McCulloch: Sevilla a massive test

SPL Champions Rangers’ star Lee McCulloch insists Sevilla are right up there in terms of quality as the likes of Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The Glasgow giants battle with Manolo Jimenez’s troops at Ibrox on Tuesday as the group stage of the Champions League continues.

Gers’ campaign kicked-off with a credible 1-1 draw to Stuttgart and McCulloch knows they must continue their form on home soil.

The Wigan man believes it will be a cracking atmosphere in Glasgow and that getting a result will give the team confidence booster.

“You’ve got Real Madrid and Barcelona but I don’t think they are far behind to tell you the truth; I think they are right up there,” said McCulloch.

“It will be a great game, with a fantastic atmosphere. If you do well in the big games, you get confidence.

“Tuesday is going to be massive for us and, hopefully, if we can come through that, it will set us up nicely for the Celtic game.”

Rangers warmed-up for their Champions League match with a goalless home draw with Aberdeen.

McCulloch admits the game was a frustrating affair for Walter Smith’s side with the team currently lacking that killer instinct in front of goal.

“It is a frustrating spell,” he conceded. “We had the bulk of possession against Aberdeen and passed the ball about okay but were just lacking creativity in the final third.

“We just didn’t have that killer instinct in the final third. It’s definitely a concern for us. The strikers will want more chances and will want to put the ball in the back of the net.

“A lot of teams go through these spells and I think we have to just work that bit harder on the training pitch. I don’t know whether it’s about confidence but I think we can put things right.”

Meanwhile, Nacho Novo believes Gers can get a result on Tuesday and put their recent SPL disappointment firmly behind them.

“Ours is a very strong mentality and we feel that we can compete with any team,” he said. “I have every confidence in my team-mates.

“They are all dangerous – but especially the strikers. (Fredi) Kanoute and (Luis) Fabiano are very strong and powerful. (Alvaro) Negredo is a new signing and he is strong and very good in the air.

“There are too many to mention. They are a good side and they have been proving that over the last few years.

“They have been in the UEFA Cup final – and won it (two years running in 2006 and 2007) – so it will be a nice game for us.”