Heroics, Heart, and 10-Men Grit – Rangers Dig Deep Against Athletic Club

In a night that had everything – a red card, a penalty save, two major injuries, and a roaring Ibrox crowd – Rangers somehow held off Athletic Club to secure a gutsy 0-0 draw in the Europa League. It was a result full of fight, character, and defiance, and one that felt like a win after playing with 10 men for nearly 80 minutes… and finishing the match with 9.

Pre-Match Party and Pre-Match Problems

The Union Bears once again led the charge off the pitch, organising a lively street party at the Copland Stairs before kick-off. Thousands of fans turned up in full voice, creating a firecracker atmosphere with chants, smoke and fireworks. It set the tone for another special European night under the lights – and we needed every ounce of that energy.

Barry Ferguson made big calls before a ball was even kicked. Jack Butland was dropped following a string of costly errors, including a poor showing against Hibs, and in came Liam Kelly. Ridvan Yilmaz, Robbin Propper, Ianis Hagi and young Bailey Rice also started, with Souttar and Diomande unavailable through suspension.

Early Setback as Propper Sees Red

Rangers’ gameplan was thrown into chaos just 12 minutes in. A loose pass from Propper to Balogun invited pressure, and when Inaki Williams burst into the box, Propper’s last-ditch challenge brought him down just outside the area. The ref wasted no time – red card. Watching it back, it was probably the right decision, but it left Rangers with a mountain to climb.

Grit and Graft: Rangers Dig In

What followed was nothing short of heroic. Rangers reshaped into two compact banks of four, leaving Cyriel Dessers isolated up top. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the boys kept it tight and limited the Spaniards to just two shots on target in the first half. The Ibrox crowd more than did their bit – the noise barely dropped as they willed the team forward.

Bailey Rice, making one of his first starts at just 18 years old, showed real maturity in midfield. Unfortunately, his night was cut short after a nasty head knock, and he was stretchered off following a long spell of treatment. The UEFA rules around concussion subs made things even more difficult for Rangers.

Ridvan was replaced by Jefte as fatigue set in, and although the Brazilian got caught under the ball early on, he recovered well, winning key duels and bringing some much-needed energy down the left.

VAR Drama, Penalty Chaos – and a Big Save

The moment of the match came with just 10 minutes to go. Athletic Club finally found a way through and Berenguer tapped in the rebound after a Kelly save. The stadium groaned – but wait! VAR intervened and ruled it out for a handball by Guruzeta in the build-up.

But just as we breathed a sigh of relief, the ref pointed to the spot. A harsh decision saw Dujon Sterling penalised for handball in the same phase of play, with replays offering no clear evidence it was deliberate.

Berenguer stepped up, trying to lift his shot through the middle – but Liam Kelly was having none of it. A strong left leg deflected the ball over the bar and Ibrox erupted. It was written in the stars.

Another Blow – Sterling Injury

Late on, Dujon Sterling went down holding his ankle. Post-match, Barry Ferguson confirmed it was a serious Achilles injury and he’s set for surgery on Monday. A cruel end to the night for one of Rangers’ most consistent performers this season.

Barry Ferguson give Dujon Sterling update to Sky Sports.

A Draw That Felt Like Victory

If you’d offered Rangers fans a point before kick-off, most would’ve taken it. But after everything that unfolded – the red card, the penalty, the injuries – this was more than just a draw. It was a statement of spirit.

With the crowd behind them and a patched-up squad giving everything, this was a proper Ibrox night. Kelly’s big moment, Rice’s bravery, and a defence that refused to crumble – it reminded us what this team is capable of when the odds are against us.

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