Malmo beat rangers in 1st leg

Rangers face an uphill battle to qualify for the next round of the Champions League after losing the first leg of their qualifier against Malmo.

The Swedes took the lead on 18 minutes when a flick from Wilton Figueiredo set up Daniel Larsson, who smashed in.

Rangers improved and should have overturned the deficit but Steven Naismith shot wide twice in succession.

Malmo kept Rangers keeper Allan McGregor busy and, though Steve Davis went close, the hosts could not reply.

Figueiredo was a constant threat for the visitors and he twice had shots well saved, one a free-kick and another a curling effort after a fine counter attack.

Yet the way in which Ally McCoist's side failed to make a breakthrough leaves them a huge task in the return leg on 3 August, with thoughts of making the group stages a long way off.

They will need to begin better than they did on this occasion - they were sluggish at the start and it was from Steven Whittaker's mistake that Larsson struck what proved to be the winner.

The Rangers defender lost possession on the right side of his own penalty box, allowing Malmo to pounce, and Larsson fired in to give further encouragement to their already vocal fans.

Rangers improved following David Weir's hamstring injury after half an hour, which made them change tactics and employ two centre-backs rather than three.

And soon afterwards Davis carved out their first real chance by going close with a free-kick, before his cross was mistimed by Nikica Jelavic when the striker looked well placed.

Rangers boss McCoist had warned of Malmo's attacking threat before the game and Larsson missed a chance to make it 2-0 soon after the break when he could not connect with Figueiredo's right-wing cross, and the Brazilian forced two fine saves from McGregor.

Rangers should have overturned the deficit in the space of a few minutes, but Naismith missed on two occasions, both chances coming at the back post from Jelavic crosses across goal.

As the hosts increased the pressure on their opponents, Davis shot just over from a well-worked effort, but Malmo were always a threat on the break and McCoist can have few complaints in what proved to be an open but frustrating encounter.

The difference was Larsson and his strike will create extra pressure for the return leg, with qualification for the group stage crucial to Rangers' financial situation.

source: bbc sport

Larsson does us again, i can't see us improving before next week and looks like we could be heading out at the first hurdle, we need a couple of decent players fast.

At least Rangers can take comfort that they are still in the tie, if it finished 3-0 no one could have complained, I still think Gers have a chance next week, Malmo have to be big favourites

That was an absolute joke. Coisty needs to put away his dirty pictures of Miller and focus on the players he has

Genuine question, If Rangers do go out are they out of europe altogether or do they go in the Europa League.

they go in a europa league qualifier

Cool cheers for that as wasn't sure if that was for the losers of the next round or this round.

thats the gers out 1-1. 2-1 on aggregate

Wonder how many rounds Scottish "champions" will have to enter CL qualification next year?


Surely no one saw this as a surprise, the writing has been in the wall for a while.

The Scottish Champions gain automatic qualification next season, what I will say is that Rangers where by far the better team with a man down and should have killed the tie even when they had 9 men

What a disgrace, gotta say I expected a little more composure from a seasoned player like Whittaker. Boogie wasn't exactly a shocker but still totally unwarranted "challange". Well looks like Super might have been right (ish), although I reckon if Rangers had played their best the 2nd leg should have been a formality because we should have ended them in the 1st. And thats not delusion thats brass tax.

I agree with your post 100% Mr Toes. That is except for the "brass Tax" i always thought it was "brass Tacks" - Welcome to the pedant corner!

I realise I'm setting myself to up to be mocked again, but would it it not tbe the pedantic corner?

super_realist wrote:Wonder how many rounds Scottish "champions" will have to enter CL qualification next year?

None.

This season's winner of the SPL does not need to qualify for the CL, they go straight into the competition.

Has to be said though man, if this run continues it might not be us

SetupDeterminesTheMotion wrote:

super_realist wrote:Wonder how many rounds Scottish "champions" will have to enter CL qualification next year?

None.

This season's winner of the SPL does not need to qualify for the CL, they go straight into the competition.

If this is the case, can someone explain why? It's not as if the league will be regarded any more highly by UEFA, especially after Ranger's meek capitulation to the mighty Malmo, so how can it be that Celtic won't have to go through 2 qualification rounds next year. What has changed?