Leipzig’s Angeliño rifles in to hurt unlucky Rangers after battling display

The nature of RB Leipzig celebrations as Angeliño cracked home a goal not at all in keeping with an instantly forgettable game – what is it they say about semi-finals? – said it all. On an evening where Leipzig huffed and puffed, Rangers battled bravely to the point where they will be sore about not returning to Glasgow with parity.

The reigning Scottish champions were in a fine position for their next meeting with their Bundesliga opposition, at Ibrox, before a moment of class from the former Manchester City player. Giovanni van Bronckhorst will still be far from downbeat – a one-goal deficit is far from unassailable for Rangers – but this could and almost was so much better. The trick for Rangers next week will be to add potency to a level of commitment and discipline as was clear for all to see in Germany. Dreams of Seville remain intact.

Rangers’ starting line-up illustrated Van Bronckhorst’s desire to be versatile – with John Lundstram dropping into a back three – but simultaneously the scale of the challenge here. Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe are both injured, leaving Fashion Sakala as the only out-and-out striker in the Rangers squad. Van Bronckhorst opted to leave Sakala among the substitutes with two wide players, Scott Wright and Ryan Kent, serving as Rangers’ most advanced attackers. Neither are known for their touch in front of goal.

In 16 earlier European matches of this season, Rangers had not encountered such spells without possession as in the first quarter of this match. Yet for all Leipzig’s control, they failed to create serious opportunity. Christopher Nkunku should have done better after the hosts capitalised on a Borna Barisic error and Dominik Szoboszlai rued allowing Connor Goldson to recover