Rangers win at Malmo to make perfect start to Europa League campaign

Rangers showed excellent resilience as they ground out an important 2-0 win at Malmo to get their Europa League campaign off to the perfect start.

The 2022 runner-ups arrived at the Eleda Stadion knowing that this encounter was one that they really ought to win considering their later games against the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Lyon, and they delivered a classic away performance in Europe, with Nedim Bajrami notching the opener after 56 seconds.

Philippe Clement’s side were the dominant force in the first half, carving out plentiful opportunities, but their profligacy in front of goal let them down and made the tie closer than it needed to be.

The Swedes, led by Henrik Rydstrom, came out revitalised in the second half and forced the visitors to weather a storm that was roared on by a partisan home crowd.

Ross McCausland rose off the bench to double the advantage with 14 minutes to play, with his low drive kissing the post on its way into Johan Dahlin’s net.

Malmo kept the pressure on, but the Scots snuck out of Sweden with a crucial three points that starts this year’s European journey very much on the right path.

Rangers are next in Europa League action against Lyon on Thursday, October 3.

TALKING POINT – IMPRESSIVE VICTORY, BUT DISJOINTED IN ATTACK

Rangers have undergone a serious squad overhaul this term, with 16 players leaving and 11 coming in, so we can cut them some slack for some loose patterns of play at times.

However, they looked quite disjointed in patches in the final third, with Cyriel Dessers and Tom Lawrence not quite on the same wavelength.

They were also wasteful in front of goal, with Dessers, Lawrence, Vaclav Cerny, and Neraysho Kasanwirjo all having gilt-edged chances to add to the scoreline.

Against better opposition, they could be punished.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – JOHN SOUTTAR, RANGERS

Souttar was a giant at the back for the visitors, winning everything in the air against a tricky target man in Isaac Thelin, marshalling the Swedish forward out of the game.

Souttar was composed in possession, a threat from set plays, and led his side to a mightily impressive victory on the road in Europe.

PLAYER RATINGS

Malmo: Dahlin 6, Larsen 6, Rosler 5, Jansson 6, Busanello 5, Pena 6, Johnsen 6, Berg 7, Christiansen 5, Bolin 6, Thelin 6. Subs: Botheim 6, Ali 6, Rosengren 6, Loukili 6, Jorgensen 6.

Rangers: Butland 6, Tavernier 7, Souttar 8, Propper 7, Kasanwirjo 7, Diomande 6, Barron 6, Cerny 6, Lawrence 6, Bajrami 7, Dessers 6. Subs: McCausland 7, Raskin 6, Sterling.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

1’: GOAL! MALMO 0-1 RANGERS (BAJRAMI) What a start that is! Rangers are ahead inside a minute, and it’s Bajrami who’s got it on his debut! Dessers spins in behind and rounds Dahlin, he goes for goal and strikes the post, but it lands perfectly for Bajrami to stroke home!

19’: NO GOAL! Pena floats it to the far post, where Thelin has the freedom of the entire penalty area to control a side-footed strike into the far corner, but the flag is up, and the Gers get away with the scoreline unscathed!

41’: WHAT A MISS! Vaclav Cerny has all the time in the world as he bears down on goal after a brilliant countering move from the visitors that begins with a lovely touch from Dessers into Bajrami, who lays a lovely ball in towards Cerny. The Czech has time to pick his spot, but he puts it wide of the far corner!

56’: GREAT CHANCE! Berg drives into green space after Lawrence gives the ball away, and he feeds Busanello, and Christiansen gets a foot to it, but it’s over the top!

76’: GOAL! MALMO 0-2 RANGERS (MCCAUSLAND) It’s two, and it’s Ross McCausland off the bench! It’s bedlam amongst the away support, and it’s an exquisite finish. Malmo are shell-shocked, as Tavernier’s long ball looking for Dessers is picked up expertly by the wide man, who benefits slightly from Busanello’s slip. He takes it on his chest and strikes low, and it rolls in off the post for 2-0!

KEY STAT