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Europa League: Brann v Rangers
Venue: Brann Stadion, Bergen Date: Thursday, 23 October Kick-off: 17:45 (BST)
Coverage: Listen to match commentary on BBC Radio Scotland & Sounds and follow live text updates on BBC Sport website & app
Fourteen months ago, a last-gasp Toyosi Olusanya goal snatched St Mirren a first-leg draw in a Conference League qualifying tie with Brann.
A week later in Norway, Stephen Robinson's Paisley side were 16 minutes away from extra time before a late collapse.
On the evidence of that tie, it is fair to say Rangers have fried bigger fish than the Eliteserien's third-best team in their recent European exploits.
But, after narrowly missing out on the Norwegian top-flight title last year, Brann are embracing their first foray into the Europa League since its rebrand.
Victory at home to Utrecht followed a narrow defeat in Lille. Now a potentially fragile Rangers, under new head coach Danny Rohl, are in their sights.
Since that 4-2 aggregate win over St Mirren, Brann have won 23 and drawn six of their 36 domestic league games.
That form has not been enough to take them to a first top-tier crown since 2007 - one of their three titles - having finished just three points off top last year.
Prior to this campaign, the last time they had qualified for a European competition was back in the 2007-08 Uefa Cup. They were thumped by David Moyes' Everton in the last 32.
Beaten heavily by Red Bull Salzburg in Champions League qualifying this term, they made it into the Europa League with wins over Hacken and AEK Larnaca.
They are already 24 matches into their 30-game domestic league season and sit third behind leaders Viking and reigning champions Bodo/Glimt.
With a seven-point gap to close, the title looks beyond them, but they will be eyeing Europa League progression after taking three points from their first two fixtures.
The Europa League has often provided Rangers with a welcome break from domestic action in recent seasons. That cannot be said this term.
Meek defeats by Genk and Sturm Graz came under Russell Martin before he was sacked earlier this month.
With zero points from their opening two fixtures, Rangers badly need a victory in their first meeting with Brann and new boss Rohl is targeting immediate wins.
However, the Norwegian hosts will fancy this against an Ibrox side who have proven to be vulnerable this campaign.
Brann average 62% possession in their league, left-back Joachim Soltvedt is the man who creates most of their chances and top scorer Bard Finne has finished off 11 of them.
They warmed up for Thursday with a 4-1 win over FK Haugesund on Saturday, with Finne netting a double, boosting their impressive home form.
Brann have won five of their past seven home European matches, including their victory against Utrecht on matchday two - their first major European match at home for 17 years.
Domestically, they have been beaten just once in 12 home league games this term.
Rangers, meanwhile, have lost each of their past five European matches, conceding 14 goals. Their only longer losing run in Europe was between September and November 2022, when they lost six Champions League games in a row.
Perhaps the Ibrox side can take comfort in the fact they are yet to lose to Norwegian opposition in four meetings, with the most recent encounter coming in a 2-0 Uefa Cup win over Molde in 2006.
