Football: Rangers will never get a better chance to beat us ... they have a head start Says FENERBAHCE'S KENNET ANDERSSON; CHAMPIONS LEAGUE COUNTDOWN.. Rangers v Fenerbahce.

Byline: Michael BAILLIE

FENERBAHCE star Kennet Andersson last night admitted his team's lack of match practice will dent their bid to end Rangers' Euro dream.

Fenerbahce's season has yet to get under way and the towering Swedish striker fears the Turkish champions could be rusty before tomorrow night's Champions League qualifier.

Rangers have got four competitive games under their belt and Andersson believes that could work to Dick Advocaat side's advantage.

Two seasons ago the then Scottish champions had the formidable force of Parma blocking their way to the lucrative Champions League and a pounds 10million pay-day.

Few gave Advocaat's men a chance of seeing off the Italians but they caught Parma cold, triumphing 2-0 at Ibrox and managing to hold on in the Ennio Tardini stadium.

And Andersson is worried of history repeating itself. He said: "It's difficult to say if we are close to full strength because we have not played any competitive games yet.

"We've only had friendlies, which are not the same, so we will see. We know this will be our first real test and it will be difficult.

"That could count as a disadvantage for us because Rangers have already played in the Champions League and in their championship, while we have not played a competitive match yet."

But as he strolled through the departure lounge at Glasgow Airport yesterday, Andersson did not give off the impression of a worried man.

He and his team-mates were mobbed by a small band of Fenerbahce fans as they came off their flight.

When the draw was made last month the former Perugia and Bologna attacker revealed the Turkish players celebrated their pairing against Rangers.

Before getting onto the team bus, the supporters wished the Swede luck for the game but he clearly believes luck will not come into it.

He said: "We have to be confident we can get a result, otherwise we are never going to get one."

Andersson and his team-mates have already studied Rangers on tape and may believe they know what to expect.

But anyone who was at Ibrox on Saturday may class it as a video nasty, as it was the Gers' inept display against Livingston.

But Andersson felt they witnessed Rangers on an 'off' day and expects them to come back stronger for this crucial first-leg match.

He said: "I have seen a little bit of Rangers on video and they play with a typical British style.

"They are very aggressive, run a lot and they have a lot of power in their side.

"But in the game we saw them play against Livingston they were missing some of their best players, so it is difficult to make a proper judgement.

"The fact that they did not play well has not given us any extra confidence - we get that from ourselves, not from the performance of other teams.

"But they don't have one player who impressed me above the rest. They are good players and a good team."

Andersson has played at Ibrox once before but it does not bring back happy memories.

He was part of the Swedish team which were beaten by a single goal in a qualifier for France 98.

Although the visitors dominated the game, Scotland sneaked it through John McGinlay's solitary strike, and Andersson is hoping for a reversal of fortunes this time.

He said: "I've played at Ibrox before with Sweden but hopefully this time I will have a better result to take away."

Meanwhile, Rangers fans have been urged to get their tickets today or face missing out. The match is not being shown live on television and is expected to sell-out soon.

The ticket centre number is: 0870 600 1993.

CAPTION(S):

TURKISH DELIGHT: Fernerbahce fans wait at Glasgow Airport; HEADSCRATCHER: Kennet Andersson says Rangers have more match practice