Europa League Archives

Jack Butland’s Shootout Heroics Send Rangers into Europa League Quarter-Finals

Jack Butland was the hero for Rangers as his penalty shootout heroics secured their place in the Europa League quarter-finals, despite Fenerbahce overturning a 3-1 first-leg deficit at Ibrox. The Rangers goalkeeper produced stunning saves to deny Dusan Tadic and Fred, before Mert Hakan Yandas blazed his spot-kick over the bar, igniting jubilant celebrations both on the pitch and in the stands. Barry Ferguson’s side had returned to Glasgow with a commanding two-goal cushion following a superb display in Istanbul, but they struggled to replicate that form as their troubling home run continued. Poland international Sebastian Szymanski struck twice, either side of half-time, to level the tie on aggregate, as Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce applied relentless pressure in search of a winner. Tadic went agonisingly close with a curling effort, while Youssef En-Nesyri was denied at the death by a last-ditch James Tavernier tackle. Vaclav Cerny emerged as Rangers’ most dangerous outlet, driving at defenders with purpose and forcing several saves from Fenerbahce goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat. However, neither side could find a breakthrough before extra time, where Cerny and Tavernier both threatened but failed to find the net. With the tie still deadlocked, penalties became inevitable. Tavernier, Cerny, and Tom Lawrence converted for the hosts, ensuring Rangers progressed to face Athletic Bilbao in the last eight, after the Spanish side edged past Roma. While the result marked an unwanted record—Rangers’ fourth consecutive home defeat for the first time in their history—the overriding emotions at Ibrox were joy and relief as Ferguson’s men held their nerve under immense pressure. A Night of European Drama at Ibrox On a night of nerve-shredding tension and high drama, Rangers once again found solace in European competition, providing a much-needed reprieve from their domestic struggles. Ibrox erupted in celebration when Yandas’ decisive penalty soared over the bar, ending a gruelling 120-minute battle that had tested the emotions of every fan inside the stadium. Rangers began brightly, with Cerny’s direct running causing problems for the visitors, but momentum swung when Szymanski volleyed home a Filip Kostic cross to give Fenerbahce hope. The Turkish giants took control after the break, and when Szymanski stabbed in his second goal on 73 minutes, the pendulum had firmly shifted in their favour. Controversy struck in extra time as Mourinho’s side were left fuming over a rejected penalty appeal when Nicolas Raskin appeared to trip Yandas inside the box. Referee Espen Eskas waved play on, and VAR chose not to intervene. Rangers dug deep, weathering the storm and showing resilience to take the tie to penalties, where their composure proved decisive. Ferguson’s Influence & The Road Ahead Ferguson still has challenges to address, not least the team’s poor home form, but he has instilled a renewed sense of belief and unity within the squad. However, Rangers will be without Mohamed Diomande and John Souttar for the first leg against Bilbao, as both players picked up one-match suspensions. Before then, attention turns to Sunday’s crucial Old Firm derby at Celtic Park, where Rangers’ battle-worn squad must recover quickly for another high-stakes encounter. Post-Match Reactions Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson on TNT Sports: “They showed character in abundance, and we have to keep doing that moving forward. Overall, I’m just delighted to be in the quarter-finals. “One thing I think has been missing is character. But the players are listening, and while there’s still a lot to work on, tonight was what my teams are built on. “When you play against top teams, they’re going to have spells where they dominate. You have to ride those out. I’m so proud of the players and delighted for the club.” Fenerbahce head coach Jose Mourinho on TNT Sports: “We deserved to win over 90 minutes. We deserved to win after 120 minutes. “In the first leg, I was honest and said we made mistakes and deserved to lose. But tonight, we were by far the better team. “We did everything to win, but the referee and VAR decided we should go to penalties. I feel for my players because they dreamed of going through, but I’m proud of them.”

