Buffel unruffled after grim stalemate

Tie poised
That the first encounter between these two sides since the 1960/61 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final finished goalless should perhaps not have come as a surprise. After all, Rangers manager Walter Smith had, in the build-up, extolled the virtues of Italian football's traditional tactical cornerstone, the catenaccio – the infamously defensive counterattacking system pioneered by Helenio Herrera's FC Internazionale Milano in the 1960s.

Difficult task
However, come Fiorentina and Rangers' next meeting, Mutu is confident attacking flair will be the order of the day, and the 29-year-old is desperately hoping his side come out on top as he aims to reach the first European final of his career. "It was a very difficult game for us against a strong and well-organised Rangers team," Mutu said. "Actually, for me, it was a really ugly match as both teams were defending all the time. There was nothing spectacular from either team, but I suppose that was due to the fact so much was at stake. Hopefully, when they come to Florence, it will be a completely different type of game. We'll certainly be giving everything to win and we believe we can do it."

Italian double
On their last trip to Italy, Rangers became the first Scottish team ever to taste victory on Italian soil, defeating AS Livorno Calcio 3-2 at the Stadio Armando Picchi in the group stage of the 2006/07 UEFA Cup. Belgian international Thomas Buffel - who made only his fifth appearance of the season as a second-half substitute against Fiorentina - was part of the Rangers side who triumphed that night and he is convinced Smith's team are capable of pulling off a remarkable away double against Serie A opposition.

'Enormous game'
"If we can score in Florence, we will have a great chance of reaching the UEFA Cup final because of the importance of away goals," the former Feyenoord midfielder told uefa.com. "I think Fiorentina are one of the best we've played against in European competition this season, but we kept a clean sheet and we feel we have a chance over there. They're a top-four Italian club so we are aware of just how difficult it will be, but we've shown this season we score away from home and they will have to be careful as well. It will be an enormous game over there and the best team on the night will go through. Hopefully, it will be us."