If there is one factor, more than any other, that might just work in Rangers’ favour when they play Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening, it is the contrasting commitments of the two sides.

Never mind the injury to Inaki Williams, who is doubtful for the Europa League quarter-final second leg after being substituted at the weekend.

Or indeed the Spanish team’s frequent struggle to break down stubborn opponents. They ended a run of three goalless draws, one of which was the first leg at Ibrox, with a 3-1 win against Rayo Vallecano last Sunday night.

While Rangers’ entire season boils down to this one game, and you would expect them to treat it like their last, Bilbao also have a longer game to play.

Yes, they are desperate to progress in the Europa League, not least because the final will be be held at their own San Mames Stadium. They have never won a European trophy.

Bilbao have still to play Kylian Mbappe and his Real Madrid team-mates on Sunday as they eye a top four place in La Liga

Barry Ferguson could yet benefit from the fact Bilbao’s resources are being stretched by domestic and European commitments

Bilbao ended a recent scoring drought last weekend, with Oihan Sancet among the scorers in a 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano

The winners of the Europa League qualify for the Champions League group stage, which Bilbao have experienced only twice before, the last time being 2014.

But that prize is also on offer to the team who finish in La Liga’s top four, another of Bilbao’s main ambitions. As it stands, they occupy fourth place, six points clear of fifth-placed Villarreal. However, the latter have a game in hand and Bilbao’s next fixture could hardly be tougher.

While Rangers have no game to worry about this weekend given they are out of the Scottish Cup, Bilbao face Real Madrid in the Bernabeu on Sunday. El Viejo Clasico is a fixture steeped in history, and Valverde’s side showed in December that they are capable of winning it.

He is far too experienced and professional a manager to give Rangers anything other than his complete attention this evening, but the Bernabeu looms large.

For even the best squads, competing on multiple fronts can be a challenge, mentally as much as physically.

On a night when the odds will be stacked against Rangers, it might be their only hope.

Serie A star showing there is life after Ibrox struggles

Which former Rangers star is an ever-present in Serie A this year?

It would make for a half-decent quiz question in pubs and clubs the length of the country. The player in question is not exactly warmly remembered for making a lasting impact during his time at Ibrox.

Lassana Coulibaly had high hopes when he joined Steven Gerrard at Rangers but his move never really worked out

Now Coulibaly is cutting an impressive figure after becoming an ever-present for Lecce

But this midfielder does indeed hold the distinction of having played in every league match for his club in the current campaign, starting 24 of 32 matches to date and emerging from the bench in the other eight.

Indeed, he’s now enjoying his fourth straight season in Italy’s top flight and, with the exception of injury, suspension and international call-ups, he’s been an ever-present in each of those, too.

He featured in 30 games for Rangers in Steven Gerrard’s first season in charge in 2018-19, on loan from French club Angers, before spending the following season on loan in Belgium with Cercle Brugge prior to pitching up in Italy.

Still struggling? The answer is, of course, Lassana Coulibaly, the Mali international who moved to Lecce last summer after a successful three-year stint at Salernitana.

His engine room exploits have seen him linked with moves to Lazio, Nottingham Forest and Wolves over the past couple of years, but he’s clearly at home in Serie A.

His current side face a fight for survival this term, with Lecce currently winless in nine and having lost six of their last seven matches, but Coulibaly will play a central role in how their season pans out.

The 29-year-old arrived at Ibrox on the same day as another failed loan player with experience of Serie A. Umar Sadiq was the much-maligned Nigerian striker who Gerrard borrowed from Roma with high hopes but who made just four forgettable appearances. He also went from strength to strength after leaving Glasgow behind, though. Sadiq moved to Real Sociedad from Almeria in a £17million deal in 2022 and is currently on loan at Valencia.

Perhaps that’s something for on-loan defender Rafael Fernandes to cling to as he sees out the remaining weeks of a disappointing short-term spell at Ibrox before returning to Lille. A rough loan spell in Glasgow need not define your career.

HIghlights for Coulibaly, above left, were few and far between when he played for Rangers alongside the likes of Alfredo Morelos

Will 12th boss in 25 years be able to resist revolving door?

When Barry Ferguson’s time as interim manager comes to an end one way or the other, the appointment of Rangers’ next permanent boss will bring up a remarkable statistic which says more about the recent instability at the club than any run of indifferent form ever could.

