James Tavernier
James Tavernier took his Europa League knockout-stage haul to six goals

The banner read "Make us dream", as the camera swung across the seething Ibrox, it settled on the Broomloan Stand, where the mass of arms and legs and bodies melted into a huge image of the Europa League surrounded by red, white and blue.

Rangers have grand European dreams right now. On these nights, Ibrox takes on a gladiatorial feel. Rangers get hungrier and snarling.

The men are in the semifinals. There are three matches from immortality.

Rangers got the dream start they were looking for after being down by one in the first leg. The place went crazy in ninety seconds. Borna Barisic crossed for James Tavernier to net.

Kemar Roofe had a goal disallowed, hit the bar, and was cut down in the box to earn a penalty and a second goal for Tavernier.

Joe Aribo had a chance for a third. Ramsey hit the side net and Goldson hit a post. A beautiful chip was ruled out by Roofe. So did Ramsey.

It could have been six if it wasn't for the fact that a team with most of their eggs now nestled in the Europa League was two goals up. Suddenly, it was not.

Corner Braga. Towering title. Goal by David Carmo. Extra time. Joy and brio are replaced by angst and niggle.

Rangers had to dig deeper. The killer touch was provided by Roofe. There are more cards. Medeiros was dismissed for yelling at the referee. There are more chances. Scott Arfield was off the bench late in the game.

Another night of European revelry. The semi-final opponent is not a fear-inducing one.

Rangers manager Van Bronckhorst said that dreaming is good because it gives you desire.

It is a big achievement to be in the last four of Europe and I am really proud of my team.

We are going to enjoy this night and work hard for the next games to give this club success. We will do everything we can.

Full-bore full-backs

"What a ball from Borna-again Barisic!" cooed former Rangers strikers, as the Croat bent in a sumptuous curler from the left.

Barisic lost his place in the team to Calvin Bassey after a meek display in the Celtic Park thumping two months back, and his form fell off a cliff after he was injured on international duty.

Richard Foster, the former Rangers full-back, said that he was even better at crossing than Tavernier.

Rangers ripped 13 crosses into the Braga box in the first half, their wide men laying waste with the speed and precision of their deliveries.

Borna Barisic and James Tavernier average positions
Borna Barisic and James Tavernier's average positions during a dominant first-half performance on the flanks

Barisic found Tavernier at the back post for the opener. The second goal was served on a platter to Roofe, only for the VAR to intervene for a hand in the bouncing ball.

Barisic might have had three first-half assists, Roofe clattering the bar when Aribo again steered the left-back's cross towards the far post.

When Barisic prepared for bombardment, Tavernier whizzed up and down on the opposite flank.

The weight of the Rangers season on his shoulders, and his nerve, did not allow him to lose it from 12 yards. The club's monumental captain has six knockout-stage goals this season.

Raising the Roofe

Roofe doesn't have the muscular qualities of Morelos, who is out for the season because of a thigh injury.

Van Bronckhorst can't play through the middle. Rangers went wide early and often, loaded up the box, and played to the strengths of Roofe.

The strikers movement is great. He was looking for pockets of prime real estate in the box. He ran in behind and left the backline open.

He applied the finishing touch more than once, but was denied by the woodwork and VAR. Roofe broke late towards the six-yard box and side-footing beyond Matheus to send Rangers through.

Foster said that he was a better scorer than Morelos.

Does more German joy beckon?

They are a serious proposition. They have not lost a match in 13 matches and made light of Atalanta in their second leg in Italy, winning 2-0.

They are ninth in the league, nine points behind the team that beat Rangers in the last 32.

The Rangers have shown they can grind out results. Who would bet against them?

None of the remaining teams will scare Rangers.

It starts with belief that we can go through and be in the last four.

We are happy we could give the fans a game they were proud of and to proceed in Europe is huge.

These are heady days for a Scottish team. The last time Rangers were in a European semi was in 2008. The Cup Winners Cup triumph in 1972 is what you are talking about. The Fairs Cup was won in 1969.

There is an opportunity before them. The dream, wild and exhilarating, continues.