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.
![On for the last 20 minutes in place of Aribo and linked well with Kent and Tavernier and applied his usual work-rate to see Rangers' result through.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjVlYjFkNmY5LTAyODItNDczMi1iODUyLTcwMTJhOTgyMGQ0OTo0MDA1YjJmZS0xMTg2LTQ0NTctYjNlYi0wMGFjMzJmYTBmZmI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
13. Scott Arfield - 5
On for the last 20 minutes in place of Aribo and linked well with Kent and Tavernier and applied his usual work-rate to see Rangers' result through. Photo: Ian MacNicol
![On for Ryan Jack and picked up the destructive role but by that stage, Belgrade's battling had waned and American midfielder ensured Rangers progressed with minimal fuss.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmE0MjAxYWU3LWE4OTUtNDllZS1hYTA0LTk1OTQ4YTNlM2UwMTpjMDU2MjA3OS00MjhjLTRjZmQtODE3NS04ZTM3ZjM5YjhlMDk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
14. James Sands - 3
On for Ryan Jack and picked up the destructive role but by that stage, Belgrade's battling had waned and American midfielder ensured Rangers progressed with minimal fuss. Photo: Craig Foy - SNS Group
![On at left-back which allowed Bassey to move inside and strengthen the backline to take the away draw](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ1YjA5NGJmLTRjMzAtNDYwMi04ZDA4LWNlZTFmZjM5NTFiMjo5ZjM1MGY5My1mNTAzLTQ4NzEtYmU2OS1lYjBkNTM4MjA1YjI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
15. Borna Barisic - 3
On at left-back which allowed Bassey to move inside and strengthen the backline to take the away draw Photo: Rob Casey - SNS Group
![Caused Red Star some late problems after replacing Morelos when the Colombian could not continue after pulling up injured for a second time.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmZmNmU5ZWVlLWI4NjEtNGU2MC04MTdhLTM3MDEzMDI1ZDkwMjoyNGU3MTdiNC1kODZmLTRhYzEtYjM3Zi0xZjJiMGY3OWM4NzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
16. Kemar Roofe - 4
Caused Red Star some late problems after replacing Morelos when the Colombian could not continue after pulling up injured for a second time. Photo: Alex Pantling