March 14, 2025

Mourinho Unshaken as Fenerbahce Boss Insists: ‘We Are Better Than Rangers’

Jose Mourinho remains defiant ahead of Fenerbahce’s Europa League showdown at Ibrox, insisting his side are superior to Rangers despite trailing 2-0 from the first leg. The Portuguese manager, never one to lack confidence, believes Barry Ferguson’s men capitalised on his team’s errors in Istanbul rather than outplaying them. “They weren’t better than us,” Mourinho asserted. “They won because we made mistakes. They were disciplined, they fought, and they took their chances – but that doesn’t mean they are the better team.” Rangers executed a clinical counter-attacking gameplan, sitting deep and striking when opportunities arose, a strategy Mourinho acknowledged but dismissed as evidence of superiority. Despite history being against him – he has never overturned a two-goal home deficit in nearly 200 European matches – Mourinho is adamant Fenerbahce still have a real shot at progressing. “If I didn’t believe we could do it, I wouldn’t even be thinking about this game,” he said. “I’d be focusing on Sunday’s league match instead. But we have a chance – and as long as we do, we go for it.” With Fenerbahce chasing Galatasaray at the top of the Turkish Super Lig, Mourinho could have prioritised domestic matters. Instead, he is throwing everything at Ibrox. Fond Memories of Glasgow – and a Secret Old Firm Experience Mourinho has been to Ibrox before, most notably with Chelsea for a friendly in 2007. But his fondest memory of the famous stadium comes from a much more low-key visit. “If you ask me the result of that Chelsea game, I couldn’t tell you,” he admitted. “It was just a friendly. But my best Ibrox memory? You don’t know about it. I was hidden in the crowd, watching Rangers vs Celtic. “It was a couple of weeks before my Porto side faced Celtic in the 2003 UEFA Cup final. Nobody knew me at the time, so I could just walk out with the fans – good times.” Fenerbahce were unbeaten in 18 matches across all competitions before their first-leg defeat to Rangers, but Mourinho is hoping his team can feed off the atmosphere at Ibrox rather than be intimidated by it. “They have to embrace it,” he said. “Even if the crowd is against us, this is the best place to play football. The UK is special. Let’s enjoy it – and let’s go for it.”

March 13, 2025

Rangers Secure Impressive Win in Istanbul to Maintain European Momentum

Rangers delivered a commanding performance in Istanbul, securing a crucial victory against Fenerbahce to strengthen their European campaign. Cyriel Dessers capitalised on a defensive mistake early in the match, squeezing his shot over the line before Caglar Soyuncu could intervene. Fenerbahce responded with attacking intent, as Youssef En-Nesyri and Edin Dzeko both came close before Alexander Djiku restored parity with a stunning volley. Despite losing their early momentum, Barry Ferguson’s side regained the lead with a well-worked goal, as Vaclav Cerny finished clinically following a swift exchange with Dessers. Dessers twice found the net again in the second half, demonstrating Rangers’ counter-attacking threat, but VAR ruled him offside on both occasions. However, Cerny ensured the visitors extended their advantage, rounding off a superb counter-attack with a composed finish to seal an impressive victory and continue Rangers’ strong European form. Tactical Shift Pays Off for Ferguson Interim boss Barry Ferguson surprised many by altering Rangers’ formation, deploying Ridvan Yilmaz as a right wing-back and James Tavernier in a back three. The change proved effective as Rangers pressed high from the outset. Their early reward came when Mohamed Diomande capitalised on Sebastian Szymanski’s loose pass, allowing Dessers to round goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat and finish coolly. The visitors’ bright start was almost undone when Robin Propper collided with goalkeeper Jack Butland on the edge of the box, forcing John Souttar to make a crucial intervention. Propper came off worse and had to be substituted. Shortly after, Nico Raskin’s misplaced header was ruthlessly punished, with Djiku pouncing to equalise for the hosts. Rangers’ Counter-Attacking Brilliance With Fenerbahce pushing forward, Rangers looked to exploit space on the break. One such counter-attack saw Cerny play a quick one-two with Dessers before slotting the ball beyond Egribayat. More defensive lapses from the hosts allowed Dessers to find the net again, only for VAR to rule him marginally offside. He had another effort disallowed in similar fashion, but Rangers remained undeterred. Their persistence paid off when Raskin played a perfectly weighted pass from deep, releasing Cerny to race clear and finish emphatically. European Pedigree Shines Through Rangers’ tactical tweak came at a crucial time, with the team struggling defensively in recent weeks. The adjustments helped shore up the backline while maintaining a sharp counter-attacking threat, as showcased by Cerny’s double. While the victory may have seemed an upset on paper, Rangers’ European pedigree suggests otherwise. Their wins in Malmo and Nice earlier in the competition, along with solid home triumphs against FCSB and Union Saint-Gilloise, highlight their ability to compete at this level. With no domestic fixtures this weekend, Ferguson’s men have ample time to prepare for the second leg, where a quarter-final clash against Roma or Athletic Bilbao awaits the winners. Fenerbahce Still in the Fight Despite Rangers’ strong showing, Fenerbahce remain a dangerous proposition. Jose Mourinho, ever the tactician, will be eager to turn the tie around in Glasgow next week. Dzeko posed a constant threat, while substitute Allan Saint-Maximin provided a dangerous cross that En-Nesyri headed narrowly wide. The Moroccan forward later forced a fine save from Butland, while Anderson Talisca also tested the Rangers keeper. With Fred available after suspension, Mourinho will have more options as his side look to overturn the deficit. Post-Match Reactions Fenerbahce head coach Jose Mourinho: “We were bad all over the pitch. It wouldn’t be fair to say we were only poor defensively because we struggled in every department. Maybe you laugh, but for me, this was a good result. Based on how we played, the scoreline could have been worse. If anyone asks if it’s over, my answer is no.” Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson: “It was a really strong performance. The players gave me everything I asked for and executed everything we worked on in training. It’s a fantastic result, but I’m not getting carried away. This is only half-time in the tie.” With the second leg at Ibrox set to be a blockbuster encounter, Rangers will look to finish the job and book their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

