FORMER Rangers and Germany star Christian Nerlinger reckons tonight's Champions League Group G clash between Stuttgart and Rangers is balanced on a knife-edge.

Now general manager for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, Nerlinger was keen to offer his expert analysis on Gers' hopes against a team he knows only too well.

The midfielder famously scored for the Ibrox side in their 2-1 Champions League victory over Stuttgart at home, on September 16, 2003.

And while Nerlinger believes Die Roten may just edge a tight affair he also believes that Gers will accompany VfB into the knockout stages of the club game's greatest tournament.

Speaking last night from the Bayern hotel prior to Munich's Champions League Group A clash with Maccabi Haifa in Israel, he said: "I think we will have a very tight game between Stuttgart and Rangers and that it maybe comes down to one goal.

"Stuttgart will start as favourites because it is their home game but the big problem for them is that they have not replaced the goals of Mario Gomez as he is obviously with us at Bayern.

"Sure, they have signed Alexander Hleb from Barcelona on loan and I think this is a very good signing, and, of course they have also got Pavel Pogrebnyak from FC Zenit but neither of these players has quite filled the gap left by Gomez.

"He was such a big player for VfB in terms of how they played and I feel they are still struggling to come to terms with his loss.

"I think Hleb is an injury doubt and if he does not make it then that will be another big plus for Rangers.

"But don't get me wrong, Stuttgart are a very well organised team and at home they are formidable opposition.

"Everyone in Germany sees this as a group that they will qualify from and the first game with Rangers as a game that they will win with something to spare ... but of course they do not know Rangers like I do!"

He went on: "Looking back to how well organised Rangers were when they beat Werder Bremen over two games in the Uefa Cup two seasons back, I think this is going to be very tight.

"I probably have to say that Stuttgart are the favourites and I think they will edge it by maybe one goal, but Rangers will have a very good chance of qualifying alongside them for the knockout stages.

"Then you never know - they may get Bayern!"

When it comes to the return leg at Ibrox, on Tuesday, November 24, Nerlinger has no doubt that the hothouse Ibrox atmosphere may hand Gers a crucial advantage.

He said: "I know how special the atmosphere is at Ibrox and the big regret of my career was that I did not get to experience it more.

"But going back to our game with Stuttgart in 2003, the big thing I knew straight from the start was that VfB were definitely unnerved by it.

"I don't think the other two teams in Group G, Sevilla and Unirea, will have experienced anything like it.

"I envy them as if there is one thing I would want again from my playing career it would be to run out the tunnel on a European night at Ibrox once again.

"So I think that if Rangers can win their home games - and I believe they can - and maybe take something from Romania on their travels they may well make it through to the knockout stages."

But returning his attention to this evening's clash in the Mercedes-Benz Arena, Nerlinger says that Gers boss Walter Smith will face a formidable tactical mind in his opposite number Markus Babbel.

Christian said: "Markus and I came through the ranks as youth players at Bayern and it has always been obvious he would become a coach one day.

"He has been pitched in a little bit quicker than he would have wanted given that he is still getting his Uefa coaching badges, but he is one of the most promising young coaches in Germany right now.

"Even although Bayern had the better of things last season against Stuttgart and I know that VfB have had a bad loss to Hamburg at the weekend, they are always very well organised and when they hit, they hit hard.

"So if Rangers take a point tonight then I think that will be a great start to their Group G campaign.

"Like I say, maybe I will meet up with Rangers again in this Champions League. I hope so as it would be great to come back to Ibrox."