blood.
As it is, Rangers now head to an empty stadium on the back of six victories – albeit five of them friendly matches – and five clean sheets.
The Germans, on the other hand, have been in cold storage for a month after finishing their campaign in less than spectacular fashion and with transfer speculation over golden boy Kai Havertz never far away.
For the seemingly-impossible to become achievable, Rangers need goals – at least three of them. That is the major sticking point for Spackman, who said: “Make no mistake, this is a huge task facing Rangers. We all know Leverkusen have fantastic talent in their squad and they showed that at Ibrox.
“For Rangers to score three or four goals is difficult to see even though they have started the season well.
“The movement of Kent, Hagi and Aribo is good. They just need to be a little more ruthless if they want to be successful.
“If Rangers get one you just never know.
“They look sharp, they look fit whereas Leverkusen with the lay-off might not quite be up to the standards they would want to be.
“Since German football restarted they’ve kind of been up and down and inconsistent.
“I saw them in the German Cup final. They didn’t really show their best form in that match and hopefully they won’t against Rangers either.
“They were having a good second half to the season but with lockdown and with the speculation over Kai Havertz they just fell off it and got pipped for the fourth Champions League spot.
“But they are a good team – no doubt about it.
“Maybe the weakness is defensively. If Rangers are positive and have a real good go at them, press them high up, then it could be very interesting.”