An early kick-off at the Estadio de la Cerámica against Villarreal awaits Rangers on Thursday night, with the Glasgow club making their long anticipated return to Europe in the Europa league for the first time since 2011.
Although the Gers have failed to win in 11 trips to Spain, their new boss Steven Gerrard has fared a little better.
Throughout his illustrious career, Gerrard played away to Spanish opposition a total of nine times in European competitions, collecting three wins, three draws, and three defeats.
Here are some of the two-time Champions League finalist’s most memorable moments from his contests across Spain.
April 2001 - Barcelona 0-0 Liverpool
Gerrard’s first appearance in Spain came during the first leg of a then UEFA Cup semi-final against Barcelona.
The game was largely devoid of action as Liverpool’s stubborn defence were commended for their protection of keeper Sander Westerveld.
Gerrard’s most notable involvement came when he crossed to an unmarked Robbie Fowler who was unable to find the target with a back-post header. The game ended in a disappointing draw for the Nou Camp spectators.
March 2002 - Barcelona 0-0 Liverpool
Barcelona were once again Liverpool and Gerrard’s opponents in their next outing to Spain, this time in the Champions League.
Without the attacking threats of an injured Michael Owen and an ineligible Nicholas Anelka, Liverpool held the Catalan giants to another 0-0 stalemate. However, this was not without goal scoring opportunities.
Gerrard himself was presented with several chances but was uncharacteristically wasteful, skewing a volley and heading wide in the opening 25 minutes.
The clinical touch he lacked in front of goal was made up for in his tireless work rate, showing early glimpses of the box-to-box midfielder he was to become.
September 2002 - Valencia CF 2-0 Liverpool
The Liverpudlian incurred his first defeat on Spanish soil when Liverpool faced off against Valencia in September 2002.
Liverpool appeared vulnerable under the guidance of Gerard Houllier and were dominated by a Valencia side that went 2-0 up before half-time thanks to goals from Pablo Aimar and Ruben Baraja.
September 2005 - Real Betis 1-2 Liverpool
In their opening game of the 2005/06 installment of the Champions League, Liverpool encountered Real Betis.
Surprisingly, manager Rafa Benitez elected to start his talisman Gerrard on the bench. However, goals from Sinama Pongolle and Luis Garcia spared the Spaniard his blushes, securing a 2-1 win for the reds.
Gerrard’s time would come later in the competition, captaining his team to Champions League glory on that famous night in Istanbul.
February 2007 - Barcelona 1-2 Liverpool
Gerrard made it a hat-trick of appearances at the Nou Camp in a Champions League round of 16 match versus Lionel Messi’s Barcelona.
The pre-match focus centred around the alleged training ground bust-up between Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise, but Gerrard managed to keep control of his peers and was the driving force behind every Liverpool attacking surge.
Coincidentally, Bellamy and Riise scored each of Liverpool’s goals to secure them the win.
October 2008 - Atletico Madrid 1-1 Liverpool
Robbie Keane was the beneficiary of a Gerrard through ball to take an early 1-0 lead inside the Vicente Calderon.
After coasting through the first 45 minutes, Atletico were a different animal and took the game to Liverpool in the second half. Indeed, Portuguese playmaker Simao leveled the tie late on to ensure a share of the spoils for both sides.
February 2009 - Real Madrid 0-1 Liverpool
It was not until the 88th minute that Gerrard could enter the pitch in front of a packed Bernabeu to face the legendary Los Blancos.
Side-lined by a hamstring injury, the red’s skipper was brought off the bench in the dying minutes to shore up a Liverpool back-line that was under siege.
Real were left frustrated as Benitez’s squad clung on to a goal from a man deputising for the absent Gerrard, Yossi Benayoun.
April 2010 - Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
In 2010, Liverpool took on Atletico Madrid in the first leg of a Europa League semi-final.
A rather languid performance, Gerrard was unable to inspire his Liverpool teammates, with their first meaningful chance not coming until the final 10 minutes.
An early Diego Forlan goal was enough to seal the win for Atleti, who went on to win the tournament against Liverpool’s compatriots Fulham.
November 2014 - Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
Gerrard’s final match in Spain came in form of a Champions League defeat at the hands of 10 times winners Real Madrid.
Karim Benzema netted the only goal of a game that will be much remembered for Gerrard starting it in the dugout.
Now at the age of 34, Brendan Rodgers recognised Gerrard was unable to play week in week out so opted to preserve the Liverpool icon until the second half, the moment Gerrard knew his Merseyside career was drawing to a close.
