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.
9. Ianis Hagi - 8/10
Normally relied on as an offensive weapon, it was his defensive work and ability to get stuck in that shone most this evening. A real battler for Ferguson tonight.. | PA Photo: PA
10. Vaclav Cerny - 6/10
Went close with an early chance and helped Rangers get up the pitch after they went down to 10. Faded a little as the game wore on, with the home side forced back due to man disadvantage. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
11. Cyriel Dessers - 6/10
Ran his socks off for a depleted Rangers, but offered little offensively after the red card. Would have taken the roof off Ibrox if he scored from the edge of the area with the one chance that fell to him. Gave the ball away in a dangerous era to Inaki Williams though, which almost cost Rangers. Not a night for strikers at Ibrox. | PA Photo: PA
12. Substitutions
Connor Barron (for Rice, 63) - 6 Jefte (for Ridvan, 63) - 6 Hamza Igamane (for Dessers, 85) - 6 Ross McCausland (for Cerny, 90+5) - 6 Nedim Bajrami (for Hagi, 90+5) - 6 | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group