BORUSSIA Dortmund 2-4 Rangers will go down as one of the club’s greatest ever European nights regardless of what happens at Ibrox on Thursday.

Bolstered by a two-goal advantage and blueprint that played out perfectly in Germany, the shifting of hope to expectation is widespread. If Dortmund’s approach can be deciphered in their own ground what’s to stop the same outcome in Glasgow?

And while it’s true that Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have discounted any notion of an inferiority complex, the task of progressing into the last 16 remains a real ask, although not insurmountable.

Dortmund responded to Thursday’s defeat with a 6-0 humbling of Borussia Monchengladbach at the Signal Iduna Park. That result in isolation doesn’t tell tomorrow’s hosts anything they’re currently unaware of; when playing in transition with space to attack, Marco Rose’s men will likely take advantage and if Erling Haaland is to feature in Glasgow tomorrow that threat will only increase.

To go through over both legs the Ibrox men must play to their maximum again and manage the occasion with intelligence. They are of course two goals ahead, however, last week showed it takes only minutes for such an advantage to recalibrate.

In the first leg, the correct balance was struck out of possession. Ryan Jack and John Lundstram ran relentlessly behind the four-man screen of Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo, Scott Arfield and Alfredo Morelos to make the pitch small and stunt Dortmund’s progression up the pitch. They were only really sliced open once during a back to front move after the press was broken when Marco Reus failed to convert Jude Bellingham’s cut-back.

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That last detail is not easy. When Rose’s side had possession the players were constantly calculating risk and reward factors. Is it the right time to press? What are the ramifications of being bypassed? Should we hold or go for more? It will take real discipline collectively off the ball to once again prevent Dortmund from outplaying.

There is a reason this result was so heralded, everything needs to go right for a team of Rangers' resources to humble one of Dortmund's.

Both of the goals Rangers conceded on Thursday derived from the sort of individual brilliance a team sitting second in Germany can call upon. Arguably the defensive structure could’ve been better to deny both goal scorers’ space, yet the strikes emphasised the quality Rangers successfully nullified for the majority of proceedings.

Bellingham and Guerriero’s goals indicate why sitting back is not an option. Even from the tightest of spaces players of such quality can punish you and with an expectant home crowd now in the mix, van Bronckhorst’s side need to attack. That could once more prove to be the option that carries the least risk on the basis of Dortmund’s defending in the home tie.

“The game plan was to go out there and be brave, trust in ourselves and I think we showed that yesterday,” said Calvin Bassey of last week's win.

“We were brave in our press, we were high. We showed we can compete on a big stage.”

James Tavernier added: “We have put ourselves in a really good position and we controlled them as best we could and limited their chances.”

On Thursday, it is this combination that offers Rangers their most realistic chance of ending the night still in the hat. They need to replicate their ability to play through the press, allowing Kent and Morelos space in which to attack a vulnerable defence. Equally, the visiting opposition can’t be granted many moments of control.

If victory over two legs is not achieved, last week can and will still be remembered fondly. Equally, based on the incision with which their side attacked, supporters are justified to regard last week as no anomaly.

The task on Thursday remains huge in isolation and Rangers require another night of near perfection to progress.