Rangers well and truly nullified the counter attack threat of RB Leipzig last night with Giovanni van Bronckhorst getting it right.
It was almost a great result on the road for the Gers but Angelino’s late strike gave the hosts a slender lead to take to Ibrox.
From the outset, Gio’s 5-3-2 formation clearly stifled RBL with the visible downside being that Rangers struggled for an out ball and up front with Ryan Kent and Scott Wright, the ball wasn’t sticking. After the break, it was a tweak to 5-4-1 with Joe Aribo as the focal point and Kent wide – all of a sudden things were looking much different.
That was evidenced by the chance early in the second half when Kent found space wide left, only for the effort to fly across the goalmouth and out of play.
Chances also came the way of Leipzig with Christopher Nkunku guilty of two sitters missed. He really should have scored both but thankfully that wasnt the case.
Just before the goal, Gio decided to bring off Aribo with Sakala playing the striker role. At the same time, James Sands replaced Ryan Jack. It is arguable that this decision had an impact, with some suggesting Steven Davis should have been utilised and Aribo kept in place.
It seems a moot point. Chances came and went for RBL, Allan McGregor was called into action with a couple of saves.
In the end it was so close for Rangers, but the tie is still far from over at just 1-0 going to Ibrox next week. The famous old stadium will be rocking next week with a far different setting for the game, which will also be more open than last night. Some risk will need to be taken but the Gers clearly have a a decent chance of making the final, in what will be a tough task.
‘Fight for your right to party’ was the tune playing over the PA at full-time last night – that is exactly how things stands with the spot in Seville on the line.