For Philippe Clement, this was a perfect example of a plan coming together. Composure in the build-up, aggression in attack and a few interactions from the sideline that made a difference. Sticking to the script, against an opponent not reading from one, won the day.

Malmo might have been the favourites heading into last night’s Europa League opener but they were well beaten. Rangers, who took the lead inside a minute, dominated the chances and dictated most of this game. Much of the focus in the lead-up to last night had been on the Swedish champion's unique style and status as a Relationist team; one who plays with freedom, interpretation and exists outside of the rigid instruction-based play that dominates so much of top-level football.

And yet, here it was the pre-drawn plans of Clement and his staff that tipped the balance. On a night where Rangers recorded their third win and clean sheet in a row, it was also further proof of two facts surrounding the Belgian’s style of play - Rangers are improving in possession and a far better side when they go for the jugular.

“We knew how Malmo wanted to press us, so we had a few options for how to come out of that,” he told in his post-match press conference when asked what was key to the victory.

“We trained that. Then you need players also of course to do it in the right way with the right technical qualities and to be brave on the ball. That's a good thing.

“Today you saw all the game 11 players who were brave on the ball and who wanted the ball. So we continue that way. And then there are good times ahead of us.”

The data shows that Rangers got their approach just right. Even when under pressure around their own goal, an attack was never far away. Unlike in some recent fixtures, Cyriel Dessers was not an isolated figure unable to take his side forward. The xG ended 2.67 to 0.38 in the away side’s favour. According to StatsBomb, Rydstrom’s side had just a one percent chance of winning based on chances created.

The xG trendline from Rangers' win in Malmo (Image: StatsBomb) Consultation of the pass network provides a little more context to the plan Clement references. Rangers looked to provoke Malmo pressure and break in behind a high and flat backline. With wide full-backs in the build-up who moved narrowly in the final third. All of their best chances derived from manipulating the hosts’ press and playing into the gaps that arose as a consequence, normally through the side's most dangerous player, Nedim Bajrami.

Rangers' pass network in Sweden (Image: StatsBomb) Heading into the dressing room at the break Clement could only have complained at his side’s profligacy in front of goal, with Malmo amassing just 0.05xG. The hosts were unable to box in their opponents and looked at their most threatening from dead-ball situations.

Bajrami’s goal inside the opening minute stung and surprised the home crowd. Both sets of fans were in early generating a healthy noise for a venue that holds under half of Ibrox. Clement, to his credit, has rarely sat off a European opponent away from home, even when lacking resources and playing superior opponents. Just as they had done away at Real Betis and Benfica, Rangers took the lead in Southern Sweden. Pushing up from a throw-in and benefiting from a loose backpass, Dessers latched onto a golden opportunity that saw him round the keeper and strike the post. From here, the alert Bajrami was on hand to atone and score his first since moving from Sassuolo.

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Although the visitors didn’t enjoy all the ball they controlled large chunks of this match even when they didn’t have possession. “My players did a massive job sticking to the plan, all game, all 90 minutes long. The guys who started, the guys who came on. And we used the spaces also in a really good way with the ball. So it was a very mature performance that I saw from my team,” mused Clement.

Rangers' shot map vs Malmo (Image: StatsBomb)

Criticism surrounding Rangers’ style of play has increased in recent months. Towards the end of last season in particular Clement’s side were guilty of building directly and predictably, shelling passes behind defences who knew what was coming. They lacked the poise to invite pressure when passing the ball around the back, thus leaving no space to play into.

Robin Propper and John Souttar, achieving their third clean sheet in a row, are going some way to resolving that issue. Both are comfortable breaking pressure in some way, while Neraysho Kasanwirjo was similarly non-plussed at the prospect of losing the ball on his full debut. Connor Barron, once again, took responsibility at the base of midfield as he zipped from left to right. Mohamed Diomande ran and ran, offering touches of finesse here and there. Rotations down either flank, with full-backs drifting infield and runners rotating in behind, found a way forward. Rangers have undoubtedly developed as a side in possession during recent months and the final ball of Bajrami is already making a big difference.

“You cannot have one player or two players who don't do the job because then they are lethal,” was how Clement described his team’s performance. There is no doubt that an early goal shoved the game state in the visitors’ favour. Even still, much of their play was slick and rehearsed - runs to pull the Malmo defence short before a piercing vertical dart in behind. Had they possessed a little more pace or incision in transition the three points would’ve been achieved sooner. Jack Butland did not make one save when the final whistle blew.

It was only at the start of the second half that Rydstrom’s side began to overload the left flank and play around Rangers’ man-to-man press. They created their best opening, a 0.16xG effort for Andreas Christensen, on 55 minutes after one such example. Clement reacted by moving to a flat midfield three, thus sacrificing a little control at the top of midfield. At the same time, he turned to the bench and introduced Ross McCausland who would seal the points.

The method of ball progression for the second was more attritional - a long looping ball from Tavernier, a contested header by Dessers and a second ball retrieved by the busy winger. It was only a few weeks ago that the post denied him a memorable strike on his left foot in Europe away at Dynamo Kyiv. Clement took particular delight in the 21-year-old’s goal as it sored in with a kiss off the post, pointing to his right thigh which served as a ledge between the ball bouncing in front of McCausland and leaving his foot.

There is no harm in these types of passes to turn a defence, but only if the prospect of a ball exploiting the space in front also exists. Towards the end of last season, Rangers relied too heavily on the former and were found out. Now, there are signs of development. What's more, their best three chances aside from the opening goal (Vaclav Cerny’s one-v-one, Dessers’ similar chance and Kasanwirjo’s late effort in transition) were all created by a pass from their new Albanian playmaker.

Bajrami's key passes against Malmo (Image: StatsBomb)

“If you see how many new players were on the pitch today who were not here one month ago or two months ago, the team has already made a massive step forward to play that kind of football in this environment against that kind of opponent,” Clement concluded before his team flew back home. On Sunday they play the first of three home games at Ibrox before the international break which offer, in his opinion, the opportunity to “confirm” the good work done in Sweden.

As Clement commented earlier in his press conference the match was an example of 11 Rangers players “wanting the ball”. If able to continue in a similar vein, the plan he’s forming might just start to come together.