Gers boss says he can’t wait to take on German aces

Steven Gerrard outlined the quality of Bayer Leverkusen after Rangers were drawn against the Bundesliga side in the Europa League.

The Gers’ reward for beating Portuguese side Braga home and away was a last-16 tie against Peter Bosz’s men, who are fifth in their domestic league.

The first game is scheduled for Ibrox on March 12 and the return game a week later.

In their last-32 tie Leverkusen – who are fifth in the Bundesliga, six points behind leaders Bayern Munich beat Porto, who won Rangers’ qualifying group, home and away, a feat that impressed the Light Blues boss.

Gerrard said: “The way they have dealt with Porto, I think they deserve to be one of the favourites.

“Ever since I made my debut, my experience of playing against German players and German teams is that they are always tough, big strong athletes who are tactically astute. It is exciting but it is going to be very tough.”

The former Liverpool and England captain also highlighted the potential challenges of the second leg at the Bay Arena.

He said: “I know their stadium, it is a fantastic stadium.

“I have played there and experienced it and it can be an exciting place to go, real close to the pitch.

“The atmosphere is electric there, it is not a huge stadium but it is real close to the pitch and German fans all around the stadium, so it will be a good challenge for the players.”

Manchester United, who won the Europa League under Jose Mourinho three years ago, will face Austrian side LASK in the last 16 after the draw in Nyon kept the three remaining British sides apart.

Fellow Premier League side Wolves take on Greek side Olympiaco.

With no seedings or country protection, the draw could have pitted two of the British clubs against each other, but they were kept apart in what looks a favourable outcome.

However, United’s little-known opponents LASK are top of the Austrian Bundesliga, while Olympiacos knocked out Arsenal with an extra-time winner at the Emirates on Thursday.

The only bad news for United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was a thigh injury for Martial that ruled him out of the squad on Thursday night.

Solskjaer is waiting to find out whether the forward could be available against Everton tomorrow, saying: “He went off training yesterday, just had treatment.

“He tried today, he reported, had a fitness test this morning.”

Elsewhere, Istanbul Basaksehir will take on Celtic’s conquerors FC Copenhagen, Wolfsburg face 2009 winners Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter Milan are up against Getafe and Sevilla face Roma.