Rangers ponder £20m Malmo 'what if' but fresh Europa League chapter could be priceless for Philippe Clement

The cost of Rangers ’ two previous run-ins with Malmo can be counted not only in cash but cups, writes Andy Newport in Sweden.

Who knows how things might have panned out in 2011 had they managed to land a £20million Champions League lifeline as Craig Whyte began steering the club towards a financial cliff edge? Their loss to the Swedes a decade later also had major consequences as the failure of Steven Gerrard’s side to make the group stage played a huge role in the Liverpool legend’s decision to quit just as his Invincibles were facing a renewed challenge from Ange Postecoglou’s resurgent Celtic.

In the years after both games, the Ibrox faithful have been forced to watch their bitter rivals pile up silver on and off the park. But the value of last night’s Europa League triumph might end up having a priceless effect for Philippe Clement ’s side if it helps the current Ibrox boss nurture the hints of promise his new-look side have been showing in the three games since their Parkhead pasting.

Malmo manager Henrik Rydstrom warned that Sweden’s champions were out to repeat history having never suffered defeat in their four previous encounters with the Light Blues. But it was Clement’s side who penned a fresh chapter as Nedim Bajrami ’s shock opener inside 56 seconds gave Rangers the perfect start.

They should have killed the tie long before Ross McCausland’s introduction for Vaclav Cerny with 20 minutes left as a string of chances were wasted. But it was left to the former academy kid to show his older team-mates how to do it as he flashed a stunning second home within five minutes of climbing off the bench.

And this win might be more than just worthwhile for Gers’ confidence levels. Opta boffins predicted nine