In just a quarter of a century, from 2000 to today, the Ibrox club have had 11 permanent bosses. That’s the exact same number as they had in the previous 100 years, for the duration of the 20th century.

While the lengthy reigns of early managers William Wilton and Bill Struth — who accounted for 55 years between them — are an obvious rarity in this day and age, there was still a far more settled feel to the club when the likes of Scot Symon, Jock Wallace, Graeme Souness and Walter Smith sat in the manager’s office.

No manager quite summed up the revolving door at Ibrox like MIchael Beale, who lasted 307 days in charge

Since the departure of Dick Advocaat in 2001, the majority of managers have not lasted long

Since the turn of the century and the departure of Dick Advocaat in 2001, it’s felt more akin to a revolving door. While Alex McLeish fared well in his four and a half years in charge, his successor Paul Le Guen’s seven-month tenure was a disaster before Ibrox icon Smith and Ally McCoist took three years each at the helm either side of the club’s financial meltdown.

Mark Warburton had two years in the post before another shambolic short-term chapter with Pedro Caixinha. Steven Gerrard’s three-year stint at least brought the return of silverware but Giovanni van Brockhorst then lasted just a year despite taking the club to the Europa League final during his spell in charge.

Michael Beale’s spell in brown brogues was best measured in days — 307 — than months. Philippe Clement fared little better, clocking off after 16 months.

Manager No 12 of the 21st century — and just the 20th different boss in the long history of the Ibrox club — really needs to lay down roots and a solid platform for success if he wants to join the Hall of Fame rather than the Rogues Gallery.

Candeias showing no signs of slowing down

He was the pick of Pedro Caixinha’s foreign signings and emerged as a real fans’ favourite at Ibrox. Now Daniel Candeias is still going strong at the age of 37.

The Portuguese winger is currently playing for his 17th club — in his 17th season as a professional — and shows no sign of slowing down.

Candeias made an unexpected return to Turkish football in January when second-tier Adanaspor snapped him up for their battle to avoid relegation and he has started every game since.

Former Rangers’ fan favourite Daniel Candeias is now catching the eye in Turkish football

Candeias, shown during his Rangers days, is now with his 17th club in 17 seasons as a pro

Candeias is embraced by man who signed him for Rangers, the not so popular Pedro Caixinha

There’s clearly something about the Turkish game that agrees with Candeias as he’s now on to his fourth club there since departing Rangers in 2019 — and each of them has taken him to their hearts.

It was something of a surprise when Candeias left Rangers when he did, given he had featured heavily under Steven Gerrard, but after a slow start he soon brought his talents to bear at new club Genclerbirligi — none more so than when scoring a first-half hat-trick and adding two assists — also prior to the interval — in a 6-0 win at Antalyaspor.

He would go on to enjoy successful spells at Alanyaspor and Kocaelispor before returning to Portugal with Oliveirense last summer. However, the lure of a return to Turkey proved too strong when Adanaspor came calling and, while the club’s battle to avoid the drop hasn’t panned out as they’d hoped, don’t rule out the prospect of Candeias playing a massive role as they look to bounce back from the third tier next season.

Turkish delight for Ryan Jack as he savours promotion bid

At the other end of the Turkish second tier, you’ll find another Caixinha signing hoping for a late-season surge and an unlikely promotion to the Super Lig.

Ryan Jack didn’t exactly fit the mould of the typical arrival during the Portuguese’s ill-fated reign and he later flourished under the guidance of Steven Gerrard, a man who knew a thing or two about midfield talent.

Ryan Jack holds the Scottish Cup aloft after victory over Hearts at Hampden in 2022

Jack, pictured above left with Danilo, is now starring for Esenier Erokspor in Turkey

Some questioned the wisdom of Jack’s move from Rangers to Turkey but he is enjoying a promotion chase there with his new club

Following the expiry of his Ibrox contract, Jack took the adventurous route of a new challenge in Istanbul with little-known Esenler Erokspor and the next four games could see it move into fairytale territory.

After a mixed season for both player and club, everything appears to have clicked as their campaign reaches a climax, with Erokspor just two points outside the promotion play-off positions.

With four games remaining — three of which are against teams above them in the table — a strong finish could see the club reach the top flight for the first time in their history.

Those questioning the wisdom of Jack spurning opportunities closer to home might be left looking on in envy as he claims hero status in another football-mad hotspot.