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Showing posts with the label Champions League

Rangers take huge step towards Champions League play-offs

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Rangers 3-0 Viktoria Plzen Rangers took a huge towards progression to the Champions League play-offs after a comfortable win over Viktoria Plzen. Name | Mark Lee Stadium | Ibrox A closer look at what happened  There were a few surprised looks when captain James Tavernier and Nicolas Raskin were among four players left out for this tie. Cyriel Dessers was handed his first start of the season and played a key role in setting up summer arrival Djeidi Gassama to open the scoring, the forward continuing his fine run of form in Europe. New signing Oliver Antman, who joined only on Tuesday, slotted seamlessly into the attack alongside Dessers and Gassama. The trio showed a fluidity that had been lacking, with Gassama linking superbly with his new team-mate before Antman was brought down in the box by Matej Vydra. READ MORE | Champions League match reports from the 2025/2026 season Dessers stepped up to convert the penalty just before half-time, and the lead was extended early in the s...

Rangers progress after draw in Athens

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Panathinaikos 1 - 1 Rangers (Rangers won 3-1 on aggregate) Not the best performance for Rangers but they got the job done Author | Alan White Stadium | Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis Rangers are now guaranteed Europa League football and will face Viktoria Plzen of the Czech Republic in a third round Champions League qualifier. A closer look at what happened in Athens As was the case during the first half at Ibrox, Rangers looked exposed and were fortunate to survive a barrage of Panathinaikos pressure in a charged Athens atmosphere. Anastasios Bakasetas set the tone with an early effort from the edge of the area, narrowly missing the target. What followed was a sustained spell of dominance from the hosts. Jack Butland, outstanding throughout, produced a sharp save to deny Fotis Ioannidis at his near post, before stopping a powerful close-range header from the same player. READ MORE | Who's excited for another Champions League season? READ MORE | News from across Scotland on Supe...

Russell Martin enjoys perfect Ibrox start

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Rangers 2 - 0 Panathinaikos Goals from Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama secured a 2-0 victory over Panathinaikos in the first leg of their Champions League second-round qualifier. Author | Mark Lee Stadium | Ibrox  Rangers were indebted to goalkeeper Jack Butland for a string of vital saves, particularly during a first half in which the Greek visitors carved out the better chances and largely controlled proceedings. Curtis shifted the momentum with a thunderous effort early in the second half before Gassama, introduced from the bench, sealed the win with a moment of individual brilliance after Giorgos Vagiannidis was dismissed. Backed by a typically boisterous Ibrox crowd, Rangers made a lively start but were soon forced onto the back foot. Butland produced an outstanding save to deny a powerful header before Nemanja Maksimovic skewed the rebound against the post with the goal gaping. The former England international was called into action again to thwart Erik Palmer-Brown, wh...

Shelbourne knock Linfield out of Champions League

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Linfield 1 - 1 Shelbourne (Shelbourne won 2-1 on aggregate) Shelbourne booked their place in the second qualifying round of the Champions League after eliminating ten-man Linfield Author | Mark Lee Stadium | Windsor Park Leading by a single goal from the first leg at Tolka Park, Shels extended their advantage midway through the first half thanks to a composed finish from Allistair Coote. The hosts equalised before the break through a Chris Shields penalty, but a second-half red card for Ben Hall all but ended Linfield’s hopes of turning the tie around. Shelbourne will now face Qarabag in the next round, while Linfield drop into the Europa Conference League, where they will meet Lithuanian champions Ĺ˝algiris. A closer look at what happened The second leg had added significance for David Healy, who was taking charge of Linfield for the 500th time. His side responded to the occasion with a positive opening in the south Belfast sunshine, pushing Shels back early on. A Kirk Millar free-...