Dariusz Adamczuk on the Rangers player who can prevent a repeat of the Borussia Dortmund collapse in 1999

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side recorded a famous result in Germany last week when they defeated Marco Rose’s team 4-2 in the Westfalenstadion in the first leg of the Europa League knockout round play-off.

Hopes are high among followers of the Premiership champions that they can complete an aggregate victory over their Bundesliga opponents at Ibrox tomorrow evening and book a place in the last 16 of the competition. 

READ MORE: Champions League winner Paul Lambert makes bold Borussia Dortmund prediction ahead of Rangers rematch at Ibrox

However, Dutch manager Van Bronckhorst will be acutely aware that nothing can be taken for granted having been, along with his Polish team mate Adamczuk, a member of a Rangers side that suffered an ignominious collapse against Dortmund back in 1999.

A Jurgen Kohler own goal and a Rod Wallace strike in the first leg of a UEFA Cup third round tie that was played in front of a crowd of 49,268 fans in Govan put Dick Advocaat’s men in a commanding position.

But in the rematch Victor Ipeka pulled one back for the hosts – who had won the Champions League two years earlier - in the first-half and then Fredi Bobic forced extra-time when he netted in the second minute of injury-time.

READ MORE: Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst needs to solve away day Premiership blues or the league will be lost

The game went to penalties and Dortmund goalkeeper Jens Lehmann saved spot kicks from Van Bronckhorst, Arthur Numan and Claudio Reyna to ensure Michael Skibbe’s men won the shoot-out 3-1 and went through. 

The memory of that excruciating reverse is still painful for Adamczuk, the industrious defender cum midfielder who was involved in both games, over 22 years on.

“We were very unlucky in the Champions League that season,” he said. “We lost to Bayern Munich 1-0 in Germany in our final group game and just missed out on the knockout rounds.

“Our striker Michael Mols suffered a bad injury in the first-half in the Olympic Stadium and we went out of that competition and dropped into the UEFA Cup.

“In the first leg against Dortmund we played well and won 2-0. But in the second game we lost a goal in the 92nd minute. Their goalkeeper went up for a corner, won the ball and they scored an equaliser. 

“I went off after full-time and was replaced by Andrei Kanchelskis. Unfortunately, Giovanni, Arthur and Claudio all missed their penalty kicks.

“I can still remember the feeling in the dressing room afterwards. Everybody was bitterly disappointed. It was a very sad place. We had led 2-0 after the first leg and had only gone out because we had lost a goal in the 92nd minute.

“Everything that could have gone against us in that game did go against us. If we had lost 3-0 in regulation time and gone out it wouldn’t have been easy to take, but it certainly wouldn’t have felt as bad.”

Adamczuk can recall how Advocaat was forced to draft in Thomas Myhre from Everton to play in those matches after Lionel Charbonnier and Stefan Klos were both ruled out by injuries.

The 52-year-old, who is now sporting director at Ekstraklasa high flyers Pogon Szczecin in his homeland, felt that Norwegian internationalist Myrhe performed admirably in difficult circumstances and was in no way responsible for the exit.

However, he is hopeful that having an experienced and proven European performer like McGregor between the sticks tomorrow night will enable Rangers to protect their lead and progress.

“Stefan Klos got injured and Thomas Myhre came in,” he said. “It was difficult for us to go into these game without our first choice keeper. Having said that, Thomas was a good player as well and did a good job.

“But I think it is very important for Rangers to have an experienced goalkeeper like McGregor when they play in Europe. He has been involved in big games like this on many occasions in the past and what is more has played well in them.

“Dortmund need to score goals so they will throw everything at Rangers. It is good for the whole Rangers team and the defence in particular to know they have a player like McGregor behind them. It makes the team feel more comfortable and that is a good thing when you are under pressure.”

Adamczuk confessed he is astonished that McGregor, who is Rangers first choice keeper despite turning 40 last month, is still playing as he trained with him during his own three year stint at Ibrox between 1999 and 2002.

“He is an old guy like me now!” he said. “I can remember him from when I played for Rangers. He started training with the first team when I was there. He was only 18 or 19.

“I am a little bit surprised that he is still there and still playing because it is 20 years since I left. I can’t believe an old team mate of mine is still there! But it is great to see. He deserves to be playing because he is an excellent goalkeeper and has only got better with age.”

Adamczuk, who helped Rangers to beat Parma of Italy 2-1 on aggregate to reach the Champions League group stages at the start of the 1999/2000 campaign, still follows the fortunes of his old club and has enjoyed seeing them do well in Europe once again in the last few seasons. 

He is keeping his fingers crossed that the Scottish champions can prevail against Dortmund at Ibrox tomorrow night and go through – but knows from personal experience that there is no guarantee they will triumph.

“It is 50/50,” he said. “Rangers have done very, very well in Europe in the last few years. I watched them a lot in Europe when Steven Gerrard was in charge and was always impressed. The experience they have gained will be invaluable to them in this match.

“Dortmund are not as strong as they were before, but they are normally very solid. They won 6-0 at the weekend and I think they will play far better. But Rangers have a chance.”