Meanwhile, here’s what happened in the other Europa League semi-final:
Read Ewan Murray’s match report from Germany
We’ll have a match report here for you very soon indeed. Thanks for your company – and make sure you’re back here next week!
Joe Aribo speaks:
I think all in all the boys are disappointed. We thought we could see the game out but there’s still a big second tie and we’re ready to go and beat them at Ibrox. We just wanted to stay compact and make it hard for them to break through us, and we did that. They didn’t have many chances but they got that late goal.
It was all about concentration and hard work, the boys needed to give their all and that’s what we did. I felt we could have got a goal, we had a few half-chances but just didn’t get the break of the ball. We’ll take in the pointers the boss wants us to do in order to get the win at Ibrox. We know what can happen.
Jarrod Bowen cracked the bar at the death for West Ham ... but they lost 2-1 to Eintracht, so we are currently on for an all-German final.
I should earlier have mentioned Leicester, who drew 1-1 with Roma in the first leg of their Conference League semi.
A result, then, that both sides will find reason to be encouraged by. Rangers did open up more in the second half – Kent’s cross-shot was their best moment – but a below-par Leipzig created more too and Nkunku missed a couple of big chances, one a quite amazing sitter. So the result was fair but, with a bit more attacking thrust at Ibrox, there’s no reason this cannot be reversed. It’s still on.
Full-time: RB Leipzig 1-0 Rangers
A stunning late winner from Angelino was a sickener ... but not *too* much of one. Rangers are still well in this tie and the second leg next week is set up to be a belter!
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90+3 min: Well, one card becomes two. Tavernier is now given a yellow and Rangers must defend one last tricky set play from wide on the left. They do.
90+2 min: A late booking for Goldson, the first of the game.
90+1 min: We are in the first of three added minutes; Rangers’ task now is, really, to make sure one goal does not become two.
90 min: Leipzig introduce Poulsen for Nkunku and Mukiele for Henrichs.
88 min: On the balance of chances, Leipzig do deserve this lead – Nkunku should, as we know, have scored at least one. But Rangers were so close to taking them back to Ibrox on level terms.
Goal! RB Leipzig 1-0 Rangers (Angelino, 85)
Oh, what a goal. The corner, from the right, is headed out towards the edge of the box and Angelino, coming onto the ball to the right of centre, leathers a *beautifully* executed, technically perfect left-footed volley across McGregor and in. The crowd go wild ... Leipzig have what could be a crucial advantage, and in some style.
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84 min: One of Leipzig’s best moves, as Nkunku touches on for Adams ... only for McGregor to tip his flashing drive over! But then ...
82 min: Plaintive cries for a penalty as Laimer and Henrichs both tumble ... but there’s not a lot wrong there from Barisic, the nearest Rangers player. Meanwhile, a double chance – Arfield for Jack and Sands for Aribo.
79 min: Nkunku nearly does, heading over at the far post after a cross beat Bassey. It’s a really good chance actually, though not in the league of his earlier one. He should probably have scored.
78 min: Tavernier surges out after dispossessing Forsberg, but Sakala doesn’t read his attempted ball in behind. But Rangers come again and Barisic, making a rare burst deep into Leipzig territory, delivers a cross that Sakala can’t get behind at the near post. And *then* Jack lashes well over from ranger. The visitors couldn’t ... could they?
76 min: Kent has a dig from a decent angle and Gulacsi saves, patting it down. Rangers have been much more proactive in this half, even if that’s not saying a great deal.
74 min: Maybe that was the moment Rangers got the stroke of luck that wins ties. Leipzig will surely not get another chance *that* good.
71 min: Oh my word, WHAT a miss from Nkunku! You’ll be seeing that a few times in the morning. He dances around McGregor and, even though there are covering defenders, looked nailed on to convert from about 12 yards. But he blasts well over ... quite incredible. Leipzig make two changes, Forsberg and Silva on for Szoboszlai and Olmo, but Nkunku will have nightmares about that.
