Barry Ferguson's side battled to a 0-0 at Irbox and have set up a date with destiny in the San Mames
Sport Robbie Chalmers Sports Trends Writer 06:00, 17 Apr 2025Updated 12:34, 17 Apr 2025
Rangers face a daunting task as they aim to secure Europa League progress, needing to achieve what only Atletico Madrid and Osasuna have managed this season - a win at the San Mames. The scale of the challenge against Athletic Bilbao is evident.
Ernesto Valverde's men underlined their home ground prowess with a stirring 3-1 victory over Roma in the last 16, providing a taste of what Barry Ferguson and his team can anticipate.
However, Gers have shown that anything can happen on a Thursday night. Their shock 3-1 triumph over Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce on foreign soil stunned Europe - before a nervy penalty shootout win sealed their place in the quarter-finals.
This was followed by a hard-fought 0-0 draw with La Liga high-flyers Bilbao at Ibrox, where Liam Kelly emerged as the penalty hero.
Achieving a similar result would be an even more significant accomplishment at the stadium set to host the Europa League final in May.
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The recent 2-2 draw against Aberdeen has temporarily halted Celtic's title celebrations. But the Ibrox club know that their last opportunity for silverware this season rests on the Europa League.
Athletic Bilbao, currently fourth in La Liga and having suffered just four defeats in 31 domestic matches, pose a formidable threat. Nico Williams is likely to be the biggest challenge for the Light Blues' defence in what promises to be a lively San Mames.
A frantic 90 minutes awaits, and Record Sport will ensure you don't miss a moment of the action.
When is Athletic Bilbao vs Rangers?
Athletic Bilbao will host Rangers at the San Mames on Thursday April 17 with kick-off at 8pm.
Is Athletic Bilbao vs Rangers on TV?
Absolutely! The quarter-final second leg will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2, with coverage starting at 7pm and running until 10:30pm.
Can I live stream Athletic Bilbao vs Rangers?
Yes, you can. Fans can catch the action on their devices via the Discovery+ website or app for a monthly fee of £30.99. However, there's no pay-per-view option available from this broadcaster. To sign up, click HERE.
Alternatively, Rangers TV subscribers outside the UK and Ireland can watch the game live without any additional charges.
Where else can I follow the action?
You can keep up with all the action from Spain right here on dailyrecord.co.uk! We'll be running a live blog featuring all the pre-match build-up and team news, as well as every moment of the match once it gets underway. After the final whistle, we'll bring you reactions from managers and players, player ratings, key talking points, and much more.
Ref and VAR
UEFA have appointed Bosnian referee Irfan Peljto as the man in the middle. He will be assisted by Senad Ibrisimbegovic and Davor Beljo with Milos Gigovic the fourth official.
The 40-year-old ref has taken charge of a Rangers fixture before, back in 2022. He was in charge of the 2-0 loss to Union Saint-Gilloise in Champions League qualifying.
Team news
Athletic Bilbao are doubtful over the fitness of striker Inaki Williams after he picked up a muscle injury during the win over Rayo Vallecano. Left-back Yuri Berchiche remains sidelined with a calf strain.
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As for Rangers, Dujon Sterling (Achilles) and Neraysho Kasanwirjo (knee) remain sidelined with injuries, while Robin Propper is suspended following his first-leg red card. John Souttar and Mohamed Diomande return from suspension while Liam Kelly is likely to continue between the sticks in place of Jack Butland.
