With a 3-0 lead to hold onto Rangers had one foot in the last eight but knew it would not be easy in the hostile Marakana.
And so it transpired, a tenth minute opener sliced into their advantage with some defensive hesitancy at an early corner kick and Allan McGregor was called upon to make a number of important saves in the first and second halves of the game as Red Star pressed the Scottish champions hard.
Red Star had somehow transpired to leave Glasgow without scoring and though they breached McGregor’s goal through Mirko Ivanic’s opener, the Rangers goal did lead another charmed life with the 40-year-old keeping Rangers in it as he so often does on the European stage.
However their fight evaporated when Ryan Kent restored the three-goal cushion with a sprint and strike on 56 minutes which levelled on the night and sent Rangers 4-1 up on aggregate, an advantage they would not relinquish even though Ben Nabouhane scored a late penalty for the home side.
Here's how Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s hard-working side rated as they earned their place among the Europa League’s last eight – the only national champions left in the competition...
Red Star had somehow transpired to leave Glasgow without scoring and though they breached McGregor’s goal through Mirko Ivanic’s opener, the Rangers goal did lead another charmed life with the 40-year-old keeping Rangers in it as he so often does on the European stage.
![Red Star tamed the Buffalo in the first half and Morelos' attempts at goal were easily taken. Still found dangerous positions as well as mucking in defensively but not as powerful or combative as recent times or even last week.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ5NTE4NjU1LWFjNGMtNDM2Zi04MjBhLTk2MDFiMjQwNGUzNjo5OGY4NmE5OS01ZDFlLTQzMzgtYTkzMS1lNTBkN2E4MmJmNWE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
9. Alfredo Morelos - 6
Red Star tamed the Buffalo in the first half and Morelos' attempts at goal were easily taken. Still found dangerous positions as well as mucking in defensively but not as powerful or combative as recent times or even last week. Photo: Ian MacNicol
![Often the link man between midfield and attack, Aribo was encouraged to - and did - get back and help defensively but playing on the break as Rangers did didn't suit him. Made way for Arfield with 20 to play.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmRhODg2MmRmLTc5YjctNGQ1Zi05Y2JiLTc2MDg4OGFiYjgyZTo4YzU0NTY2Mi0xOWVjLTQyYWUtODAwMS01NDk5OTI5NTZlYjE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
10. Joe Aribo - 6
Often the link man between midfield and attack, Aribo was encouraged to - and did - get back and help defensively but playing on the break as Rangers did didn't suit him. Made way for Arfield with 20 to play. Photo: Ian MacNicol
![Got knocked down, got back up. Got knocked down, got back up. Resilience was tested by the persistent fouls but he kept running at Red Star, and got his reward with the crucial goal. Won't have had to swap shirts for a memento, has the bruises to remember from Belgrade. Close attention as a compliment though, and winger made most of what little room and time he had when it opened up on 56 minutes.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjI5OWViZTI0LWY2ODQtNDE1My05YjlmLWFkN2Q2YThlNzZiMTo5NTYwM2QwZi04ODRlLTQ1NjItYTk3NC1mMzQyNTJkNzc2YTg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
11. Ryan Kent - 8
Got knocked down, got back up. Got knocked down, got back up. Resilience was tested by the persistent fouls but he kept running at Red Star, and got his reward with the crucial goal. Won't have had to swap shirts for a memento, has the bruises to remember from Belgrade. Close attention as a compliment though, and winger made most of what little room and time he had when it opened up on 56 minutes. Photo: Rob Casey - SNS Group
![Giovanni van Bronckhorst made some second half changes to his team after naming the same starting XI which defeated Crvena Zvezda 3-0 at Ibrox.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjVjNmFhMTFhLTdjMzEtNGZhNS1iMGRjLTFkNmJlOWI1OTQ2Yzo4MmI1YzFlZC04NDkzLTQyYmQtYTcxZS0xY2Y0OTkzODQ2OGU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
12. Rangers substitutes
Giovanni van Bronckhorst made some second half changes to his team after naming the same starting XI which defeated Crvena Zvezda 3-0 at Ibrox. Photo: Alex Pantling