Rangers fans are off to Spain for Thursday's final Europa League group game against Real Betis. A win will ensure passage to the last 16 of the competition as well as the honour of winning Group C but that will be a formidable task against a strong Betis team, whilst Ibrox boss Phillipe Clement has a selection headache for the fixture.
The Gers failed to take care of business on Matchday 5 against Aris Limassol but if the Cypriot side can hold Sparta Prague to a draw or defeat them, the result at the Benito Villamarin Stadium will not matter. On that basis, Rangers would qualify for the round of 32.
It will be a bittersweet return to Andalusia and the city of Seville for Rangers following the heartache of the 2022 Europa League Final. The pain of that occasion will endure for the Rangers supporters but hopefully, they can enjoy a new moment to remember on Thursday night.
Here is all Rangers fans in Seville need to know, and everything those from home would like to know, too!
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How many Rangers fans in Seville?
With a decent allocation of approximately 2,663 tickets, Rangers fans have travelled in their numbers as usual for this Euro away day but the demand was far in excess of that figure.
Many were left disappointed with the official away allocation after 6,300 fans applied to Rangers for a ticket for the Europa League encounter.
It is difficult to estimate exactly how many Rangers fans in Seville there will be, but the figure is most likely to be more than 4,000. Fans have travelled directly to Seville, as well as others staying in nearby Malaga and Costa del Sol resorts such as Benalmadena and Torremolinos. Albufeira in the Algarve, Portugal is another base for a section of the Gers supporters with buses arranged to make the journey into Seville on matchday. There are also many retired Rangers fans living in these nearby areas of Spain who may make the short journey across.
Where do the Rangers fans sit in the Benito Villamarin Stadium
The away section is located in the top tier, in sections 17V and section 19.
There will be almost 100 steps to climb to get up to the third tier but the fans should enjoy an unobstructed view of the pitch below.
The 56,441 capacity stadium appears to be one of the better traditional grounds in Spain, so hopefully this visit is a positive one for the fans. Rangers have advised that food and drink amenities will be available in the concourses.
Full fans’ matchday guide for Real Betis vs Rangers
Rangers supporters are familiar with travelling to Spain for games with ties against the likes of Villarreal, Valencia, Sevilla, Barcelona, and Osasuna over the last 15 years.
It doesn't provide the best fan experience compared to the likes of Germany, but sunshine is usually guaranteed (even if only briefly at this time of year) and general costs aren't as prohibitive as other places.
This is the start of a crucial period for Rangers with the League Cup Final to follow on Sunday against Aberdeen.
Securing a result in Seville would create important momentum for Sunday but it will be a tough test. The supporters are there in a realistic frame of mind but it should be a good game against a quality La Liga side.
Where to eat & drink for Rangers fans in Seville
In the city of Seville, there is a plethora of options for eating and drinking, from cafes and bars to more formal restaurant options.
Rangers supporters have been advised to gather in the city centre and Plaza de España areas to visit. From there, the stadium can be reached on foot in around 30 minutes.
Ticket collection info for Rangers fans in Spain
For the Rangers supporters who secured a ticket for the game, there will be no ticket collection in Seville.
E-tickets were sent via email with an instruction that they should be printed. Having a hard copy as well as the ticket on your mobile phone sounds like a decent idea.
How to get to the Benito Villamarin Stadium: Guide for Rangers fans in Seville, Spain
As ever on Football Ground Guide, we advise travelling to the stadium using public transport as much as possible but there will be different options in a city the size of Seville.
By train or metro
The Betis Stadium can be reached via metro services. The Santa Justa metro station in Seville is located in a central position between this ground and the Estadio Ramón Sánchez. It will take around 30 minutes on foot from the station to the stadium.
That will be prohibitive for many but there are public buses that connect to the stadium with away supporter information to follow from Rangers. FGG will update on this if it is made available in good time.
On foot
The Benito Villamarin Stadium is located between two to four km from the main tourist landmarks in the city, Maria Luisa Park: 2km (20-minute walk), Plaza de Espana: 2.7km (34-minute walk), Cathedral of Seville: 3.5km (44-minute walk), Seville City Hall: 3.9km (48-minute walk).
Supporters have been encouraged to arrive at the stadium by foot wherever possible. Avenida de la Palmera is a straight road, running from Maria Luisa Park to the corner of the Stadium where our away section is located.
You could also use one of the e-scooters or bike and travel down this road.
Car/Taxi
The location of Benito Villamarin is very accessible by car/taxi, as it is just a few kilometres to the south of Seville. The stadium is connected to the centre through the Avenida la Palmera. For those driving to the ground, they have to look for exit 8 on this road. This will directly lead them onto the stadium, which will be on the left side when going from Sevilla to the Avenida la Palmera.
The car park at the ground has space for 200 cars and it can be rented out by members travelling on match days.
