Rangers will go into next week’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao with everything to play for after battling to a 0-0 draw despite being down to 10 men for the majority of the game at Ibrox.
Barry Ferguson’s game plan was immediately thrown out of the window when Robin Propper was sent off on 13 minutes after denying Inaki Williams a clear goalscoring opportunity just outside of the area. The decision forced the Gers into a backs against the wall performance in Govan, with home side defying wave after wave of Bilbao attacks.
It looked like their resistance was broken nine minutes from time when Dujon Sterling was adjudged to have handled in the area and a penalty was awarded. However, step forward the recalled Liam Kelly to pull off a dramatic save from Álex Berenguer to send the home crowd into raptures and secure a much-deserved draw against the La Liga outfit, who looked a little spooked by the occasion.
The sides meet again next week in Bilbao, with the second-leg scheduled for Thursday 17 April at the Estadio de San Mamés.
Here’s how The Scotsman rated the performance of each player in the 0-0 draw with Athletic Bilbao at Ibrox.
5. James Tavernier - 9/10
Fantastic ball in the first-half almost played in Dessers. Stuck to his task well with a very dangerous customer in Nico Williams. Another top European performance from the captain. Did little wrong all night. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
6. Nicolas Raskin - 7/10
Tackled and harried well against the Bilbao midfield, kept things simple and made the right passes at the right time. Won 100% of his ground duels and his aerial duels in the first-half. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
7. Bailey Rice - 7/10
Didn't look overawed by the occasion. A mature performance from the teenager, who was taken off with a worrying looking head injury on the hour mark at Ibrox. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
8. Ridvan Yilmaz - 8/10
Made important blocks, tackled well and barely lost a battle all night. A terrier-like performance from the Turkish left-back against some of Europe's most dangerous attackers. Won all bar one of his duels before he was surprisingly taken off on 68 minutes. | PA Photo: PA