RANGERS were combative and clinical in Germany last night as they secured one of the club’s best-ever European results against Borussia Dortmund.
The 4-2 full-time result is slightly fortuitous according to the underlying numbers, but an element of luck was always going to be required to secure such a result.
As the trendline shows, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side were well on top right up until their fourth goal of the game, thereafter they understandably looked to protect the lead they’d built as the hosts threw everything forward in a bid to reclaim a foothold.
It wasn’t until Alfredo Morelos’ second of the evening that Dortmund built sustained pressure on the visiting goal.
Simply put, Rangers were clinical. Their first two goals boasted a combined xG of 1.66, the final two 0.06.
The home side scored two goals that underlined their quality. Jude Bellingham’s strike from the edge of the box had an xG of 0.10 and Raphaël Guerreiro's stunner just 0.04. Allan McGregor could have done little about either strike.
Both teams missed decent opportunities. Dan-Axel Zagadou should have done better with his free header from a corner.
While Borna Barisic could have tried to cut back his early effort when one-v-one.
Rangers beat Dortmund at their own game by dominating transitions and playing through the press, nothing demonstrates that better than the pass maps from the encounter.
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Comparison of the starting 11 pass networks shows Dortmund lacked natural width and were perhaps overly dependent on transitions to create opportunities. Rangers meanwhile made the pitch big in possession, getting plenty of joy from their forages down the left.
Ryan Kent enjoyed a fine evening and his mazy run for Rangers’ third goal underlined their game plan. James Tavernier attracted pressure on the right and played through the press before Kent beat three men on the left to assist John Lundstram.
Having averaged 161 pressures per game in the Europa League so far, some may be surprised to learn Rangers only made 147 last night.
However, it was their aggression, discipline and work high up the park that made their off-ball work easier throughout the night. Instead of chasing shadows in Germany, Rangers coaxed Dortmund into pressing traps, took risks and won possession in favourable areas.
Dortmund made three fewer pressures but 15 more counterpressures than the visitors. When possession turned over, they tried to regain the ball and as a result, had too many players ahead of the ball in the lead up to three of the four goals conceded.
Van Bronckhorst praised his side for “recognising the moments” when to press high and sit in their block and the stats back up that claim.
His side went toe-to-toe with one of Europe's premier clubs and came out on top. On and off the ball the away side were at their very best.
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