March 6, 2025

Drama, Decisions & Deciders: Scottish Football Managers in the Spotlight!

With a crucial Champions League showdown looming, Brendan Rodgers has issued a rallying cry to his Celtic squad—go bold or go home! The Hoops boss is urging his side to seize the moment in Germany, where they must overturn a 2-1 deficit against Bayern Munich to keep their European dream alive. Meanwhile, Bayern’s own Vincent Kompany is playing it cool, suggesting that his side’s 0-0 draw with Bayer Leverkusen was the perfect defensive test ahead of Celtic’s visit. But could Jota shake things up? The Portuguese winger has surely staked his claim for a starting spot after a dazzling performance in Celtic’s 3-0 win over Dundee United. Speaking of Dundee United, Jim Goodwin insists that Will Ferry and Kevin Holt were merely rested against Celtic and should be back in action next week. Nothing to see here, folks—just a precaution! Over at Rangers, Philippe Clement is facing the heat. His side’s shock Scottish Cup exit to Queen’s Park has left fans fuming, and his decision to hook Bailey Rice at half-time didn’t go unnoticed. The 18-year-old was dropped for failing to “break the lines” with his passing, but Clement insists he still believes in the youngster. With pressure mounting, Clement is standing firm, refusing to walk away from what he calls the “toughest period” of his career. Elsewhere in Scottish football, Hibs’ new shot-stopper Jordan Smith has been left “blown away” by the standard of the game, while Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has showered praise on the travelling Dons support after their gritty win at Dundee. And let’s not forget the SWPL drama—Glasgow City’s Leanne Ross has been grilling refereeing chief Willie Collum over some questionable decisions. With all these talking points, Scottish football is delivering non-stop drama on and off the pitch!

