Rangers are through to the last 32 of the UEFA Cup after a brilliant 2-2 draw away to Auxerre.
The result means BOTH Rangers and Celtic will play European football after christmas for the first time since 1972. 34 years have passed since both Glasgow clubs played in Europe after christmas in the same season.
Thursday night’s game was very entertaining and there was plenty of chances for both teams to win the game. Rangers TWICE came from behind as they battled to the point they needed for qualification.
Paul le Guen, back in his homeland, decided to stick with the 4-3-3 formation which had served him well in the clash with Hearts at Tynecastle. The team was also unchanged.
Auxerre are a team struggling this season, they lie 13th in the French League and before going into this game they had only picked up one point in the group.
Rangers wouldn’t take them lightly though as they knew only two well how good a team they can be after losing to them in the UEFA Cup group stages two seasons ago and in the Champions League in the late 90’s.
Auxerre were the first to attack in this game, Jelen held off Hemdani to get in a shot but Allan McGregor saved well to keep Gers on level terms.
In an end to end game, Rangers were next to attack and had good chances through a Charlie Adam free kick and a header from Alan Hutton which went just over the bar.
Rangers grew in confidence after these two chances and were so unlucky not to take the lead shortly after when Barry Ferguson found Nacho Novo with a superb pass, it was like the Barry Ferguson of old. Novo latched onto the pass and went through one on one with the goalkeeper, but the goalie saved brilliantly much to the Auxerre’s fans relief.
Then Rangers suffered a blow when Steven Smith who had started the game well, had to go off injured after falling awkwardly in a challenge. Julien Rodriguez came on to replace him.
Allan McGregor was called into action again with a brilliant double save. He done well to stop a shot from Jelen and got up to save a rebound shot from Pedretti. The young goalie again showing that he is capable of being the Gers’ number one.
In the 31st minute, Polish striker Jelen, who had two good shots earlier, finally broke the deadlock. A long ball from deep in the Auxerre defence found it’s way through to him and he escaped the attention of two Rangers defenders to despatch the ball past a helpless McGregor.
Rangers were shaken by this goal and Auxerre blew two chances to extend their lead and probably kill the game off as a contest.
A curled shot from Akale went just over and a Pieroni header from 12 yards also went just over as Auxerre took control of the game for a short spell.
Rangers came out battling in the second half and Nacho Novo again had a chance but his powerful shot was saved well by Fabien Cool in the Auxerre goal.
Auxerre well unlucky not to get their second goal of the night when Kaboul’s header struck the crossbar. This miss seemed to spur Rangers on and the equaliser was found.
A slick passing movement on the edge of the Auxerre box unlucked the defence and the ball ended up at the feet of Novo inside the box, Novo wasn’t going to miss an opportunity like this and he easily slotted the ball into the next to send the away support into ecstasy.
Auxerre again took the lead though and that man Jelen again was involved, his cross into the box was met by the head of Niculae and the ball flew past McGregor and into the net.
Just when it looked like it was all over, up popped Rangers with another equaliser. Hutton crossed into the box and the Auxerre defender made a hash of the clearance and guided the ball into the path of Kris Boyd who put the ball into the back of the next with ease.
Rangers fans were signing in the rain at the final whistle, their team had got the point they needed to qualify with a game to spare.
Now we need to beat Partizan Belgrade at Ibrox on Thursday 14th December to secure first place and be given a draw against a third placed team rather than finishing second and playing a Champions League drop out.
TEAMS
Auxerre: Cool, Jaures, Kalabane, Kaboul, Sagna, Pedretti, Cheyrou, Akale, Thomas, Pieroni, Jelen.
Subs: Sauvage, Ba, Martin, Niculae, Vadocz, Traore, Lejeune.
Rangers: McGregor, Svensson, Hutton, Smith (Rodriguez), Adam, Ferguson, Hemdani, Clement, Prso (Sionko), Novo (Sebo), Boyd.
Subs: Letizi, Rae, Buffel, N’Diaye.
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