Rangers vice chairman John Bennett spoke of the club having a "best in class" ambition. But there's a real fear of being the worst ever when it comes to the Champions League group stage.
Naples is the last place Giovanni van Bronckhorst wants to be going as the under-fire Ibrox boss looks to ease the mounting pressure on his team. If many Rangers fans had their way, the Dutchman wouldn't even be in the dug-out in Italy after their 1-1 slog against Livingston at the weekend.
But the former Light Blues midfielder continues to lead the team and faces a side bang in form with the Serie A leaders looking to make it a dozen wins on the spin in all competitions. Here, the Record Sport writers give their scoreline predictions for a huge match in Group A at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium where there will be no visiting support.
Keith Jackson
Even the most optimistic of Rangers fans will be hoping for nothing much more than a bit of damage limitation in Naples. A draw would represent a major result but, quite frankly, that also seems like wishful thinking. The scoreline is likely to be decided by what heroics Allan McGregor can come up with on the night.
Napoli 4 Rangers 0
Craig Swan
Rangers were done by three goals at Ibrox and there's every chance the scoreline will be repeated in Naples with the hosts red hot in this year's Champions League .
Napoli 3 Rangers 0
Michael Gannon
IT'S tough to make a case for anything but a comfortable Napoli win. Gers won't need to get freaked out in the final third like in recent weeks at home but keeping the Italians out will be some ask. A narrow defeat would be a moral victory in the circumstances.
Napoli 2-0 Rangers
Andy Newport
It’s been a brutal return to the Champions League for the Light Blues and it’s unlikely to get any better tonight against the sizzling Serie A leaders. Keeping the score down may be the best Gio van Bronckhorst and his team can hope for.
Napoli 3 Rangers 0
Fraser Wilson
Rangers are badly in need of a big performance if not a result in Naples. But getting anything from the Serie A leaders who are bulldozing their way past everyone on a domestic and European front is fantasy stuff unfortunately. It’s damage limitation and I can see a repeat of the scoreline at Ibrox.
Napoli 3 Rangers 0
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