Rangers 2 Copenhagen 2: Instant reaction to the burning issues

Copenhagen have a last 16 double header against defending European champions Manchester City to look forward to next month after finishing above Galatasaray and Manchester United in their group and qualifying for the knockout rounds.

But the Danish champions were unable to get the better of Scottish rivals in Govan tonight.

They cancelled out a first-half Rabbi Matondo goal after half-time when Kevin Diks nodded in a Christian Sorenson corner.

Cyriel Dessers put the hosts back in front shortly afterwards only for his fellow replacement Johnly Yfeko to put the ball into his own net at a Oscar Hjoland corner in the closing stages.

Philippe Clement, who made no fewer than 11 substitutions, will have been heartened by both the display and result ahead of the Scottish Cup tie against Dumbarton away on Saturday.

Here are five talking points from the match.

SILVA SERVICE

Clement singled out his first signing Fabio Silva for special mention in his matchday programme notes – he predicted that the Wolves loanee will have benefitted greatly from attending a training camp with his new team mates last week.

That certainly appeared to be the case when proceedings got underway. The £35m forward had a quiet afternoon against Hertha Berlin at the weekend. But he was bright from kick-off tonight.

The Portuguese Under-21 player chested down a Ross McCausland cross in the Copenhagen area and volleyed just over the crossbar early on. He enjoyed some good moments further back the park thereafter.

The 21-year-old teed up Todd Cantwell for a shot at goal when he laid off a Ridvan Yilmaz pass to the playmaker on the edge of the penalty box. He sent McCausland clear down the right flank with an inch-perfect diagonal only for the winger to be flagged offside. He also did well to dispossess Rasmus Falk in the centre circle before coming off at half-time.

Silva has featured only sporadically in the Premier League in the 2023/24 campaign. He needs game time to get his match fitness and sharpness up to the required level. But this showing augurs well for him going forward.

RABBI REDEMPTION  

Matondo is set to play far more for Rangers in the coming weeks than he has in the first half of the season with Abdallah Sima away at the African Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast with Senegal.

The winger squandered a gilt-edged chance at 0-0 after being supplied by Ridvan Yilmaz. But he atoned for his error shortly afterwards after the left back had slid in an intercepted a pass to Andreas Cornelius.  

The Welshman did superbly to weave his way through the Copenhagen rearguard and slot beyond Kamil Grabara into the bottom right corner. He will need to continue in that vein while second top scorer Sima is absent. 

LAWRENCE RETURN

Tom Lawrence made his comeback this evening when he took to the field in the second half and the attacking midfielder showed he has much to contribute in the weeks and months ahead if he can stay fit.

He nutmegged Sorenson shortly after taking to the field to the delight of the 23,779-strong crowd.

The experienced footballer will be a potent weapon for his manager if he can avoid the issues which have bedevilled his time in this country. 

LARSSON JNR

Seeing the name Larsson on the opposition team sheet was guaranteed to strike dread into the hearts of Rangers when Henrik of that ilk was a player at Celtic.

The Swedish striker scored no fewer than 15 goals in 30 appearances in the Old Firm fixture during the seven years he was on the books at Parkhead.

The ex-Feyenoord, Barcelona and Manchester United player’s son Jordan has proved himself to be something of a chip off the old block since following his old man into the professional game.

He has plied his trade in his homeland, the Netherlands, Russia and Germany and has flourished domestically and in continental competition since moving to Denmark.

He helped the Parken Stadium outfit to complete a league and cup double after joining them on loan last year and has been involved regularly in their European run this term.

So is the seven-times capped internationalist as good a footballer as his faither?

The 26-year-old forward started on the left of a front three and worked tirelessly to find an opening could exploit.

He got on the end of an Elias Jelert delivery into the opposition penalty box and forced a save from Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland with a powerful downward header.

He also drifted inside and got involved in Copenhagen’s build up play on occasion. He teed up Victor Claesson for a shot with a clever chip shaved the outside of the right post with a long-range attempt.

Larsson Jnr showed why he is performing at such a high level before being replaced. There were, though, no goals for him. He still has some way to go to emulate the feats of his famous family member.  

MORE INJURY WOES

Clement has not had his problems to seek on the injury front since succeeding Michael Beale as Rangers manager back in October.

The return of Nicolas Raskin from a long-term lay-off in the final game before the winter break pleased him no end and his Belgian compatriot started in the middle of the park alongside John Lundstram this evening.

But he confirmed that Kieran Dowell, who had impressed during the festive fixtures, had been ruled out for an extended period during the Ibrox club’s time away at La Manga in Spain last week.

"Kieran was really unlucky that he stuck in the grass on a bad pitch,” he told Rangers TV before kick-off. “He will be out quite a long time normally.

"We need to make an assessment around that and how many weeks, but he will not be back in the next couple of weeks that's for sure.”

Dujon Sterling, who Clement described as “the best midfielder on the park” after the Celtic game last month, was also conspicuous by his absence this evening.

The Englishman, however, is expected to return imminently.  "With Dujon, he got a knock and will not feature today,” he said. “But I expect him back at the end of the week."