Rangers smarting from Sporting draw

With the scores level at 0-0, Rangers FC need another memorable result at Sporting Clube de Portugal as they revisit the scene of one of their strangest triumphs.

• The boot is on Sporting's foot after they earned a 0-0 draw in Glasgow in the first leg, with defender Tonel saying: "It was a good result for us. Unfortunately, we never scored the away goal, but, in front of our own fans in the second game, we believe we will go through."

• The 27-year-old has high hopes for the competition, and added: "Our aim is to reach the final of the UEFA Cup and to win it. We think we can do it, although the tie against Rangers is not over and we know we must be cautious. Hopefully our fans can back us the way the Scottish fans supported their side in the second match because, at this moment, it is 50-50."

• Rangers and Sporting are the only teams in the 2007/08 UEFA Cup quarter-finals to have met before this season, coming face to face in the second round of the 1971/72 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in what was to be a momentous season for Rangers.

• Striker Colin Stein and winger Willie Henderson were to be the heroes of the tie, scoring six goals between them over two legs as Rangers won 3-2 at Ibrox and lost 4-3 after extra time in Portugal to progress on away goals. However, both teams were to celebrate victory on a bizarre night in Lisbon.

• Willie Waddell's Rangers could have wrapped up the tie in the first leg. Stein scored twice in the first ten minutes, and after 30 minutes Willie Henderson put them three up. However, Chico Faria and Vagner Canotilho struck in the second half to rein in the Scottish giants.

• The second leg was a tense affair. Héctor Yazalde opened the story for João Lourenço's Sporting, only for Stein to hit back within a minute, and while Laranjeira restored the home side's lead before the interval, Stein struck again in the first minute of the second half to make it 2-2. Pedro Gomes then scored three minutes from time to level the tie, forcing 30 minutes of extra time. Winger Henderson struck in the first half to edge Rangers in front, and while Fernando Peres replied before the end, the away goal was to prove crucial in a 6-6 aggregate draw.

• The away goals rule had only recently been introduced, and had slipped Dutch referee Laurens van Ravens' mind at the final whistle as he ordered penalties. Sporting won the shoot-out, leaving Rangers in despair until reporters prompted Waddell to take up the away goals issue with UEFA officials.

• Henderson recalled: "It was unbelievable. We were sitting in the dressing room with our heads in our hands. There was something in my head about away goals but it seemed we were out. It was hellish and we were all low but there was a knock at the dressing room door. The manager opened it and one of the Scottish press men was standing there. He and the manager went away and were in some kind of conversation. We didn't know what was going on but after what seemed like an eternity the manager came back in and said we were through. Well, we just went wild. It was a night to remember because one minute you think you're out and the next you're going through."

• Rangers went on to beat Torino FC and FC Bayern München to set up a final meeting with FC Dinamo Moskva in Barcelona. Stein was among the scorers as they won 3-2 to take their only major European trophy to date.

• Those first games against Sporting were the most memorable of Rangers' eleven against Portuguese opposition, in which they have won six, drawn two and lost three. Their five previous games on Portuguese soil have produced a win, a draw and three defeats.

• Sporting have also played eleven games against Scottish sides, winning five, drawing one and losing five. All of the defeats came in Scotland and all the wins have come at home. The aggregate score in those home games is 11-4 to Sporting.

• Prior to the first leg, Sporting coach Paulo Bento had never come up against Scottish opposition before as a player or a coach. Now 38, the midfielder played for CF Estrela da Amadora, Vitória SC, SL Benfica and Real Oviedo CF before joining Sporting in 2000. After winning 35 caps for Portugal, he retired in 2004, and became a youth team coach at Sporting, but was made senior coach in the 2005/06 season.

• Experienced Rangers manager Walter Smith is also involved in his first tie against Portuguese opposition. The former Dundee United FC and Dumbarton FC defender went on to coach Scotland's Under-19 and Under-21 teams and was Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant during his time as Scotland manager.

• Previously Graeme Souness' assistant at Rangers, he took sole command for the first time in April 1991 and won seven successive league titles before moving on to Everton FC in 1998. He was sacked in 2002, and briefly resumed his post as Sir Alex's assistant at Manchester United FC in 2004 before becoming Scotland manager. Great results in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying saw Rangers persuade Smith to return in 2007.

• Rangers have already won their first trophy of the season, beating Dundee United FC on penalties in the Scottish League Cup final after a 2-2 draw.

• Charles Adam returns to the Rangers squad after serving a one-match suspension, but David Weir misses out after a late booking at Ibrox. Kevin Thomson and Barry Ferguson remain within a booking of joining him.

• Sporting's Leandro Grimi, Anderson Polga, Abel and João Moutinho are in a similar position.

• Adam and Daniel Cousin are the only players to have scored more than once for Rangers in Europe this season.

• Liedson is Sporting's top scorer in Europe this season with six goals.

• Having finished third in their UEFA Champions League group, Rangers parachuted into the UEFA Cup Round of 32, beating Panathinaikos FC and Werder Bremen to reach the quarter-finals. Sporting also came into the competition from the UEFA Champions League, and beat FC Basel 1893 and Bolton Wanderers FC to reach the last eight.

• The winners will face either ACF Fiorentina or PSV Eindhoven in the semi-finals, playing the first leg at home on 24 April and the away game on 1 May.

• The winners of that tie will be the nominal away team in the UEFA Cup final at the City of Manchester Stadium on 14 May.