PARTY TIME
Moment Rangers fans take over Bilbao pub and belt out anthem ahead of huge Europa League showdown with Athletic
Optimism is high before kick off as Bilbao hosts it's largest away support of the season
RANGERS' Europa League hopes will face perhaps their toughest test tonight as they take on Athletic Bilbao in the San Mames arena needing a win on the night to progress.
But there's clearly no shortage of optimism among their travelling army of fans - with around 5,000 expected at the game although only around 2,600 have tickets for the quarter final second leg..
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The Ibrox men have defied the odds to reach the quarter finals of European club competition yet again - and they welcome back Nico Raskin and John Souttar after injury for the clash against Bilbao.
There was a party mood at last week's match with thousands of Bilbao fans marching from the city centre for the game and Ibrox ultras launching pyro and fireworks in a mass party at the Copland Stand stairs before the match.
And that seemed to continue last night as a video widely shared on social media showed boozed-up fans enjoying themselves as they stoodon chairs and tables as they belted out new Ibrox anthem Ibroxonia - to the tune of Don Maclean's Caledonia.
Police in the Basque city are on high alert - with hundreds of Greek fans also arriving for the FIBA Europa Cup basketball final first leg between Bilbao Basket and PAOK Thessaloniki tonight.
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Reports in Spain say the entire Basque police force have been told to cancel all leave for this week.
There were ugly clashes in the last Europa League round involving Roma fans both inside and outside the ground.
Rangers supporters will be marched into the San Mames stadium three hours before kick off at a location beside the famous Guggenheim Museum and will have to stay in the ground for an unspecified time after full time.
Athletic Bilbao issued security advice for their own fans ahead of the game.
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They stated: "There will be a coordinated operation between the Municipal Police, the Ertzaintza - the Basque Country Police - and the club ahead of this Thursday's Europa League match.
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"The planned operation will primarily affect the area surrounding San Mames, with the aim of establishing a series of measures aimed at ensuring the safety of both fans, as well as the general public."
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