The dust is still settling after a fantastic night in Sweden as Rangers kickstarted their UEFA Europa League campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over Malmo. In what must be the best performance of the season so far, Philippe Clement’s men showed exactly what they are capable of, silencing critics and sending fans into celebration mode. This was Rangers’ third consecutive victory, and it came with their third straight clean sheet. If you’re not excited yet, you should be!
A Team Performance That Shined All Around
Picking out a standout performance is tough because, from front to back, the entire team seemed to raise their game for this crucial fixture. However, a few players certainly deserve special mention for their contributions.
John Souttar put in a dominant shift at the back, winning 100% of his aerial duels and making six crucial clearances. His growing partnership with Robin Propper is one of the more encouraging developments of the night. With every game, their understanding deepens, and the composure they showed tonight was crucial to keeping Malmo at bay.
Then there was Neraysho Kasanwirjo, making his debut for Rangers in the left-back position. He looked solid defensively, winning his battles and showing a desire to get forward and support the attack. For a debut performance, he gave fans plenty to be excited about going forward.
Bajrami’s Moment to Shine
While many players impressed, it’s hard to look past Nedim Bajrami as the man of the match. Scoring his first goal for Rangers in the very first minute set the tone for the night, and he didn’t stop there. Throughout the game, Bajrami created opportunities with clever passes and movement, linking up well with his teammates in attack. Sure, some chances were missed, but Bajrami was at the heart of everything positive, and his performance tonight is one we won’t forget soon.
Let’s not forget Ross McCausland, who came off the bench in the second half to put the icing on the cake with a stunning strike to seal the win. He’s seems to be growing more and more under the manager. With more options available to the manager and a little bit of pressure of the player he seems to be thriving off the bench as he develops.
Midfield Maestros: Diomande and Barron
In the heart of midfield, Mohamed Diomande and Connor Barron were outstanding. Diomande looked closer to the player we know he can be, breaking up play and driving forward with purpose. Barron continues to impress every time he pulls on a Rangers shirt, and tonight was no different. Their control in the middle of the park ensured Rangers were on the front foot for much of the game.
Missed Chances: A Minor Criticism
If there was one criticism of the night, it’s the number of chances Rangers passed up. It’s great to see us creating opportunities, but against stronger opposition, we can’t afford to be so wasteful. Vaclav Cerny, in particular, had a couple of golden opportunities to score but just couldn’t find the finish. Thankfully, it didn’t come back to haunt us this time.
The Critics Can’t Have It Both Ways
Before the match, there was plenty of doubt cast on Rangers’ ability to get a result, not just from the opposition but from some of our own supporters too. After the match, the narrative shifted, with many claiming Malmo were poor. Well, you can’t have it both ways. The truth is, Rangers were simply the better team on the night. The energy, the press, the attacking intent—it was all there for everyone to see, and we made Malmo look average.
And how sweet was it to see those post-match scenes? The players and fans united, singing together after a crucial win. It’s moments like these that remind us what it means to be Rangers.
Malmo’s Social Media Backfire
Let’s also take a moment to appreciate the banter. Malmo’s social media team took a cheeky dig at Rangers before the game, only for it to backfire spectacularly after they were beaten 2-0. You just love to see it.
Pre-Match Drama and Malmo’s Frustration
In the build-up to the match, there was some drama when Ignace didn’t travel due to a passport issue. Clement didn’t hide his frustration about the situation, and you can’t blame him. How does something like that even happen at this level?
As for Malmo, their coach didn’t hold back in his post-match comments, criticising his team’s approach and even admitting he felt stupid after the performance. Tough night for him, but we’ll take it!
On to Hibernian
The focus now shifts to Sunday’s Scottish Premiership clash against Hibernian at Ibrox. With three wins and three clean sheets in a row, confidence is growing, and fans will be looking for another big performance. If Rangers can maintain this momentum, we’re in for an exciting season.
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