THE last time that Rangers reached a European final, they got there by relying on a miserly defence. Managed by the late, great Walter Smith, the Glasgow club shipped just two goals in the knockout rounds of the UEFA Cup on their way to the final in Manchester in 2008.
Gallant shut-outs away to Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina have lived long in the memory for supporters, and Giovanni van Bronckhorst looked to add RB Leipzig's name to that list last night. The Dutchman was only five minutes away from doing just that.
Angelino's stunning volley five minutes from time was a gut-punch for Rangers but despite the deflating nature of the late goal, the fact remains that the fans have what they so desperately craved: a fighting chance of reaching a European final when the two teams meet at Ibrox on Thursday.
Here are three burning issues from the narrow loss at the Red Bull Arena.
Van Bronckhorst’s striking solution
Much of the discussion in the build-up to this match focused on the options Van Bronckhorst had available to him in the final third. Between Scott Wright, Ryan Kent and Fashion Sakala, the Rangers manager had no shortage of pacey wide players who can strike on the counter. What he was missing, though, was a focal point with Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe both sidelined with injury.
In the end, Van Bronckhorst’s solution was a little left-field: his team simply wouldn’t have a centre-forward. Kent and Wright were given the nod and played high and wide on each flank, operating in the spaces in between the Leipzig wing-backs and centre-halves. Aribo, playing in central midfield, would drive forward when Rangers were in possession and occupy the central defender in Leipzig’s back three. When wing-backs James Tavernier and Borna Barisic then pushed up, Rangers would be man-for-man with the back five. At that point, you just need one player to lose his marker or beat his man and you’re in. That’s the theory, anyway.
It was a solution that allowed each player in the system to do what they do best and maximise their talents, and it made sense on paper. A similar attacking shape turned the tide against Motherwell at Fir Park last Saturday but it wasn’t quite as effective in Europe. It made Rangers very difficult to break down and flooded the middle of the park out of possession but on the ball, it offered virtually nothing as the likes of Aribo, Barisic and Tavernier were reluctant to get forward. By half-time the visitors had barely laid a glove on their opponents – but that changed after the break.
Pragmatism reaps rewards
Rangers’ attacking intent was always going to be blunted in this match for a variety of reasons. Between the lack of a natural goal scorer on the park, the wealth of attacking riches at RB Leipzig’s disposal, the Govan club’s excellent home record in Europe and the fact that away goals mean diddly-squat these days, there was very little onus on the Premiership champions to really have a go at their opponents.
There was the occasional foray forward and the odd spell of pressure but for the most part, Rangers approached this game like they were waiting until the second leg until they decided to attack in numbers. In the first half, the defenders often resorted to lumping it long down the wings towards a focal point that didn’t exist and possession was cheaply surrendered. Off the ball, the players worked and congested the space in their half, forcing Leipzig back time and again, and clear-cut chances for the German giants were few and far between. When the breakthrough finally arrived, it was a world-class strike in the second phase of a set-piece.
Keeping the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Dominik Szoboszlai and Dani Olmo quiet for 90 minutes is no mean feat and the achievement deserves recognition, even if the late goal detracts from it. But if Rangers are to go the distance next week at Ibrox and book their ticket to Seville, Van Bronckhorst is going to have to take the handbrake off in the return leg.
Guts have got Rangers this far
The opening 10 minutes or so of the second half was Rangers’ best spell of the game and it is no coincidence that this arrived when the away players were braver off the ball. Kent went close within minutes of the restart but dragged his shot just wide of the far post thanks to the change in attitude – he was afforded time on the ball as his team-mates pushed up to support him – and it served as an early reminder that Rangers, too, carried an attacking threat. Players committed to attacks and half-chances started to arrive fairly regularly.
It's this positive attitude that has got Rangers this far in the Europa League and while pragmatism was always going to be order of the day in Germany, Rangers can’t forget about their own sizeable pedigree. They have already knocked out Red Star Belgrade, Borussia Dortmund and Braga this year. There is no reason they can’t add RB Leipzig’s name to that list.
