Rangers

Match report as Rangers lose the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie against Braga; Abel Ruiz scored the only goal of the game; the hosts had ...

We have to do the same now again." "We know what the task is. We created some chances but you all saw the quality they have. "The performance at times today was good. "We're only halfway so next week we have a big game," he said. Ryan Kent went through one on one with the goalkeeper after a lovely chip from Scott Arfield, but a poor touch let him down.

Abel Ruiz gave Braga the advantage, scoring during a period of first-half dominance from which Carlos Carvalhal's side may yet regret not making more of in the ...

Goldson missed their best chance for a leveller, heading wide from a Tavernier corner, as they finished strongly. It was another occasion when it was glaringly apparent just how much Rangers will miss injured striker Alfredo Morelos for the rest of the season. Braga were quickly back on the front foot and duly grabbed their merited lead.

Abel Ruiz's first-half strike gave Braga a 1-0 home victory over Rangers in the sides' Europa League quarter-final first leg at Estádio Municipal de Braga.

In the 71st minute, though, Connor Goldson should have levelled when the Braga defence froze at a corner. Arfield saw one volley blocked; Braga were hardly overcommitting and a sense grew of the scoreline being mutually acceptable. Matheus earned applause with a dink to get past Arfield 10 minutes after the interval. Glen Kamara, one of three reintroductions to the starting XI after their Old Firm defeat, was hauled over by one centre-back, Fabiano, and then chopped down by another in David Carmo. In February 2020 they beat Braga twice in the round of 32, winning the away fixture with a goal from Ryan Kent. Within five minutes of kick-off he had come close to repeating the trick: a beautiful ball from Scott Arfield created the chance, sending Kent free, but a heavy touch allowed the goalkeeper Matheus to shovel away. The regret will be that they conceded to Braga’s Abel Ruiz in the 40th minute during the only spell when they were truly under the cosh.

Rangers require an Ibrox comeback to keep Europa League hopes alive following a 1-0 defeat by Braga in their quarter-final clash in Portugal.

In the 26th minute Andre Horta’s deflected shot from 16 yards found the net to the delight of the home fans but Italian referee Davide Massa looked at VAR and chalked it off for a Fabiano foul on Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack in the build-up. It looked like a challenge between two evenly-matched teams but Rangers’ 40-year-old goalkeeper Allan McGregor, making his 100th appearance in Europe for the Govan club, saw little early action until the 25th minute when Ricardo Horta’s shot from 16 yards beat him only to rebound off the post with the Gers escaping and more good luck was just around the corner. The Light Blues enjoyed some good fortune in the first half when the home side hit the post and had the ball in the net only for a VAR check to rule the goal out but eventually Spanish striker Abel Ruiz opened the scoring in the 40th minute and it proved to be the difference.

Rangers need to come from behind in Glasgow to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League after falling to a disappointing defeat in Braga.

Calvin Bassey (Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. What is sure, though, they need to be better than they were here. Their interplay was excellent, and Rangers struggled to cope with the high press, particularly in the second half. Kemar Roofe, Joe Aribo and Borna Barisic were introduced in a bold roll of the dice by Van Bronckhorst as Rangers pushed. Kent burst forward on the break but was eventually snuffed out, while Sakala lashed an uncontrolled shot well over the bar when a clear and rare sight of goal had creaked open. The party had just about stopped when referee Davide Massa trotted to the VAR monitor to rule Ryan Jack had been fouled in the build-up. Every time Braga crossed halfway a ripple of applause followed them in anticipation. But the hosts would soon find their groove. Ryan Kent and Fashion Sakala had half chances in quick succession, with the former slaloming by a clutch of defenders five minutes later. There was a sense of pageantry at the start. Just two years ago, Rangers triumphed in the hills en route to the last 16. In the last twenty minutes we had more control.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side were beaten 1-0 in their quarter-final first leg clash.

McGregor only had one save to make in the second half but did the necessary, pushing Andre Horta’s drive behind for a corner. It was a howler from Leon Balogun as he swiped at fresh air, allowing Iuri Medeiros’ cross to reach Ruiz, who punished error with a clinical finish beyond McGregor at the near post. A half-time rejig saw van Bronckhorst shunt John Lundstram back into a three-man defence when Braga were in possession. And the similarities didn’t extend to the manner of their defensive display. Braga had to hold their own breath on a couple of times as Jack sent Kent and then Sakala racing in behind but neither could take advantage. But it quickly became evident they were struggling to shake off their Old Firm anguish.

The on-loan Juventus midfielder was left on the bench as Gio van Bronckhorst decided to use alternatives.

You can enter once each week to be in with a chance of winning. He added: "They lacked that spark in the final third. They will be right up for it and see them going through." For your chance to win HOME tickets to cinch SPFL matches each week across ALL FOUR divisions just enter our competition below. I felt that was a big deal. This isn't a great team.

The Ibrox side huffed and puffed for long spells as Abel Ruiz's first half strike separates the sides at the halfway stage.

I felt as if when Giovanni van Bronckhorst made the substitutions just after the hour there was a difference to Rangers play. “Tonight wasn’t their best performance but the tie is still alive. “They were able to get James Tavernier further up the pitch and he is crucial to what Rangers want to do, how they want to play and create opportunities.

Rangers are narrowly beaten by Portuguese side Sporting Braga in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

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It was an arduous night in Braga for Rangers as Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side lost 1-0 to their Portuguese hosts in the first leg of their Europa League ...

Didn’t get as much service as he would have liked but was also defensively diligent in tracking back to match the runs of Braga right-back Couto. 6 His hold-up and link-up play was nowhere near good enough and he lacked the positional awareness to make his pace count against a sluggish Braga defence. Scott Arfield – Presumably picked ahead of Aaron Ramsey for his greater energy and willingness to cover the ground, Arfield started brightly but was never really able to impose himself in the final third of the pitch. He gave the ball away cheaply far too often, not a charge which can usually be levelled against him, and struggled to influence the game in Braga’s half of the pitch. John Lundstram – While he was occasionally guilty of choosing the wrong pass in the attacking third of the pitch, Lundstram was by some distance Rangers’ most effective midfield performer. Calvin Bassey – The left-back had to curb his attacking instincts in order to try and contain the threat posed by Braga’s impressive on-loan Manchester City right-back Yan Couto. But Bassey continues to grow in stature as a Rangers player and the 22-year-old improved steadily after a shaky start.

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst hopes Rangers can use Ibrox to take them into the Europa League semi-final following their 1-0 defeat by Braga in Portugal.

'We have a slight advantage in the first half of these two legs. We have to do the same now again.' We always want a good result to take back to the second game. So we could have scored more. 'We know what the task is. 'We're only halfway so next week we have a big game.