Rangers to face Braga in Europa League quarter final

Rangers have been drawn to play Braga in the quarter finals of the Europa League.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side were paired with the Portuguese side at the draw in Nyon on Friday.

The winners of the tie will face RB Leipzig or Atalanta at the semi-final stage.

The Ibrox side last met Braga in the 2019-20 Europa League when they were drawn together in the last 32 of the tournament.

Ianis Hagi scored twice and Joe Aribo found the net as Rangers won the first leg 3-2 at Ibrox, before Ryan Kent scored the only goal of the game in Braga to complete a 4-2 aggregate victory.

Rangers reached the quarter finals of this year’s competition after finishing second behind Lyon but ahead of Sparta Prague and Brondby in the group stage. They then stunned Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in the play-off round, winning 6-4 on aggregate.

That set up a last 16 clash with Red Star and Rangers won the home leg 3-0 before a 2-1 defeat in Belgrade that saw them through to the last eight.

Braga finished as runners up to Red Star in their group and then beat Sheriff Tiraspol on penalties after each side had won their home leg 2-0. They then faced Monaco in the last 16, winning 2-0 at home before drawing 1-1 away.

Quarter final ties will take place on April 7 and 14, with the semi-finals scheduled for April 28 and May 5. Rangers will play the first leg of the quarter final in Portugal, with the return match at Ibrox a week later.

The final of this year’s competition takes place at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in Seville on May 18.