A blustery night at Ibrox came to an end with both sides having to settle for a draw as Rangers and Braga played out a 1-1 draw at Ibrox.

Rangers came into this one bottom of the Europa League League Phase with four losses from four, the latest being 0-2 at home against Roma.

Braga were sitting 5th before kickoff with three wins and one loss in the competition, the last game being a 3-4 defeat at home to Belgian team Genk.

Both teams made three changes from their last games, Max Aarons, Connor Barron and Youssef Chermiti replaced Jayden Meghoma, Thelo Aasgaard and Oliver Antman from Rangers’ win over Livingston.

Lukas Hornicek, Bright Arri-Mbi and Rodrigo Zalazar were out for Alaa Bellaarouch, Victor Carvalho and Pau Victor for Braga from their last game, a 4-2 Portuguese cup win against Nacional.

As the gusts of wind started to pick up around Ibrox, it was Braga who created the first real chance as Zalazar cut the ball back for Ricardo Horta who had his shot saved by Jack Butland.

Horta is played through again but his touch lets him down and Butland can save Rangers again.

Former Celtic player Gustaf Lagerbielke had a free header at the back post from a Horta cross but he couldn’t connect properly and it went wide.

Rangers created their first real chance of the game ten minutes before half time as Mohammed Diomande did well to find space and play it to Danilo but his shot was poor and straight at the keeper Hornicek.

Danny Rohl’s team started to build a bit more pressure as Barron played a long switch to Djeidi Gassama who had a shot saved and the rebound was put over the bar by James Tavernier.

Rangers continued their purple patch of play as Sikou Niakate made a last ditch challenge on Gassama and even when the ball fell to Chermiti the Gers striker couldn’t quite squeeze it in.

After a VAR check for a potential handball right on the stroke of half time after a Tavernier corner was met by the hand of Jean-Baptiste Gorby and a penalty was awarded to Rangers, Tavernier scored as he sent Hornicek the wrong way.

As the second half started Rangers kept up their pressure from the end of the first, Diomande played the ball wide for Gassama but neither Chermiti or Danilo could score.

An overhit corner was recycled by Aarons and Chermiti couldn’t hit the target from three yards out, the clearance was out to Gassama who forced a good save from Hornicek.

After another VAR check Braga are reduced to 10 men as Zalazar is sent off for an off the ball headbutt on Nicolas Raskin.

Braga got the equaliser just over 20 minutes from time as a hopeful cross was caught in the wind, then misjudged by Nasser Djiga and it fell to Gabri Martinez who slotted into the corner.

Djiga almost made amends as he came close from only a few yards out but his header went wide after Fernandez won the ball from a deep corner.

Good work continued from Rangers with Gassama crossing but Tavernier’s header was weak and easy to save.

Yet another VAR check followed this time for a penalty to Braga after a potential handball against substitute Bojan Miovski but it’s not given.

Rangers pushed to take the lead again with less than 10 minutes to play, good work from Miovski and Diomande but the latter’s shot was poor on the turn.

Braga had a great chance to win it in added time as the wind again picked up the ball and nearly blew a corner straight in, when it came out to Gorby his shot was powerful from just inside the area but Butland punched the ball away.

The teams were then levelled to 10 men each after Diomande was sent off for a second bookable offence after a poor challenge.

The game ended 1-1 with both teams down to 10 men as Rangers pick up their first point in the Europa League for the season.

This result lifted Rangers up to 33rd in the League Phase as Braga dropped to 7th in a game that Rangers will feel they should have got all three points from.

Rangers
Butland, Tavernier, Djiga, Fernandez, Aarons (Meghoma 89’), Raskin, Diomande sent off 90+5’, Barron (Miovski 77’), Danilo (Aasgaard 72’), Gassama, Chermiti (Antman 89’)

Tavernier 45+3’ pen

Braga
Hornicek, Gomez, Lagerbielke, Niakite, Arri-Mbi, Gorby (Moscardo 90+3’), Moutinho (Grillitsch 66’), Zalazar sent off 61’, Horta, Martinez (Carvalho 82’), Navarro (El Ouazzani 46’)

Martinez 69’