10-man Rangers retain their Europa League hopes alive with a goalless design against Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-last tie at Ibrox.
Rangers kept their Europa League hopes alive with a goalless design against Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their quarter-last clash, regardless of playing the majority of the sport with 10 males.
The primary talking point of the match got here in the opening quarter-hour, as Robin Propper was despatched off for a obnoxious on Inaki Williams, having been deemed to insist the ahead a goalscoring opportunity by VAR.
The hosts bravely fought on, regardless of being a man down, and they had been understandably under stress from the company for most of the match, but the La Liga club struggled to interrupt down the Rangers defence.
Athletic Bilbao thought they had the lead unhurried on, when Alex Berenguer looked as if it would offer them an advantage, but the aim was chalked off for an offside.
Nevertheless, Dujon Sterling was punished for a handball sooner than the offside, so after another VAR take a look at, the company had been awarded a penalty, but Berenguer was denied from the space after a wise assign from Liam Kelly.
SPORTS MOLE’S VERDICT
© Iconsport
As goalless attracts creep, that was now not sinful at all!
The Gers coped correctly after Propper’s dismissal, and Kelly pulled off two unparalleled saves sooner than the interval, as he tipped Maroan Sannadi‘s effort over the bar, sooner than then stopping Oihan Sancet‘s header from the resulting corner.
The company would had been lucky to occupy taken a lead with them assist to Spain, but it appeared as if it was heading that manner, but Berenguer’s aim was dominated out for offside, and then he was denied from the penalty space by Kelly.
Rangers defended fantastically under rude stress from the company, and Bilbao shall be very upset now not to occupy taken a come by assist to the Basque Nation next week, provided that they had a man advantage for most of the match.
The hosts would occupy totally signed up for a 0-0 when Propper was brushed aside early on, and they are in with a combating chance of making it by to the semi-finals with this consequence.
RANGERS VS. ATHLETIC BILBAO HIGHLIGHTS
Thirteenth min: Robin Propper (Rangers) red card
— Soccer on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 10, 2025
Oh dear – Rangers are going to occupy to play the majority of this sport with 10 males!
Propper brings down Williams ravishing outdoors the penalty dwelling, and he in the starting set up is given a yellow card by the referee, but after a lengthy VAR take a look at it has been upgraded to a red!
82nd min: Liam Kelly (Rangers) penalty assign
PENALTY SAVED BY KELLY 🧤
After a lengthy VAR take a look at, the set up Bilbao thought they’d scored, most efficient to be dominated out for offside, but given a penalty as an different for handball – Berenguer has his penalty brilliantly kept out by Kelly!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/hpSjtS9l97
— Soccer on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 10, 2025
An fantastic couple of minutes of drama here! Bilbao thought they had been ahead by Berenguer, but the aim is dominated out for offside.
Honest as Rangers followers are celebrating, after a VAR take a look at, the La Liga club occupy a penalty as a consequence of a handball by Sterling sooner than the aim.
Berenguer aloof wanted his aim, and he stepped up for the resulting penalty, but Kelly is the hero as he saves to withhold the scores level!
MAN OF THE MATCH – LIAM KELLY
© Iconsport
Chosen ahead of Jack Butland in aim, Kelly repaid Barry Ferguson‘s faith in him with a dapper sheet and a penalty assign to withhold the scores level against the odds.
He made a number of apt saves for the length of the evening and was a standout performer for the hosts tonight.
RANGERS VS. ATHLETIC BILBAO MATCH STATS
Possession: Rangers 29%-71% Athletic Bilbao
Photography: Rangers 4-19 Athletic Bilbao
Photography on the correct be aware: Rangers 0-3 Athletic Bilbao
Corners: Rangers 2-9 Athletic Bilbao
Fouls: Rangers 6-12 Athletic Bilbao
BEST STATS
2 – @Athletic_en occupy lost both of its visits to Scotland 🏴 in primary European competitions, losing 1-0 to Dunfermline Athletic in 1965-66 and 4-1 to Rangers in 1969, both in the Gala’s Cup. Wallace#rangersathletic 🦁#EuropaLeague pic.twitter.com/CxeivguppN
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 10, 2025
The Rangers crew to face Athletic Bilbao this evening 📋
Liam Kelly replaces Jack Butland in aim 🧤
18-twelve months-aged Bailey Rice makes ravishing his 2d ever open for the club 👶#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/Bs8D5cd40G— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) April 10, 2025
Was it the ravishing resolution to ship Robin Propper off? 🟥🤔#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/xYkN6aQoYr
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) April 10, 2025
4 – @Athletic_en 🩶❤ are, together with Braga and U. Saint-Gilloise, the crew occupy led to the most red cards to their opponents this season in any European competition (4, no Spanish crew occupy led to larger than the Lions in a single season this century). Verticality#UEL 🦁 pic.twitter.com/hjfL7AdOjm
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 10, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Rangers are in motion again at the weekend, as they creep back and forth to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.
In the interim, Athletic Bilbao are at dwelling to Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, sooner than they meet Rangers again next Thursday to resolve this tie.
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