February 16, 2025

Rangers beat wasteful Union Saint-Gilloise to squeak into automatic places

Excellent finishes from Nico Raskin and Vaclav Cerny saw Rangers past an Union Saint-Gilloise punished for their lack of composure. With Bodo/ Glimt held by Nice, Philippe Clement’s side took the all important eighth and automatic spot. After a frenetic opening, Raskin broke the deadlock for the home side. Meeting a sumptuous James Tavernier cross to score just his second goal for the club. Meet a cut-back from Cyriel Dessers, Cerny doubled the lead with a neat finish as Rangers looked to hold on for the win. However with minutes to go Kevin Mac Allister pulled one back for the Belgian side with excellent technique to see his header dip over Jack Butland, caught too far off his line to ensure a nervy end to the game. Cerny came inches from adding Rangers’ third with his thundering effort from distance rattling the post. Saint-Gilloise will no doubt rue their profligacy, Mohammed Fuseini missing a glaring opportunity after a fine cut-back had put the goal at his mercy. Finishing from the visitors became increasingly dire in the second half. Having rounded a helpless Jack Butland, Fuseini saw his goalbound shot blocked by James Tavernier before Franjo Ivanovic made a meal of the rebound by dinking the ball over the net. English defender Ross Sykes could do no better despite finding himself unmarked at the back post of a corner, heading the ball well over the bar. In the dying moments of the game Kevin Rodriguez hashed what could have a been the equaliser, lack the requisite cold blood in front of goal and instead directing the shot over with Sykes following suit not long after as Rangers breathed a huge sigh of relief. Looking for a goal of his own, Hamza Igamane raced onto a through ball but could not direct the shot on target. Both sides were denied goals by the offside flag, Ivanonic first for Saint-Gilloise before Dessers saw his own finish chalked off. Making his first start in Europe since Giovanni van Bronckhorst governed the touchline, Leon King could have suffered no worse luck than he did when a head knock forced him off after just fourteen minutes. Line-ups: Rangers: Butland, Jefte, Propper, Tavernier (c), King (McCausland 14), Raskin, Diomande, Bajrami (Nsio 80), Igamane (Lovelace 80), Cerny (Souttar 63), Dessers Unused subs: Curtis, Hutton, Munn, Kelly, Lawrence, Rice Booked: McCausland, Igamane, Diomande, Raskin, Propper Goals: Raskin (20), Cerny (55) Union Saint-Gilloise: Moris (c), Sykes, Leysen, Mac Allister (Rasmussen 91), Niang, Khalaili, Vanhoutte, Sadiki, Van de Perre (Ait El Hadj 30), Fuseini (Rodriguez 69), Ivanonic Unused subs: Asri, Berradi, Chambaere, Imbrechts Booked: Leysen Goals: Mac Allister (83) Referee: Damian Sylwestrzak

January 30, 2025

Rangers vs Union Saint-Gilloise: Key Stats and Preview

Rangers will be looking to continue their impressive home record against Belgian opposition when they face Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League. The Scottish side has won all six of their previous home matches against Belgian teams, with a dominant aggregate score of 20-7. Their most recent encounter ended in a 3-0 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise in the 2022-23 Champions League qualifiers. Union Saint-Gilloise, however, will be eager to turn the tide. The Belgian side has lost three of their four encounters with Scottish clubs, but they can take confidence from their 2-0 home win against Rangers in August 2022. Ibrox has proven to be a fortress for Rangers in the Europa League group stage, with the club losing just twice in 18 home matches (W10 D6). However, both of those defeats came at the hands of Lyon—once in September 2021 (2-0) and more recently in October 2024 (4-1). Union Saint-Gilloise have shown promise on their European travels, winning three of their last five major away matches (L2). This marks a significant improvement, matching the number of away wins they had achieved in their first 16 games in European competition (W3 D4 L9). A key player to watch will be Franjo Ivanovic, who has been in prolific form for Union Saint-Gilloise. He has netted a brace in each of his last two Europa League outings, bringing his tally to four goals in the competition. Only Victor Boniface (6) and Roger Van Cauwelaert (5) have scored more for the club in major European tournaments. With Rangers’ strong home form and Union Saint-Gilloise’s improving European record, this promises to be an exciting contest at Ibrox. Can Rangers maintain their dominance over Belgian teams, or will Union Saint-Gilloise spring a surprise?

