Rangers delivered an impressive 3-0 victory over Viktoria Plzen in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie. Djeidi Gassama scored a brace, with Cyriel Dessers adding another, leaving Rangers with a strong advantage heading into the second leg in Czechia.
Russell Martin’s squad showed resilience after a 1-1 draw with Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, responding with a dominant performance that delighted the manager.
“I’m really happy with a lot of it,” Martin said. “I’m a bit annoyed at the last 15 minutes. I thought we got a little bit sloppy and had the ball too much in our own half. But it’s my job to be demanding of the guys.”
Rangers’ Dominant Performance and Gassama’s Perfect Night
Gassama opened the scoring after combining with Dessers and calmly finishing past Plzen goalkeeper Florian Wiegele. He then scored his second of the night, converting a penalty following a foul on Oliver Antman. Gassama completed his performance with a header from Antman’s cross in the second half.
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland had little to do, with Plzen’s best chance coming late in the match when Amar Memic’s shot was easily saved. Martin praised the team’s energy and quality, especially after a tough Saturday.
“From Saturday to today, they took everything on. Amazing energy at the start of the game and real moments of quality,” he added.
Manager Martin Talks Squad Changes and Rotation
Russell Martin also discussed changes to his lineup, notably the decision to bench long-serving captain James Tavernier. Martin explained that the squad needed freshness and assured that rotation was essential for upcoming games.
“We needed freshness. It’s not easy to drop anyone, especially players that have been really important to this team,” Martin said. “But we have to do as the head coach what we think is the best thing for the team to win.”
Rangers will face Dundee in their next home league match before traveling to Plzen for the second leg with a 3-0 lead. If they progress, they will meet either Red Bull Salzburg or Club Brugge in the play-off round.
Rangers have not advanced past the qualifying rounds since the 2022/23 season when they were eliminated in the group stage.
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