Rangers Squeeze Past Viktoria Plzen but Issues Loom Ahead
Rangers have booked their place in the Champions League play-off round, but the journey was anything but smooth. They came into the second leg against Viktoria Plzen with a commanding 3-0 lead from Ibrox, thanks to a double from Djeidi Gassama and a Cyriel Dessers penalty. That cushion ultimately proved decisive, because in the Czech Republic they were far from their best.
The match ended in a 2-1 defeat on the night, but the aggregate scoreline was enough to see them through. Viktoria Plzen threw everything at them, firing 27 shots – with a staggering 21 from inside Rangers’ penalty area. Goalkeeper Jack Butland was called into action repeatedly, making eight saves, including a spectacular one to deny Prince Adu. The Czech side’s expected goals tally of 3.31 told its own story – they simply didn’t take enough of the many chances Rangers gifted them.
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Manager Russell Martin didn’t hide his frustration afterwards. He admitted that while progression was welcome, there was “a lot to work on.” Sloppy passing and careless turnovers repeatedly invited pressure, forcing Rangers into deep defensive spells they hadn’t planned for. Wingers Oliver Antman and Gassama, who had been so dangerous in the first leg, barely featured this time because the ball rarely reached them. The team’s passing patterns told the tale – their most common link-ups were between Butland and the centre-backs, not the midfielders or attackers.
One bright moment came from Lyall Cameron, who netted his first goal for the club, showing composure amid the chaos. Still, the defensive lapses and inability to control possession made for nervous viewing. Former Rangers players on commentary didn’t pull their punches, calling the performance “shoddy and shabby,” though they acknowledged the financial and sporting importance of advancing.
The next hurdle is a far tougher test: Belgian side Club Brugge. Last season, they reached the Champions League last 16 and will be far more clinical than Plzen. The sides met in pre-season, drawing 2-2 at Ibrox, but this time the stakes couldn’t be higher. Martin knows that if Rangers give Brugge the same kind of openings they gifted Plzen, the outcome could be very different.
For now, the headline is simple – Rangers are still alive in the competition. The job got done, even if done the hard way. But unless possession is kept better and the defence tightens up, their Champions League dream could be short-lived. The warning signs are flashing, and Brugge will be waiting to pounce on any repeat mistakes.
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