Champions League: Will Rangers finish job against Plzen to progress in qualifying?

BBC News

a day ago

Update:
Date: 1 min
Title: KICK-OFF
Content: Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Rangers (0-3)
Away we go.
Update:
Date: 17:57 BST
Title: Post
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
Out come the teams in Plzen.
Decent home backing despite the scoreline.
Update:
Date: 17:57 BST
Title: Martin expects from Tavernier and Raskin
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3)
Rangers head coach Russell Martin has been explaining the inclusion of Nico Raskin and James Tavernier, with Max Aarons missing out and Joe Rothwell on the bench.
"It is the right thing to do to win tonight," he tells BBC Scotland. "Max picked up a bit of a knock on Saturday and it's set him back a bit.
"Nico and Tav helped the team on Saturday and they have to do so again tonight."
Martin is expecting the hosts to go on the attack from kick-off, adding: "We've approached it like it is a nil-nil. They have to hunt the game and will try to put us under pressure early and we have to be ready for it and control the game as much as we can."
Russell Martin (left) is expecting a tough battle
Update:
Date: 17:56 BST
Title: Progression to play-off surely a done deal?
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
Martin DowdenBBC Sport Scotland at Stadion Mesta Plzen
The three-goal cushion Rangers earned in the first leg would suggest the hard work is largely done.
Viktoria Plzen will look to go at Russell Martin's side simply because they have little alternative.
What that may bring is opportunity for Rangers to counter with space to exploit, something that would seem to suit them on the evidence of their early season fixtures.
If they take one chance, they surely go through.
Update:
Date: 17:52 BST
Title: Plzen need 'heroic performance'
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
Viktoria Plzen head coach Miroslav Koubek says his side will have to be "absolutely exceptional" if they are to overhaul the three-goal deficit.
"We have to put on a heroic performance and every piece has to fall in for that to happen," he said.
"Our match in Glasgow was far from perfect," he said. "It was sub-par from our part, because the opponent was better, faster, more organised.
"We had some kind of plan, but it fell through eventually. This time we have to do better, of course."
Update:
Date: 17:49 BST
Title: Rangers withdraw request for St Mirren postponement
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
A bit earlier we learned Rangers have withdrawn a request to postpone their league visit to St Mirren should they reach the Champions League play-off round.
The Ibrox side had indicated they might want a blank weekend between the first and second legs against either RB Salzburg or Club Brugge if they progress past Plzen.
The match in Paisley will go ahead on Sunday, 24 August with a 12:00 BST kick-off for live television broadcast.
Update:
Date: 17:45 BST
Title: Raskin impacted by 'uncertainty' at Rangers
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
On Nico Raskin, Russell Martin said in the build-up to this one that the Rangers midfielder has been impacted by "uncertainty" over his future at the club.
The Belgium international has been linked with moves away from Ibrox and Martin concedes that contact from external parties has had an effect.
"There's been a bit of uncertainty about him this summer, for sure," Martin said. "Not from people ringing us, but I think from people ringing him, definitely.
"I think that's affected his approach, not in terms of professionalism and stuff, but he's a young man, of course it's going to have an impact at some point."
Update:
Date: 17:42 BST
Title: 'Changes improve Rangers'
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
Ian McCallFormer Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound
I think bringing in Tavernier and Raskin back strengthens the team.
It puzzles me that, when they play a team with a low block at Ibrox, they struggle.
Max Aarons - I don't see him being ahead of Tavernier and I think Raskin is a different level of player than Rothwell.
Update:
Date: 17:40 BST
Title: 'Not concerned for Rangers'
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
Steven ThompsonFormer Rangers striker on BBC Sportscene
Having watched Viktoria Plzen last week, I was not impressed with them.
They can only improve, but they have to go for it and that leaves themselves exposed, which you like to think will play into the hands of Rangers.
So I am not concerned that Rangers might not get through this tie.
Update:
Date: 17:38 BST