January 30, 2025

Bruno Fernandes Seals Dramatic Late Win for Manchester United Over Rangers

Bruno Fernandes scored a stoppage-time winner for Manchester United as they overcame Rangers 2-1 at Old Trafford. The late goal came after Cyriel Dessers’ dramatic equaliser in the 88th minute, which had briefly given the Scottish club hope of a vital point. Rangers’ forward Dessers produced a stunning moment, outmuscling Harry Maguire to score a brilliant goal and cancel out Jack Butland’s earlier own goal. However, Fernandes responded swiftly, volleying home with precision to secure victory for United. The result sees Manchester United climb to fourth in the Europa League standings. Despite their Premier League struggles, Ruben Amorim’s side remains unbeaten in Europe after seven fixtures. A win away to Steaua Bucharest next week will secure a top-eight finish, bypassing the play-off round. Rangers, sitting in 13th place, are almost certain to feature in the play-offs. Amorim: “It was a good victory” “We didn’t deserve the draw; I think it was fair for us to win the game. It was just a victory that we truly needed in this moment.” Speaking to TNT Sports, Amorim added: “We played well. There was more connection with the ball and good speed. We lost control of the game for seven minutes because of small, bad decisions. Even when we conceded Rangers’ goal, we were so close to scoring the second and missed so many chances. But we recovered, and it was a good victory.” He acknowledged the team’s ongoing challenges: “We are not playing our best; we are far from that. But we improved from the last game. The opponent is different, the speed is different, everything is different. But they tried, you can see it again – the connections, the movement, some play – and we did well considering the time we’ve had to train. We need to be more clinical in the right moments. That can help us a lot.” Clement: “Everybody is gutted” Rangers boss Philippe Clement expressed his disappointment but praised his players’ efforts: “I saw everybody gutted in the dressing room, disappointed that we lost after playing that kind of game. I am also [disappointed], clearly, because we wanted to win and take the points we deserved.” However, Clement highlighted his pride in the team’s performance: “I am also proud of what the team did today – sticking to the plan, following the tactics, and with all the young players coming on the pitch. The team stayed compact, well-organised, and brave on the ball. We created enough chances. In the first half, we created the best opportunity. We went behind but did not stop believing and playing for the goal, so it is very disappointing to concede at the end.” Man Utd vs Rangers: Player Ratings Manchester United: Bayindir (7), De Ligt (6), Martinez (7), Yoro (6), Amad (7), Collyer (7), Eriksen (7), Dalot (6), Fernandes (7), Garnacho (7), Zirkzee (5). Subs Used: Maguire (5), Malacia (6), Ugarte (6), Mainoo (6), Højlund (6). Rangers: Butland (4), Tavernier (7), Propper (7), Balogun (6), Jefte (5), Barron (6), Raskin (7), Ridvan (6), Bajrami (6), Cerny (7), Igamane (6). Subs Used: Rice (6), McCausland (6), Curtis (6), Dessers (7).

