Derek Rae watched RB Leipzig blow a big chance to make the Champions League via their Bundesliga position on Monday.
But he reckons losing to Borussia Monchengladbach will make them even more dangerous when the Germans hit Ibrox on Thursday night.
The Scot – ESPN’s lead Bundesliga commentator and expert on German football – believes winning the Europa League may now be Leipzig’s best chance of making the Champions League next term.
And that will make Domenico Tedesco’s men even more determined to get past Rangers to reach the Final in Seville.
Leipzig come to Glasgow holding a one-goal lead but with their confidence knocked after their 3-1 defeat at the hands of 10-man Monchengladbach on Monday night that saw them slip to fifth place and Aberdonian Rae insisted Rangers may be getting them at the right time – even if he believes the Germans will just edge the contest.
The 55-year-old told Record Sport : “Confidence in the RB Leipzig camp is not what it was a few weeks ago, that’s for sure.
“They were playing on Monday night because the previous day, May 1, is a big holiday in Germany and the police don’t want games on that particular day.
“At first they thought it might be an advantage in league terms for Leipzig and Frankfurt, giving them an extra day’s rest after the first leg but it gives them one day less to prepare for the second leg of the Europa League semi.
“They played in fits and starts against Monchengladbach.
“They were up against 10 men for the last 25 minutes when they were 2-1 down and conceded again.
“They’ve also lost to Union Berlin in the league recently and in the match against Rangers they can be so much better than they were on the night when they relied on individual quality from Angelino for their goal.
“That’s what it is coming down to at the moment – a dependence on really good individuals. The tempo of their game is not what you expect from Leipzig and it could be all the games they’ve had recently have caught up with them.
“Leipzig now believe they are a club that should be in the Champions League every season. It’s an absolute must for them and it’s why they dispensed with Jesse Marsch very quickly when they were too far down the table.
“If you look at the league now, Freiburg look like they may beat them to the final Champions League place, which means the only route would be to win the Europa League – much like Rangers’ situation in fact.
“The pressure is on them. If you look at the teams left in the Europa League, they are probably the best resourced team and they’d fancy themselves against Frankfurt or West Ham in the final. But we’ll see how they handle it.”
The Germans know what to expect from an Ibrox that will be packed to the rafters tomorrow night and Rae does not expect them to be fazed by the prospect. Quite the opposite, in fact.
He added: “The general feeling in Germany is they have probably done enough to get through the tie.
“But I don’t think anybody feels that it will be a cakewalk because there is definitely respect for Rangers, having knocked out Dortmund and above all, for the Ibrox atmosphere and that 12th man that it can be – and has been for them during this campaign.
“But Leipzig’s players can perform in intimidating atmospheres. They won in Dortmund, as Rangers did, and silenced the crowd in the first game when full houses were allowed back.
“For some of the younger players like Josko Gvardiol and Mohamed Simakan, what they’ll face at Ibrox might be a little bit new but for the others like Emil Forsberg, Angelino, Andre Silva and Christopher Nkunku, they won’t be too fazed by it.
“But the atmosphere is something Leipzig are aware of.
“The first thing Germans talk about when they are drawn against Rangers or Celtic is the atmosphere but not in a fearful way. They relish the opportunity of being part of that occasion.
“The Leipzig players are more likely to be thinking, ‘We might only get to do this once in our lives’ and they will be excited about going to Glasgow for a big game at a historic venue.”
Rae revealed the Bundesliga outfit don’t expect Rangers to come out with a gung-ho attitude.
“Tedesco said after the first leg that he expected Rangers to play similarly at Ibrox,” he said. “He believes Leipzig will again have far more of the ball and Rangers won’t start with all guns blazing to try to get an early goal. There’s no real need for them to do that.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if it went to extra-time but Leipzig have got the best squad, the deepest squad, of any team in Germany and I include Bayern in that.
“That doesn’t mean they’ve got the best first XI but they have the best squad.
“I’d be surprised if they don’t go through but I’d also be surprised if it’s not a close one.
“Rangers may do it but if I had to choose a winner, I’d say Leipzig. Just.
“I feel they’ll play Frankfurt in the final but I know plenty of Eintracht fans and they all want to play Rangers – not because they think it’ll be an easier game.
“It’s simply because Leipzig are still the pariahs of German football – they view Leipzig as somewhat illegitimate.
“To fans in Germany, the name Rangers has an appeal.”