Title: Listen to Sportsound
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
BBC Radio Scotland Extra
Sportsound coverage is under way on BBC Radio Scotland Extra.
You can also listen in through this page.
Update:
Date: 17:36 BST
Title: 'We've approached this like it's 0-0'
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
Rangers head coach Russell Martin has been speaking to our reporter Martin Dowden pre-match.
He confirms right-back Max Aarons is missing with a slight fitness issue.
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Rangers boss Russell Martin on Plzen second leg
Update:
Date: 17:32 BST
Title: 'Fans aren't stupid - they need results'
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
Jack Butland is convinced Russell Martin will get it right at Rangers, but the goalkeeper knows results are the only thing that can earn the head coach breathing space.
"I think there has, regardless of results, been a massive buy-in," Butland said. "The boys are really keen to want to be successful in trying to get things right.
"I've been here long enough. The fans aren't stupid. They need results. We need results. And that really needs to be in the forefront of everybody's mind. No matter the game, no matter the fixture.
"Talking is, to a point, great, but we need to show the performances, show the desire, the effort that's been put in. And that's the only way that it's going to be accepted."
Update:
Date: 17:29 BST
Title: What about Plzen's weekend?
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
It was also a 1-1 home draw for them.
Prince Kwabena Adu, who starts tonight, scored the opener for Plzen, but Slovacko netted a stoppage-time penalty to earn a late point.
Sounds kinda familiar.
Update:
Date: 17:26 BST
Title: About Saturday...
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
Even under a new manager, and new ownership, Rangers can't seem to shrug off their Jekyll and Hyde nature.
After a superb 3-0 first-leg win in Europe, they followed that up with a disappointing domestic draw at home to Dundee.
The away side were well worth their lead at Ibrox before Nasser Djiga saw red, but captain James Tavernier stepped up to net a late, late spot kick to rescue a point.
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Scottish Premiership highlights: Rangers 1-1 Dundee
Update:
Date: 17:22 BST
Title: What happened last week?
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
Rangers earned themselves a fine 3-0 win, that's what.
The mood has certainly changed since then - more on that shortly - but a Djeidi Gassama double and a Cyriel Dessers penalty has Russell Martin's men in an excellent position in this tie.
Re-watch the goals by clicking that play button below.
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Highlights: Rangers 3-0 Viktoria Plzen
Update:
Date: 17:19 BST
Title: Post
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
Happy with that team, Gers fans?
Update:
Date: 17:18 BST
Title: Tavernier & Raskin back in for Rangers
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
James Tavernier and Nicolas Raskin return to the XI in two changes to the Rangers side following Saturday's draw with Dundee.
Max Aarons drops out altogether with a minor fitness issue and Joe Rothwell drops to the bench, meaning Raskin should be deployed in a deep-lying midfield role.
Russell Martin is still without Mikey Moore, Thelo Aasgaard and Hamza Igamane.
Winger Djeidi Gassama keeps his place in the Rangers attack
Update:
Date: 17:16 BST
Title: LINE-UPS from Doosan Arena
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
Viktoria Plzen: Jedlicka, Jemelka, Dweh, Paluska, Spacil, Cerv, Valenta, Memic, Adu, Vydra, Durosinmi.
Substitutes: Markovic, Kabongo, Visinsky, Tvrdon, Doski, Ladra, Souare, Panos, Havel, Sloncik, Wiegele.
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Djiga, Souttar, Jefte, Raskin, Diomande, Cameron, Gassama, Antman, Dessers.
Substitutes: Kelly, Rothwell, Cortes, Barron, Bajrami, Dowell, Fernandez, Gentles, Danilo, Rice, Curtis, Hutton.
Update:
Date: 17:14 BST
Title: 'You can't ease off ever' - Martin
Content: Viktoria Plzen v Rangers (0-3) (18:00)
Despite the three-goal lead, Russell Martin will not accept Rangers easing off.
"We play for a football club where you can't ease off ever," the head coach said. "We're going to have a sold-out away end and it's a big night for us.
"After being a bit disappointed on Saturday with a few things in the performance, hopefully we'll see some stuff we didn't do well enough."
The Rangers boss is in need of another response after more domestic disappointment at the weekend.
Team news from Plzen incoming...