Summary

  • Listen to Sportsound

  • Alvarez heads Ajax in front, Berghuis effort deflects past McLaughlin & Kudus lashes in stunning third - all in first 33 minutes

  • Bergwijn rounds McLaughlin & slips in fourth after misdirected Jack back-pass

  • Barisic sweeps in but goal ruled out for offside after VAR check

  • King, Jack & Matondo on at break for Rangers - Tavernier, Tillman & Wright off

  • Rangers play first Champions League group stage match since 2010

  • Ajax reached round of 16 in last season's tournament

  1. 'A childhood dream realised'published at 17:03 British Summer Time 7 September 2022

    Ajax v Rangers (17:45)`

    Scott Mullen
    BBC Scotland at the Johan Cruyff Arena

    Ever get that unnerving feeling you've been somewhere before?

    This may be the first time I've ever stepped into the Johan Cruyff Arena, formally the Amsterdam Arena. But, to me, it will always be the Orange Arena.

    As a kid, hours were far from wasted thrashing away on Pro Evolution Soccer on my mate's PlayStation (One!), and this place was the theatre of the most scintillating - and pixelated - football Carluke in Lanarkshire has ever seen. Roberto Larcos and Fank de Mole all dazzled here. Could it now be Rangers' turn?

    A lifetime's ambition realised. Now, let's hope we get a game worth the wait.

    Johan Cruyff ArenaImage source, Scott Mullen
    Image caption,

    The view from Scott's lofty vantage at the stadium...

  2. Wright starts for Rangerspublished at 17:01 British Summer Time 7 September 2022

    Ajax v Rangers (17:45)

    With Tom Lawrence still injured, Rangers make just one change from the Old Firm derby defeat, with Scott Wright replacing Steven Davis. That should mean a central midfield role for Malik Tillman.

    Manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst made it clear yesterday that he was not entertaining any thoughts of dropping goalkeeper Jon McLauchlin after a shaky display against Celtic.

    James Sands continues in central defence, with Ben Davies fit enough for a place among the replacements and left-back Borna Barisic continues to keep Ridvan Yilmaz on the bench.

    Ryan Jack and Scott Wright in conversation in AmsterdamImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Ryan Jack and Scott Wright (right) in conversation in Amsterdam

  3. Ajax off to a flying startpublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 7 September 2022

    Ajax v Rangers (17:45)

    Ajax have no such worries over form as they sit atop the Eredivisie, with five wins from five.

    They've scored 16 and conceded three in those outings.

  4. Can Rangers recover from Old Firm rout?published at 16:52 British Summer Time 7 September 2022

    Ajax v Rangers (17:45)

    Is this the game Rangers wanted immediately after Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Celtic?

    You can be daunted or you can think this is the perfect opportunity to lift standards and play out of your skin on the biggest stage Europe has to offer.

    One thing is for sure, the visitors need to be a lot more switched on after several calamitous lapses of concentration at the weekend.

  5. LINE-UPS at Johan Cruyff Arenapublished at 16:48 British Summer Time 7 September 2022

    Ajax v Rangers (17:45)

    -Image source, BBC Sport

    Ajax: Pasveer, Rensch, Timber, Bassey, Blind, Taylor, Alvarez, Kudus, Bergwijn, Tadic, Berghuis.

    Substitutes: Stekelenburg, Gorter, Klaassen, Lucca, Sanchez, Brobbey, Ocampos, Kaplan, Grillitsch, Baas, Magallan, Conceicao.

    Rangers: McLauchlin, Tavernier, Goldson, Sands, Barisic, Lundstram, Kamara, Tillman, Wright, Colak, Kent.

    Substitutes: McGregor, McCrorie, Morelos, Ridvan, Matondo, Jack, King, Devine, Arfield, Davis, Davies, Sakala.

    -Image source, BBC Sport
  6. Rangers back with the big boyspublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 7 September 2022

    Ajax v Rangers (17:45)

    Rangers are in the Champions League for the first time since 2010 and they open with a cracker of a tie away to one of the continent's most storied clubs, Ajax.

    The Amsterdam giants have lifted the European Cup on four occasions and have been runners-up twice.

    Tonight's hosts have contested 10 European finals over the years, but have not gone the distance since losing out to Manchester United in the 2017 Europa League final.

    Of course, Rangers reached the final of that same tournament last season, so they should not be fazed by the occasion.

    Ajax's Johan Cruyff ArenaImage source, SNS