70 min: Aribo and Kent fashion a very promising break, but Kent seems to lose his nerve inside the box and ends up neither taking anyone on nor trying a shot. Leipzig clear.
69 min: More audible annoyance from the home faithful as Henrichs plays a sloppy ball back towards Laimer that Kent cuts out. Now Rangers make a sub – Wright off, Sakala on. Can he give them some attacking thrust?
66 min: Do I hear a few whistles from the home fans as an attacking move splutters? I think I do. Music to Rangers’ ears.
64 min: Another run for Kent, who squares for Jack on the edge of the ‘D’. It should be a shooting chance but Jack’s touch is loose and the ball squirts away.
62 min: Laimer spoils another good run with a weak daisycutter straight at McGregor, when there may have been better options.
61 min: Laimer forces Kamara into a hasty pass inside his own half. Leipzig are certainly trying to crank things up to the tempo we associate them with.
59 min: Eintracht now lead 2-1 at West Ham ...
58 min: Leipzig, urged on by their manager Domenico Tedesco, are moving the ball more quickly now. It was about time they did. A stream of crosses is dealt with, though, and then Angelino overhits one.
56 min: Now Adams can’t quite take a ball from the left in his stride. The tempo is up a little bit from both sides.
53 min: Now we might have a game on, and McGregor is forced to acrobatically parry Nkunku’s meaty 20-yarder in what may have been the first save of the night.
52 min: More nice play from Rangers, as a smart move down the right sees Tavernier’s volley deflect over off Adams. They’ve moved Aribo up top for this half and he’s providing a real presence to play off and hold the ball, getting them up the pitch. The corner comes to nothing but this is encouraging for Rangers.
49 min: Ohhh, close for Kent! Rangers counter and, for the first time in the game really, Kent has a run down the left at his man. He gets into the box, goes on the outside, creates space for a cross-shot and flashes it ... wide of the far post and *just* beyond Tavernier. Rangers’ best moment by a distance.
48 min: The second half has picked up where the first left off, if you catch my drift.
Peeeeep! Back underway in Leipzig
No changes for either team just yet.
It’s West Ham 1-1 Eintracht, in London. And in the Premier League it’s Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea.
No real saves for McGregor in that half; a few good blocks from his defence and perhaps one squandered chance from Nkunku. Little up top from Rangers, save for one brief spell before the half-hour, but they have hardly been under the pump.
Half-time: RB Leipzig 0-0 Rangers
A non-event of a half, overall – so Rangers should be delighted.
43 min: Rangers fan out a bit and try to construct something, but Angelino is again back to thwart.
40 min: To reinforce that point, the duller the better for Rangers really. So this, as Adams overcooks a pass intended for Henrichs, fits the bill perfectly so far.
38 min: So far, beyond two or three scares where Rangers have had to get bodies in the way, this half has kind of drifted by. There certainly seems little danger of a Rangers goal, but they’ll be happy if they get to the interval like this.
35 min: The dangerous Laimer plays a give-and-go down the right and whips a teasing ball across ... but Nkunku isn’t close enough to convert.
33 min: Angelino gets his own back as Tavernier makes promising inroads into the Leipzig half. The ex-Man City player darts in to dispossess just as it was getting interesting.
Updated
31 min: Pinball in the Rangers box, Tavernier blocking a meaty Angelino volley seconds after flicking away a Szoboszlai cross that was bound for Nkunku. A reminder that Leipzig pack a punch.
30 min: And now Rangers have a corner after good play between Aribo and Kent. This is a much better spell. It’ll be swung in from the left ... and Goldson climbs highest, but his header is well over.
28 min: Tavernier’s delivery, unfortunately, leaves a lot to be desired.
27 min: Rangers have their first really extended spell of play in the Leipzig half, and it ends with Adams crudely fouling Kent. Free-kick in a very dangerous area outside the box ...