January 24, 2025

Igamane Volley and Forster Heroics Steal the Show at Ibrox

Venue: Ibrox Date: 12/12/24 Time: 20:00 GMT A terrific Rangers side can feel unfortunate to not defeat Spurs at Ibrox after a 1-1 draw in the Battle of Britain. The two goalscorers of the match were Hamza Igamane and Dejan Kulusevski. Igamane’s effort an excellent volley from a Tavernier cross, with Kulusevski’s finish a low strike into the bottom corner of the net. The draw puts Rangers up to eighth, with Spurs level on points in ninth. Ex-Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou returned to Ibrox after leaving Glasgow a year and a half ago. Now under fire from his own supporters following a run of inconsistent performances. The visitors sit 11th in the Premier League table after their 4-3 defeat to Chelsea. In Europe, they have done relatively well, taking 10 points from their five European games, and sat outside the automatic playoff places. Rangers sat just above them in Europe although are eleven points behind their city rivals Celtic domestically. Their boss Philippe Clement had not only eased fan discontent with a hat-trick of wins and clean sheets in the league, but also shown a certain European clout in their last continental outing, a fantastic away win to Nice where Igamane scored two in a 4-1 rout. Spurs came into the tie battling injury crisis in defense, with Archie Gray coming into the center with their two first-choice central defenders injured. Rodrigo Bentancur comes fresh in to the midfield as he is serving a seven-game domestic ban for alleged offensive comments about his teammate, Heung-Min Son. For the Glasgow side, they began up top with Igamane, on a high after scoring in two consecutive games. On the left, Rangers opted to play two defenders, Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz. The latter replaced Danilo in the side as Robin Propper came in to the center of defence for Leon Balogun. First half: Both sides made a lively start to the proceedings. Heung-Min Son battled past Propper, with Udogie getting onto the loose ball, before delivering a pass out to the left for Werner. Seeing his shot off target, he tried a curling effort but lacked conviction. Rangers then made a swift counter-attack. Tavernier tackled a dawdling Werner, who fired it into Vaclav Cerny’s path in the midfield. Cerny ran to the edge of the box before laying off the ball to an overlapping Bajrami. He shot but Fraser Forster made a fantastic tip over the bar. It would have been going in if not for the ex-Hoops goalie. The Rangers fans certainly made their thoughts clear towards the keeper, booing him at every opportunity. The next two chances fell to Spurs: a tame toe-poke into Butland’s hands from Son and a deflected shot over the bar from Maddison, who was played in on the center of goal after Raskin was caught in possession by Yves Bissouma. As the home support continued to roar their team on, Jefte complied, showing some tricky feet to get past Pedro Porro, who should have stood his ground better. It was a good block from Radu Dragusin to see it off-target. No doubt the Brazilian certainly got his steps in. He was in his own box, intercepting the ball to stop Brennan Johnson from getting a shot on goal following a promising Lilywhites attack. Following the excellent piece of defending, Jefte played the cross of the night. Whipping a pacy ball across the face of goal, just begging for one of his teammates to tap it home. Next, it was Spurs on the attack, Jack Butland making a terrific point-blank save from Son’s first-time shot. It was offside but Butland knew nothing about it. Terrific goalkeeping. Just before half-time, Rangers continued to pile on the pressure, with a Cerny near-post shot saved by the ‘Holy Goalie’s’ feet, and cleared by Porro. Diomande quickly after had a deflected shot. Clement would have been the much happier of the two managers going into half-time, except for seeing defender John Souttar come off with an injury ten minutes from time. Second half: What a start! A minute after kick-off, Tavernier lofted a fantastic cross into the box, which saw Igamane fire a first-time side-footed volley down to Forster’s left-hand side—brilliant technique on display. The home side continued to put pressure on the wounded visitors. Moments after a Cerny long shot, the winger was unleashed on a brilliant run, weaving into the Spurs box only to be halted by Dragusin. Spurs finally responded with their first attack of the half. The substitute, Kulusevski, after coming on for a dismal Werner in the first half, delivered a ball from the right to Brennan Johnson who watched his effort curl wide. The light blues react well through a confident Igamane. He saw a shot blocked and almost got a second from a Bajrami mishit which, fortunately, Forster grabbed hold of before the danger. Another longshot, this time from Diomande was deflected off Dragusin. No doubt meeting his quota for blocks tonight. Spurs were holding on and were afforded that patience by a colossal error by Jefte. After having an excellent first half, the left-back headed the ball back to Butland, who came out to collect. The keeper reacted sharply to stop it rolling past him into an open net. Ange had seen enough and decided to make a trio of substitutions and it was one of these substitutes, Lucas Bergvall, who almost scored with his first touch, a bouncing volley just wide from the second phase of a corner. Maddison would have been licking his lips after getting a free-kick in a dangerous area outside the box but it was another opportunity wasted as he played a one-two with Kulusevski for a better angle with the ball travelling well over the bar. Spurs continued to push on, a cross from the left saw the right-back Porro play a first-time shot to the near post. Butland did well to parry it away with his feet. That pressure was rewarded

December 12, 2024

Rangers vs Tottenham: What to expect?

