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11 months ago
7
Rangers had to weather spells of Sparta Prague pressureRangers emerged with a precious Europa League point from Prague after a testing night against Sparta.
In Philippe Clement's first European game in charge, a tinkered Ibrox line-up toiled for a foothold in the Letna Stadion in the first half, with Jack Butland repeatedly keeping them level before the break.
Rangers' brittle attack eventually conjured a cluster of late chances, but Sam Lammers and Danilo found Peter Vindahl in defiant form in the Sparta goal.
Real Betis defeated Aris Limassol 1-0 in Group C's other game, to leave Rangers third on four points, level with Sparta.
Around 1200 Rangers fans were predicted to be at this one, but they weren't rewarded with much to cheer about from their team in a fraught first half.
The opening period saw Rangers return an xG of just 0.02 as Jack Butland had to be called upon at the other end. A double save thwarting Veljko Birmancevic and Qazim Laci was the pick of the bunch.
The latter also whistled a whizzing volley just past from the edge of the area, while John Lundstram's last-ditch intervention prevented Martin Vitik tapping in a certain goal.
Rangers' first-half heatmapThe second half started in a similar fashion, with Abdallah Sima in an unfamiliar left wing-back position one of the few clicking for Rangers.
Indeed, it took until the 58th minute for Lundstram's tame pot shot at Vindahl to stand as his side's first shot on target.
However, Rangers slowly began to come out more and could well have taken more from their jaunt to Prague.
Lammers' curling shot was well saved by the Sparta keeper, and he had to be at his very best to acrobatically tip Danilo's rasping shot on to the bar.
Player of the match - Abdallah Sima
Stuck in an unfamiliar role, Sima had more duels - and won more - than any other Rangers player. Applied himself well in what was a tough night for his team for long spellsWhat's next?
Hearts visit Ibrox on Sunday (15:00 GMT), while Rangers' next European outing comes on Thursday, 9 November (20:00 GMT) as Sparta come to Glasgow.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Sparta Prague
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Vindahl
- 41Vitík
- 27PanákBooked at 70mins
- 25Sørensen
- 2PreciadoSubstituted forWiesnerat 27'minutes
- 20LaçiSubstituted forSadílekat 65'minutes
- 6Kairinen
- 32Rynes
- 10KarabecSubstituted forOlatunjiat 65'minutes
- 9Kuchta
- 14BirmancevicSubstituted forPesekat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Gomez
- 7Olatunji
- 8Pavelka
- 18Sadílek
- 19Mejdr
- 21Pesek
- 24Vorel
- 26Vydra
- 28Wiesner
- 29Sevcík
- 39Sejk
- 44Surovcík
Rangers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Butland
- 2Tavernier
- 5SouttarBooked at 26mins
- 6GoldsonBooked at 63mins
- 26Davies
- 4Lundstram
- 43Raskin
- 13CantwellBooked at 17minsSubstituted forWrightat 64'minutes
- 14Lammers
- 19SimaBooked at 82mins
- 9DessersSubstituted forPereira da Silvaat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Jack
- 23Wright
- 28McCrorie
- 32Wright
- 38King
- 44Devine
- 47McCausland
- 48Lyall
- 49Fraser
- 93McKinnon
- 99Pereira da Silva
Live Text
Match ends, Sparta Prague 0, Rangers 0.
Second Half ends, Sparta Prague 0, Rangers 0.
John Souttar (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Victor Olatunji (Sparta Prague).
Attempt missed. Nicolas Raskin (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by John Souttar.
Attempt saved. James Tavernier (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
John Lundstram (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Victor Olatunji (Sparta Prague).
Attempt blocked. Danilo (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nicolas Raskin.
Foul by John Lundstram (Rangers).
Victor Olatunji (Sparta Prague) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Peter Vindahl.
Attempt saved. Danilo (Rangers) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Scott Wright with a through ball.
Abdallah Sima (Rangers) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Abdallah Sima (Rangers).
Tomás Wiesner (Sparta Prague) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Scott Wright (Rangers).
Martin Vitík (Sparta Prague) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Abdallah Sima (Rangers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nicolas Raskin.
Attempt blocked. Abdallah Sima (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Sparta Prague
Squad number1Player nameVindahl
Squad number41Player nameVitík
Squad number27Player namePanák
Squad number25Player nameSørensen
Squad number2Player namePreciado
Squad number20Player nameLaçi
Squad number6Player nameKairinen
Squad number32Player nameRynes
Squad number10Player nameKarabec
Squad number9Player nameKuchta
Squad number14Player nameBirmancevic
Squad number7Player nameOlatunji
Squad number18Player nameSadílek
Squad number21Player namePesek
Squad number28Player nameWiesner
Rangers
Squad number1Player nameButland
Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Squad number5Player nameSouttar
Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Squad number26Player nameDavies
Squad number4Player nameLundstram
Squad number43Player nameRaskin
Squad number13Player nameCantwell
Squad number14Player nameLammers
Squad number19Player nameSima
Squad number9Player nameDessers
Squad number23Player nameWright
Squad number99Player nameDanilo
