Summary

  • Win puts Rangers into Europa League last 16; Sparta Prague second in group & Betis drop into Conference League

  • Sima flashes Rangers in front but Miranda lashes in leveller amid barrage of Betis pressure

  • Dessers beats two defenders before sliding Rangers back in front but Perez shapes in second equaliser

  • Roofe scrambles in what proves to be winner

  1. G'nightpublished at 23:09 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    That'll do us for tonight, folks.

    Thanks again for joining on another fine night for Scottish football.

    You can give your views and get more reaction and analysis on our Aberdeen and Rangers pages.

    Next stop for these two: Hampden.

    ClementImage source, SNS
    RobsonImage source, SNS
  2. Postpublished at 23:04 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    More from Rangers boss Clement, who says tonight's win is a "big achievement".

    "I am really pleased about that," he adds. "It is also good for Scottish football, for the coefficient, it is important for the future.

    "We start again in March, that is two games less in February which is maybe good also to use the period to make the team strong with more training."

  3. Are Rangers in for 'cracking season' now?published at 22:59 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    FT: Real Betis 2-3 Rangers

    Rory Loy
    Former Rangers striker on Sportsound

    Philippe Clement does what he needs to do to get his team over the line in a game of football.

    The players look more disciplined, they look like they know what they are doing.

    I think they are getting a bit of momentum now. It seems like it is going to be a cracking season.

    He has certainly turned the club's fortunes around in more ways than one.

  4. Postpublished at 22:57 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    Rangers boss Philippe Clement: "For me there is no difference [for the final] whether we won or lost. Of course it will give confidence but it is a totally different game, different opponents. The biggest gain today is that everybody in this dressing room feels that if they work hard they get results. We are going to go really hard to win this first trophy but we need to be humble also.

    On Cyriel Dessers: "Not only the goal but the work he did, Cyriel was one of the guys I spoke to on how to improve and he is really working hard to play how we want our strikers to play.

    "Then you get the chance to score and the confidence of your team-mates and coach. Sam [Lammers] has had a lot of stick but I think he played a really good game also. The past is the past but it is about the stories we are going to continue in the next weeks and month."

  5. 'Both sides on a high for Sunday'published at 22:54 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    FT: Real Betis 2-3 Rangers

    Derek McInnes
    Former Aberdeen manager on TNT Sports

    Both sides will be going into Sunday's final on a real high. It presents an opportunity for both clubs.

    Barry [Robson] has come under a bit of criticism for navigating his way through Europe and domestically, but winning a cup for that club is massive. That would really alleviate a lot of the pressure that's been on him of late.

    Both teams will say for their own reason it's massive for them to go and get silverware.

  6. 'I can't be more proud as a coach'published at 22:50 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    FT: Real Betis 2-3 Rangers

    More from Rangers manager Philippe Clement in his post-match presser: "I am really proud of the team. I saw today what I wanted to see, the things we worked on in the last couple of weeks.

    "I want to see a team of winners that never give up, where everybody wants to do their job and that is what they did today. They played a big game.

    "I said I wanted to see a brave team, not a team that only wanted to defend. We played our football, the team became stronger and stronger, we dug in and stayed together and then the moments come.

    "I cannot be more proud as a coach after such a short period together where the team is now."

  7. What's next?published at 22:48 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    FT: Real Betis 2-3 Rangers

    The Viaplay Cup final.

    Rangers take on Aberdeen at Hampden on Sunday.

    A 15:00 kick-off at the national stadium.

  8. 'Rangers show resolve'published at 22:42 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    FT: Real Betis 2-3 Rangers

    Derek McInnes
    Former Rangers midfielder on TNT Sports

    Rangers showed real good resolve, they had a bit of bullishness about them to keep the ball out of the net.

  9. 'Heroes all over pitch for Rangers'published at 22:40 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    FT: Real Betis 2-3 Rangers

    Brian McLauchlin
    BBC Scotland in Seville

    BarisicImage source, SNS

    There is little doubt this will go down as one of the finest results by a Rangers side on the road in European competition.

    The belief from the players, even when they were clawed back on two occasions, to go for the winner late on was further evidence of the progress made since the arrival of Philippe Clement.

    Wherever you look on then pitch, there were heroes.

