Rangers brave in Dortmund

THIS was an incredible evening for Rangers. A mammoth task in Germany easily brushed aside with Giovanni van Bronckhorst nailing his tactics.

It'd have been easy to go out and sit-in hoping to snatch a result, even a narrow defeat, and keep the tie alive ahead of the return to Ibrox.

But Rangers did anything but - they were brave and relentless as they pressed high up the park and forced Dortmund into numerous mistakes in their own half.

It was always going to be risk-reward with Dortmund boasting world-class talent capable of beating the press and running away with a result.

But Rangers weathered any threats from the hosts and were excellent in taking their own chances.

For all the criticism Van Bronckhorst took for the loss to Celtic, surely he should be showered with praise for setting his side out to comfortably dispatch of a side widely touted as possible favourites for the Europa League title.

Rangers players step-up to huge challenge

WHEN the team-sheets were revealed there were just as many questions as answers for Rangers fans as a host of key players missed out.

Leon Balogun, Fashion Sakala and Kemar Roofe were nowhere to be seen, and Aaron Ramsey and Glen Kamara were forced to settle for spots on the bench.

But the players in the starting XI were exceptional. Ryan Jack controlled the midfield, John Lundstram continued to rubbish any questions over his quality and Alfredo Morelos was electric.

The Rangers side made Dortmund look ordinary and perhaps even overshadowed just how impressive a result this was as the Ibrox men carried it out with such ease.

All in Rangers hands for return leg

A TWO goal lead to take back to Glasgow mightn't have been expected by many around Europe.

In fact, it may be the case that a two goal deficit would be a decent result for the men in blue over in Germany.

But their top-drawer showing leaves the Europa League tie in their hands with a two-goal lead to protect at Ibrox next week.

Of course, the tie is not over with Dortmund more than capable of a much-improved performance and Erling Haaland potentially ready for a return in the second leg.

However, Rangers will be full of confidence heading into the return leg after being so dominant against the Bundesliga giants on their own patch.