Borussia Dortmund had just reached the final of the 2012/13 season of the Champions League and it was one of their greatest moments in the German club’s history. They were, after all, challenging for the biggest prize a European club can compete for.
Rangers meanwhile had just been liquidated the previous season and were not allowed to compete in the Scottish Premier League and had completed the 2012/13 season in the Third Division of Scottish Football League.
The Scottish club did win the Third Division title, yet it would have felt like a much bigger loss compared to the loss Dortmund fans felt when they lost the Champions League at the end of the season.
As Dortmund kept challenging at the highest level in Germany and also Europe, in the UEFA Champions League, Rangers were fighting their way to the top of Scottish football.
In 2016, Rangers were finally back from their exile and back to the Scottish Premier League.
Rangers finished second behind Celtic in 2019 and 2020 as they were fighting for the title
Rangers finally won the title in 2021 under Liverpool and English legend, Steven Gerrard. This qualified them for play-offs of the Europa League.
This long road finally lead them to face Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League knockouts. Dortmund meanwhile themselves had been having a very poor European campaign, crashing out of the Champions League group which saw them finish third behind Ajax and Sporting CP.
Dortmund with all their superstars in Haaland, Reus, Hummels, Jude Bellingham et al. lined up as strong favourites. However, despite all their riches, the German club couldn’t get past Rangers and as the second leg ended 2-2, Rangers went ahead on aggregate 6-4. It was a historic victory and one which resonated throughout the world of football.
The joy and happiness of the Rangers fans knew no bounds as they celebrated this win. And it was Rory Hamilton’s commentary at full-time on BT Sport that made it an even more of a spine-tingling experience for viewers not in the stadium.