    The maligned Sam Lammers had his finest game in a Rangers shirt. Cyriel Dessers scored a wonderful goal. And John Lundstram was outstanding in a makeshift midfield.

    Remember they were taking on a team who hadn’t lost at home in any competition this season and held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw at the weekend.

    Rangers can now park their European ambitions until next March and concentrate on trying to reclaim the Premiership title.

    But more immediately they will look to win the first silverware of the season against Aberdeen on Sunday.

  10. 'Last 16 set up to be brilliant'published at 22:38 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    FT: Real Betis 2-3 Rangers

    Steven Thompson
    Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound

    It is brilliant to see Rangers through into the last 16, it will be interesting to see who they get.

    Some of the teams they could face, it sets it up to be a brilliant game.

  11. Roofe aims for the final againpublished at 22:35 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    FT: Real Betis 2-3 Rangers

    Rangers striker Kemar Roofe says his match-winning moment is "what he trains all week for".

    "We showed good character and defensive shape," he adds on TNT Sports. "We did a lot of running to stick in.

    "This tournament isn't easy, there are no gimmicks. If you're in it, you deserve to be in it."

    And touching on Rangers' recent run in this competition, he says: "Hopefully we can get to the final again, but the cliche is game-by-game, that's what we did last time."

    Kemar RoofeImage source, SNS
  12. 'Rangers must support Clement in January'published at 22:32 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    FT: Real Betis 2-3 Rangers

    Ally McCoist
    Former Rangers striker & manager on TNT Sports

    Phillipe Clement has to be very pleased at this moment of time. There was a bit of steel about them, they were organised and there was a desire.

    He should, and I think he will, be supported in the transfer market.

  13. Clement hails 'strong' Rangerspublished at 22:30 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    FT: Real Betis 2-3 Rangers

    ClementImage source, SNS

    Rangers manager Philippe Clement tells TNT Sports: "It was a very strong performance from my team. I got what I asked from the boys. I gave them several challenges.

    "They're a top team. They hadn't lost one game at home all season. It was a big challenge and they took it in a really good way.

    Clement confirms Jose Cifuentes' half-time substitution was due to injury and adds that Dujon Sterling did "a really good job" in replacing him.

  14. 'Fantastic achievement'published at 22:26 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    FT: Real Betis 2-3 Rangers

    Derek McInnes
    Former Rangers midfielder on TNT Sports

    I thought the manager got his substitutions spot on, he has rinsed absolutely everything out of what he has available to him.

    It's a huge result, a fantastic result in the context of their season.

    They will take so much confidence beating Real Betis in their own backyard.

    A fantastic achievement.

  15. Postpublished at 22:23 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    Betis’ defeat means they slip into the Conference League play-off round, the first time the Spanish club have failed to qualify from the Europa League group stage.

    Rangers: Ooops, that was us.

  16. 'McGregor vibes from Butland'published at 22:22 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    FT: Real Betis 2-3 Rangers

    Rory Loy
    Former Rangers striker on Sportsound

    Butland divesImage source, SNS

    Jack Butland had a little bit of an Allan McGregor performance tonight when he needed to step up.

    He had a couple of big, big moments tonight and I thought he was superb.

    This was the first big moment for Clement where something was at stake and he has come up trumps.

  17. Postpublished at 22:20 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    Ally McCoist
    Former Rangers striker & manager on TNT Sports

    The first thing I'll be doing now if I'm Philippe Clement is getting the goalkeeper on a longer contract.

  18. Postpublished at 22:18 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    RangersImage source, SNS

    Let me try and put into context just how big finishing top of the group is.

    Remember when Rangers got to the 2022 final? Of course you do. You'll also remember they had to beat Borussia Dortmund in an absolute ding-dong of a tie.

    That was in a play-off just to get into the last 16. They don't need to worry about that this time.

    Straight into the last 16. Job done. Massive.

  19. Postpublished at 22:17 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    This is the first time since 2002 that Scottish clubs have recorded three group stage wins in the same week. Some effort.

  20. The goalscorerspublished at 22:15 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

    FT: Real Betis 2-3 Rangers

    Abdallah SimaImage source, SNS
    DessersImage source, SNS
    RoofeImage source, SNS