Rangers withstood relentless Red Star pressure as they survived a Marakana onslaught to book their place in the Europa League quarter-finals.
The hosts were on top from the opening minutes in the second leg in the knowledge they had to claw back a 3-0 deficit from the whirlwind first meeting at Ibrox and Mirko Ivanic got them off to the perfect start.
But after spurning chance after chance Ryan Kent's deflected effort left the noisy home crowd crestfallen at the Marakana, leaving the inspired hosts with too tall a mountain to climb.
A late Ben Nabouhane penalty was too little, too late as it finished 2-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.
It means Giovanni van Bronckhorst has led Rangers as far as they've come in European competition since the fairytale run to the 2008 UEFA Cup Final.
And on Friday morning they'll discover their route all the way to the Seville showpiece in May – after 90 nervy minutes that, like the first leg, could have gone very differently.
There were no surprises in Van Bronckhorst's team selection when he rolled out the same starting XI that raced to the 3-0 aggregate lead at Ibrox a week ago.
We were all promised a roaring atmosphere in the Marakana and the famous ground lived up to the hype when referee Istvan Kovacs' opening whistle was barely audible.
The din from the home fans when Ohi Omoijuanfo went to ground inside three minutes, less so.
Yet it was Red Star who initially seemed a little nervy in the opening moments when an errant touch handed the ball to Alfredo Morelos on the edge of the area, his strike straight down the throat of keeper Milan Borjan.
But soon they learned to channel the Rajko Mitic roar as Rangers buckled.
A short corner worked to Guelor Kanga looked like meat and drink for the defence in all blue.
But it sailed over Morelos' head and escaped the attention of Glen Kamara, allowing Mirko Ivanic to chest down and blast home with 10 minutes on the clock.
Allan McGregor was then required to deny the number four as Ivanic raced into the area, forcing the 40-year-old into an excellent stop low to his left.
While Red Star dominated they left gaps down the channels and Morelos spotted an opening midway through the half, trying to find Borjan's far corner from the right corner of the box.
It was a half-chance but up the other end Milan Pavkov was presented with an even better one moments later, rolling it wide of McGregor's right-hand post after a clever flick-on from Omoijuanfo.
From that point on until the break it was a stop-start affair – suiting the side with the aggregate advantage.
The closer Rangers got to the break, the less time was available for Red Star to continue their comeback.
They could have done so on the stroke of half-time when Cristiano Piccini curled a sweet left-footed strike, matched by a flying McGregor arm.
The second half began and there was little change in the direction of traffic.
Kanga's low corner caused chaos but McGregor was able to prod to safety before Omoijuanfo was one-on-one with Calvin Bassey.
The left-back tried to stand his ground but the opposing attacker breezed past and squared for Pavkov with the net gaping.
The pass was a foot or two too far but Rangers were living dangerously.
Yet after soaking up 55 minutes of pressure, they finally got the opening that finished off the tie.
Kent had been largely quiet until he spotted a gap in the Red Star defence and charged towards goal.
Piccini desperately tried to keep up but the wide man was too quick and with Morelos waiting decided to take the shot on himself - looping in off Aleksandar Dragovic and into the net.
Cue bedlam in the away end as the three-goal lead was restored for the final half hour of the game.
Ivanic had another opportunity when Katai played him in over the top but dragged his effort wide before he was denied again by McGregor.
The Ibrox No.1 had more incredible stops up his sleeve, making up for palming a fierce Kanga strike straight to substitute El Fardou Ben Nabouhane by gathering his effort on the line in a superb double save.
The hosts kept up the pressure until the final minutes but their spirit was broken while Rangers remain strong as ever on the continent - though a penalty conceded by Kamara in added time allowed Ben Nabouhane to stroke home and get the win on the night.
Here are five talking points from the Marakana.
Class on the counter
It was the ultimate stick-or-twist for Van Bronckhorst tonight.
Would he try to outscore the home side or rest on that three goal lead?
He might have opted for the former approach but the natural rhythm of the game meant blue shirts were sitting back.
There were a few warnings in the first half for Red Star when Morelos found openings down the channels but Rangers just needed that chance to fall to the lightning feet of Kent instead.
We've seen it so many times from him in these European away days. His goal in Braga back in 2020, the unbelievable shift in Dortmund just last month.
"Kent will tear you apart," goes the popular Joy Division inspired chant and he proved again why he's so vital in these backs-to-the-wall European games.
McGregor magic
Just weeks ago there were people doubting the 40-year-old.
But Allan McGregor was the man for the big occasion once again.
Rangers would have had their advantage wiped out completely by the break had he not come up with two superb stops to deny Ivanic and Piccini.
Another crucial touch was required when a low Red Star corner flashed across his goal and he used all his experience to tip it away from any interested players in candy cane striped shirts.
More stops denied Ivanic, Kanga, Ben Nabouhane and Milan Gajic in the second half.
It was vintage McGregor and taking into account his penalty save in the first leg his team-mates might have him to thank for winning the tie.
Quiet night
He's the all-time top Europa League scorer among active players with only Henrik Larsson and Klass-Jan Huntelaar with more goals to their name overall.
But Alfredo Morelos had a night to forget.
Perhaps it was a lack of service, an off night or both but the Colombian's hold-up play wasn't as smooth.
He bounced a Red Star defender five metres last week but this time they seemed up for a battle and limited him to a few glimpses of goal from tight angles.
Defensively, he didn't exactly cover himself in glory at the opener when the corner sailed over his head to Ivanic.
But it would be typical of his battling attitude to come back in the quarter-finals with more Morelos magic - assuming his injury isn't anything too serious.
The Rajko roar
We were all told of the racket the home ultras would produce.
That and the famously long and intimidating tunnel walk are part of this proud club's lore and it seemed to give the away side a fright early on when indecision in the box let Ivanic smash home the opener.
The scorer raced to the far stand to pump up the volume even more, not that it was required.
Red Star came up short overall but it's plain to see why they have lost just once in their last 54 home games.
Dejan Stankovic says the atmosphere doubles his players' energy and it's hard to argue after that performance.
Bits and pieces
It's academic now as Stankovic's side couldn't build on the early opener but Van Bronckhorst will be concerned at how his side defended the opening goal and at some other hairy moments.
It was all too easy from the corner which Ivanic opened the scoring and just moments into the second half a less favourable bounce would have led to a second goal.
Ultimately Rangers had the fight to battle to the finish line.
But after causing so much damage with their own corners in the first leg Van Bronckhorst will look to ensure that doesn't become a common theme.
