Summary

  • Listen to Sportsound

  • Home win over Aris would confirm Rangers' place in next round

  • Rangers two behind leaders Real Betis, but three clear of Sparta

  • Danilo rolls in early opener for Rangers & Cantwell adds second with low shot

  • Haraslin sweeps Sparta back into it after the break before Danilo effort ruled out

  1. Postpublished at 20:33 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 2-0 Sparta Prague

    James Gomez is involved in everything. And not in a good way.

    The Sparta defender clatters into Todd Cantwell wide on the left and gives away a foul.

    Probably lucky to avoid a yellow.

  2. Toothless Spartapublished at 20:31 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 2-0 Sparta Prague

    Jonathan Sutherland
    BBC Sport Scotland at Ibrox

    What is striking is how Sparta have hardly troubled Rangers at all so far this evening.

    Absolutely no sense in this stadium right now that there is any concern about how the Czech side will respond to being 2-0 down.

    You get the sense the Rangers fans are just wondering how many goals they can get here.

  3. 'Direct play effective for Gers'published at 20:30 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 2-0 Sparta Prague

    Steven Thompson
    Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound

    Rangers don't need the extra passes.

    That's twice now Tavernier has missed out the midfielders and gone straight for the number nine.

    No harm in it, it has been effective.

  4. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 20:29 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 2-0 Sparta Prague

    Rangers are rampant.

    Danilo gives the keeper the eyes but finds the left-hand post from inside the area.

    So unlucky. He'll be disappointed.

    Rangers 2-0 Sparta PragueImage source, SNS
  5. Clement watchpublished at 20:27 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 2-0 Sparta Prague

    Jonathan Sutherland
    BBC Sport Scotland at Ibrox

    Leading up to that first goal Philippe Clement had been speaking intently to his captain James Tavernier at the side of the pitch.

    Whatever was said, Rangers are now enjoying that feeling of a 2-0 lead, thanks in large part to composure shown by Danilo and Todd Cantwell. Quite simply a fantastic start to this game for Rangers.

    Clement has spent most of the match so far stalking around his technical area. They say he is hands-on when it comes to training and here his engagement with every moment on the pitch is clear to see.

  6. Postpublished at 20:25 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 2-0 Sparta Prague

    I'm no lipreader, but I'm sure a wee replay of Philippe Clement after that Cantwell goal shows him saying "perfect".

    He's a pleased man.

  7. 'Tremendous finish'published at 20:24 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 2-0 Sparta Prague

    Lee McCulloch
    Former Rangers captain on BBC Sportsound

    You've got say, the composure on this finish is quite sublime.

    He picks it up on the right-hand side of the penalty box, chops and slides the ball with his left foot into the far corner of the goal.

    That's a tremendous goal. What a start from Rangers.

    CantwellImage source, SNS
  8. 'Brilliant'published at 20:23 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 2-0 Sparta Prague

    Ally McCoist
    Former Rangers striker & manager on TNT Sports

    A brilliant goal.

    The run from Lammers causes a problem and gives Cantwell the space.

    A very similar finish to Danilo.

  9. goal

    GOAL! Rangers 2-0 Sparta Praguepublished at 20:20 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Todd Cantwell

    Told ye.

    Danilo turns provider this time as his pass is dummied by Sam Lammers into the path of Todd Cantwell.

    He takes one touch inside and bends a lovely left-foot finish, just like Danilo, into the far corner.

    Rangers goal
  10. Postpublished at 20:19 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 1-0 Sparta Prague

    Sparta defender Gomez looks to make up for that error up the other end.

    He wins a header from a corner and Jack Butland tips over. The resulting delivery is smashed well wide by Martin Vitik.

  11. 'Gomez at fault again'published at 20:18 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 1-0 Sparta Prague

    Steven Thompson
    Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound

    Again it comes from Gomez.

    A really slack clearance. I'm not sure how much longer he can stay on the pitch. He's having a proper shocker.

  12. Postpublished at 20:17 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 1-0 Sparta Prague

    Don't be surprised if Rangers get a second soon.

    Todd Cantwell takes a big touch on the edge of the box, but it works out alright for him and he smashes an acrobatic volley down low to the right.

    Sparta keeper Vindahl turns it behind.

  13. Postpublished at 20:16 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 1-0 Sparta Prague

    Abdallah Sima gets into a sprint for the first time tonight and reaches the bye-line.

    The cross could be better though. Straight out it goes.

  14. 'What is Gomez doing?'published at 20:15 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 1-0 Sparta Prague

    Steven Thompson
    Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound

    It's a really composed finish, but what is Gomez doing?

    He's now down injured and I think it is just the old 'faking an injury after having a shocker' routine.

    He's not under pressure if he keeps moving forward. For some inexplicable reason, he turns back not realising that Danilo is putting him under pressure from behind.

    It's horrendous.

  15. 'Top class'published at 20:14 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 1-0 Sparta Prague

    Ally McCoist
    Former Rangers striker & manager on TNT Sports

    The composure and the finish is what it is all about.

    He just moves his body to the right-hand side to open up the left-foot finish and it is wonderful.

    Top class.

    DaniloImage source, SNS
  16. Postpublished at 20:13 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 1-0 Sparta Prague

    Lee McCulloch
    Former Rangers captain on BBC Sportsound

    Unbelievable composure.

  17. goal

    GOAL! Rangers 1-0 Sparta Praguepublished at 20:12 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Danilo

    The masked man does it again.

    It's so poor from Sparta defender Gomez, but it's fantastic from Danilo, who puts pressure on a poor back pass and he's in.

    The Brazilian striker shows superb composure to slide the ball into far corner.

    Rangers goal
  18. Postpublished at 20:11 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 0-0 Sparta Prague

    James Tavernier puts good pressure on win a corner off Sparta defender Gomez, but again the set piece doesn't result in a chance.

    Rangers get another ball into the box, but the visitors deal with that too.

  19. 'Frantic start'published at 20:09 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 0-0 Sparta Prague

    Steven Thompson
    Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound

    It's all a bit frantic. Neither side keeping the ball all that well while pressing very high.

  20. Postpublished at 20:09 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Rangers 0-0 Sparta Prague

    Rangers deal with the corner and a subsequent delivery.

    Easy enough.