Venue: Ibrox Date: 12/12/24 Time: 20:00 GMT It is their biggest game in Europe this season but an in-form Rangers will feel the stars have aligned to get a result as they welcome a downcast Tottenham to Ibrox. Both sides look to be on converse trajectories with the hosts now undefeated in eight games. Philippe Clement seems to have navigated his side through a turbulent period which saw them fall to Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, results which are likely to have put the title out of reach. Meanwhile Ange Postecoglou’s time at Tottenham plunged to its lowest depth so far, watching his side snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against Chelsea at the weekend, having confronted a fan for abusing him just a week prior. With both teams sat in eighth and ninth, Rangers ahead by a mere two goals, a result would put either side in pole position for an automatic place. More importantly for the respective managers however, progression to the knockout stages would relieve some of the intense scrutiny surrounding their jobs. European pedigree For all of their domestic woes, winning a solitary Premiership title in thirteen years, Rangers have always found a way to exceed expectations in Europe’s secondary competition. A run to the 2021/22 final was as big a surprise as the scalps they took along the way with Borussia Dortmund, Braga and RB Leipzig all falling before an agonising Aaron Ramsey penalty proved the difference that saw Eintracht Frankfurt snatch the crown. The less said about the Champions League campaign that followed the better. However last season saw Rangers return to the competition that is becoming their bread and butter to complete a double over Real Betis and topping their group before a narrow defeat to Benfica saw them eliminated in the Round of sixteen. There is a noticeable difference in the freedom with which they play away from the burning eyes of Scottish football fans. Whatever the reason, they have managed some impressive victories again this season with Malmo, FCSB and Nice comfortable dispatched with a creditable draw against Conference League champions Olympiakos to boot. Having seemingly put their 4-1 Lyon hiding behind them, Rangers will need all of their experience in the competition to gain an important result, with Manchester United and Union Saint-Gilloise as positions ‘fourth’ through ‘thirteenth’ remain separated by a mere three points. Will the real Tottenham please stand up? The nickname ‘Spursy’ to describe the way the club seem to fall apart under little pressure is arguably a disrespectful one to give a club that continues to find itself in the upper echelons of the Premier League. Yet, it has stuck for a reason. As the jabs and taunts go, Tottenham will produce a masterclass against league leaders only to follow it up with dropped points to eternal strugglers. Having tormented Manchester City in a hugely impressive 4-0 win away from home, the North London side mustered joint one point from nine as they sit just off mid-table. Losses to Ipswich, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth have continue to stunt their season with the manager’s dogmatic approach to attacking football held responsible for the side’s inconsistency. The third highest scoring team in the league this season, Tottenham’s inability to apply to handbrake has been just as much a problem in England as it has been in Europe. Opposition had hardly been world beating when they opened their group stage campaign with wins against Qarabag, Ferencvaros and Troy Parrott’s AZ Alkmaar, but a defeat to Galatasaray and draw with Roma has put a dent in their hopes for automatic qualification. With the continued absence of Guglielmo Vicario, their defence looks even more precarious. Add in defender Cristian Romero criticising the lack of spending in the summer in a now deleted interview with Telemundo Deportes to add fuel to the fire. For all the optimism the disharmony might bring to fans north of the border, Tottenham have a squad packed with some of Europe’s best in Son Heung-min, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski. As both Manchester clubs will know by now, these players can inflict a world of damage on their day.

December 12, 2024

Rangers Striker Dessers Secures Critical Draw in Greece Against Olympiacos

Rangers Striker Dessers Secures Critical Draw in Greece Against Olympiacos In a tense Europa League clash at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers emerged as the hero, clinching a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Olympiacos. Philippe Clement’s side faced intense pressure, conceding a second-half goal to Moroccan forward Ayoub El Kaabi—his fourth in four tournament games. Yet, Dessers’ equalizer secured an important point, bringing Rangers to eight points in four games as they aim to secure at least a playoff spot. The match unfolded in a challenging atmosphere, with Rangers battling the intense crowd support behind Olympiacos. However, the Scottish side managed the conditions well and created the game’s first clear opportunity. Forward Tomas Cerny, who had shone in Rangers’ recent victory over Steaua Bucharest, created a dangerous chance by beating defenders on the right and setting up Dessers. The forward’s shot was on target but was expertly blocked by Olympiacos goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis. Rangers seemed the more dangerous side in the first half, with goalkeeper Jack Butland rarely tested. Olympiacos had a brief opportunity when a lapse in Rangers’ defense opened up a chance on the counter-attack, but former Portugal international Gelson Martins missed the target, hitting the side netting. Clement likely saw much to be pleased with in his team’s opening half performance, but the momentum shifted after the break. Just 10 minutes into the second half, Olympiacos broke the deadlock. El Kaabi found space amid loose marking from Rangers and struck a powerful shot that left Butland with little chance. The goal followed an unexpected change by Clement, who replaced Dujon Sterling with Neraysho Kasanwirjo. The Dutch substitute soon made an impact, narrowly missing a shot from a promising position. Rangers, however, were undeterred and fought back to level the score. Cerny was instrumental again, threading a well-timed through-ball to Dessers, who expertly faked out the defender before slotting the ball into the net with composure. This late goal rescued a valuable point for Rangers, keeping their Europa League ambitions alive as they continue their pursuit of a playoff spot.

November 7, 2024

Europa League

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