25 min: Wright and Gvardiol collide after the former nips in to win possession sharply. Rangers win a free-kick in midfield; the pair both took blows there but seem OK.
24 min: West Ham have equalised against Eintracht. So both UK-Germany ties are now all square.
21 min: The away fans remain in full voice. And Rangers slow things down with some passing from the back, before Kamara is dumped over by Laimer. He’s fine, and Rangers will be happy to see play broken up a bit.
18 min: And another big challenge, Laimer looking to get away before Goldson slides in at the last. Rangers are living a touch dangerously now.
17 min: A big let-off, as Barisic clears unconvincingly and, when Adams squares, Nkunku has a clear shot at goal. But his touch is too heavy and, when he does get a shot away. Bassey can block. That was a chance for the hosts.
14 min: Rangers get out at last, Goldson looking to send Wright away over the top ... it almost results in a corner, but they settle for a throw. Still, a glimmer of how they might threaten tonight.
11 min: Laimer makes a surge down the right but McGregor can, to some relief, plunge onto his cross and gather.
9 min: So far, though, Rangers haven’t really been prised open. Aribo and Jack hunt in a pack to snuff out one potential moment of danger.
7 min: Still little time on the ball for Rangers. Adams has had a low centre cut out. They look a bit skittish but if they can ride out this early spell you’d think things will come more naturally.
Updated
5 min: West Ham have gone a goal down to Eintracht inside a minute ... wow.
4 min: Rangers will have to “pick their moments” to attack here, I fancy. Nkunku goes down in the box as he tries to spin Goldson, but tumbles a bit too easily.
2 min: Rangers, all in blue, are kicking left to right. After a squall of early pressure they’re settling and McGregor has the ball.
Peeeep! Off we go!
Leipzig are straight on the front foot here.
The teams are out! 4,000 Rangers fans raise the roof. We’ll be underway soon ...
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There’s also the small matter of West Ham v Eintracht Frankfurt – we couldn’t have a Hammers-Rangers final ... could we? – with Rob Smyth.
I must say, the atmosphere does sound tremendous in there. Rangers’ fans have been making themselves seen and heard in town all afternoon, in tremendous number. It feels like an arrival back at the biggest stage, or close to that – what a night this is for them!
Updated
Van Bronckhorst: “We don’t get many chances to be in a final. We have prepared well and I’m very proud of my players for getting to this stage. Our players believe, they’ve trained well, they look very focused and we’re going to play in a great atmosphere against a good team. We want to enjoy it as well.”
Rangers are depleted in attack today – Alfredo Morelos is out, of course, and so is Kemar Roofe. Fashion Sakala might have been expected to start up top but instead Van Bronckhorst has gone with Scott Wright – seemingly looking to get at Leipzig with pace and mobility on the counter. Has he got it right?
Updated
Are RB Leipzig tired? Giovanni van Bronckhorst isn’t having a lot of those old tricks.
Starting lineups
RB Leipzig: Gulacsi; Gvardiol, Henrichs, Halstenberg; Laimer, Adams, Klostermann, Angelino; Olmo, Nkunku, Szoboszlai.
Rangers: McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Bassey, Barisic; Jack, Lundstram; Aribo, Kamara, Kent; Wright.
Good evening
It’s 14 years since Rangers last contested a European semi-final. Back then, they edged past Fiorentina in the Uefa Cup, only to fall short against Zenit at the last. Tonight they go again, in this not-particularly-new-fangled Europa League of ours – and they’re tantalisingly close to making history again.
They face RB Leipzig, who had not even been founded when Rangers stepped out in 2008. This won’t be easy at all, but the Bundesliga’s fourth-placed side perhaps don’t quite have the lustre of years past ... and Rangers can play the second leg at home. So at long as there are no disasters tonight, the Ibrox crowd may well be able to see them home next time out. Rangers are underdogs, sure – but they’ve done incredibly in getting this far, and you can’t back against them now.
Let’s see how they do! Get your emails and tweets in, and tell me what you think.
