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RANGERS’ Europa League triumph over Red Star has earned praise from both sides of the Old Firm rivalry.
The Light Blues lost 2-1 in Belgrade in the second leg but 4-2 on aggregate in their last 16 tie against the formidable Serbian outfit.
They’re now into the hat for the quarter-finals of the competition, with the draw to take place tomorrow.
Celtic icon Chris Sutton led the way in giving the Ibrox side credit.
Sutton said on Twitter: “Alan McGregor brilliant once again tonight. Well done to Rangers. Good night for Scottish football.”
Across the divide, Rangers-minded pundits were also quick to talk up the significance of the victory.
Kris Boyd called it an “unbelievable achievement” and reckons you’ll be hard-pressed to find any team who’ll gladly face Rangers in Europe going forward.
He told Sky Sports: “It’s fantastic for Rangers to reach the last eight of a European competition. It’s an unbelievable achievement.
“The damage was done in the first leg. Rangers have found a way to get the job done, even though they lost. Nobody will want to play Rangers.
“They are a threat, they can be compact, but they also have blistering pace on the counter-attack.
“It’s fantastic from Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Rangers, and it’s great for Scottish football. They’ll look forward to the draw.”
Ibrox legend Ally McCoist wasn’t overly impressed by Rangers’ performance on the night but nonetheless said the result is a “step forward” for the club.
Speaking on BT Sport, he said: “I thought Rangers saw it out without playing particularly well.
“The goalkeeper was excellent, the two centre-backs were good, Lundstram played well.
“They were solid enough but I thought the use of the ball, particularly in the final third, was average at best.
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“It’s a brilliant result.
“Into the last eight for the first time in a number of years, it’s a massive step forward for the club. I’m so pleased for everybody.
“It was a good performance in terms of getting the job done. Can Rangers do better with the ball? Of course they can.
“The home tie, that’s effectively where it was won.”
Meanwhile Alan Hutton was in no doubt over the two teams he’d most likely want to face in the last eight – but for differing reasons.
When asked who he’d want in the next round, the former Gers star told BT Sport: “Braga I think, [who beat Monaco], I think Rangers would fancy themselves.
“But yeah the glamour tie has to be Barcelona.
“Thinking back to when I played against them, what a tie that was to be involved in.”
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