Europa League - Group G
RangersRangers0Spartak MoscowSpartak Moscow0

Rangers 0-0 Spartak Moscow: Steven Gerrard's side joint top despite draw

By Scott MullenBBC Sport Scotland
Rangers v Spartak Moscow
Spartak's Nikolai Rasskazov and Rangers' Ovie Ejaria challenge for the ball

Rangers' hopes of Europa League progression remain on track despite a frustrating night at Ibrox against Spartak Moscow.

Steven Gerrard's side struggled to convert their dominance as they bossed the play against the Russians.

Despite creating several chances, Rangers failed to score for the first time in 11 games at home this season.

The Premiership club sit joint-top of the group with Villarreal - who beat Rapid Vienna 5-0 - on five points.

Alfredo Morelos, Daniel Candeias and Eros Grezda spurned opportunities for the hosts during a dominant display.

However, Rangers extended their unbeaten run in Europe to 11 matches before facing Spartak in Russia on 8 November.

Point gained, not two lost?

Come the conclusion of this Europa League group, Rangers may well look back at this game as a point won on the way to the play-off round.

However, the initial feeling will be one of what could have been on another swashbuckling European night in Govan.

Dominant performances at Ibrox have been the catalyst for Rangers' European run, and with tales of Spartak being in disarray, big things were expected of Gerrard's men, who prior to kick off sat clear at the top of Group G.

The Scottish Premiership side flew out of the traps in the first half as the Russians were forced on to the back foot. The best of the chances fell to Candeias, but he opted to cross from eight yards out rather than shoot after bursting into the box.

In the second half, Rangers still had opportunities despite the visitors beginning the brighter of the two teams. Morelos whistled a fine ball across the box with no takers, which was a real sign of their intent and also that their luck may not be in.

From the bench Eros Grezda could, and really should, have been the hero. First, the Albanian fell under clumsy challenge only for Dutch referee Kevin Blom to wave away penalty appeals, then he blazed a glorious chance over the bar from the edge of the area with the last kick of the ball.

However, the fact Rangers fans will have left Ibrox frustrated is an indication of how far this team has come under former Liverpool captain Gerrard.

A hapless team that was beaten last summer by Progres Niederkorn under Pedro Caixinha has been transformed by Gerrard into one that has stepped into the Europa League without fear.

He will be confident they can go to Russia in two weeks' time and take another stride forward.

'Rangers have nothing to fear' - analysis

Eros Grezda shot
Eros Grezda shot flies over the bar at the death

Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson on BBC Radio Scotland

For Rangers supporters, it's probably been unthinkable, to be on this type of run in Europe. That's six clean seats, which is sensational. They have a really good balance. They know how to close out games and be stoic, but they know how to go all out attack as well.

It now becomes tougher, with two tricky away games and although Villarreal are the best team in the group, Rangers have nothing to fear at Ibrox based on their European performances so far. They will be very pleased with how the group has started but three points tonight would have made a massive difference.

Match stats

  • Rangers are unbeaten in all 11 European games under Steven Gerrard, winning five and drawing six;
  • Spartak have won just one of their last 15 away games (D6 L8) in Europe;
  • The Russian side didn't have a shot on target until the 70th minute, through Sofiane Hanni.
Table

Line-ups

Rangers

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1McGregor
  • 2Tavernier
  • 34Worrall
  • 6Goldson
  • 15Flanagan
  • 10Ejaria
  • 8JackSubstituted forGrezdaat 68'minutes
  • 23Coulibaly
  • 21CandeiasBooked at 59minsSubstituted forMiddletonat 86'minutes
  • 20MorelosBooked at 45mins
  • 26Kent

Substitutes

  • 13Foderingham
  • 16Halliday
  • 17McCrorie
  • 19Katic
  • 35Grezda
  • 38Lafferty
  • 40Middleton

Spartak Moscow

Formation 4-3-3

  • 98Maksimenko
  • 92Rasskazov
  • 16Bocchetti
  • 14DzhikiyaBooked at 33mins
  • 25Melgarejo
  • 22IgnatovSubstituted forPopovat 84'minutes
  • 11Lucas MartinsBooked at 45mins
  • 47Zobnin
  • 27LomovitskiySubstituted forEremenkoat 45'minutes
  • 9Mendes Andrade
  • 88TashaevSubstituted forHanniat 45'minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Petkovic
  • 26Eremenko
  • 29Kutepov
  • 32Rebrov
  • 40Timofeev
  • 71Popov
  • 94Hanni
Referee:
Kevin Blom
Attendance:
49,068

Match Stats

Home TeamRangersAway TeamSpartak Moscow
Possession
Home58%
Away42%
Shots
Home12
Away4
Shots on Target
Home3
Away1
Corners
Home10
Away4
Fouls
Home19
Away12

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Rangers 0, Spartak Moscow 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Rangers 0, Spartak Moscow 0.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Eros Grezda (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ryan Kent.

  4. Post update

    Ryan Kent (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Lorenzo Melgarejo (Spartak Moscow).

  6. Post update

    Foul by Joe Worrall (Rangers).

  7. Post update

    Zé Luís (Spartak Moscow) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Post update

    Hand ball by Ryan Kent (Rangers).

  9. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Rangers. Glenn Middleton replaces Daniel Candeias.

  11. Post update

    Delay in match Aleksandr Maksimenko (Spartak Moscow) because of an injury.

  12. Post update

    Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Salvatore Bocchetti.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Spartak Moscow. Ivelin Popov replaces Mikhail Ignatov because of an injury.

  14. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Ovie Ejaria (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  15. Post update

    Connor Goldson (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Zé Luís (Spartak Moscow).

  17. Post update

    Foul by Joe Worrall (Rangers).

  18. Post update

    Zé Luís (Spartak Moscow) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  19. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  20. Post update

    Delay in match Mikhail Ignatov (Spartak Moscow) because of an injury.

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Scores, Results & Fixtures

Thursday 25th October 2018

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Zürich33005239
2B Leverkusen32019726
3Ludogorets301235-21
4AEK Larnaca301236-31

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1RB Salzburg33009369
2RB Leipzig32017436
3Celtic310225-33
4Rosenborg300317-60

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Zenit St Petersburg32104227
2Slavia Prague32012116
3FC Copenhagen31113304
4Bordeaux300325-30

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Dinamo Zagreb33008269
2Fenerbahçe311156-14
3Spartak Trnava310224-23
4Anderlecht301225-31

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Arsenal33008269
2Sporting32014226
3Vorskla Poltava310246-23
4FK Qarabag300306-60

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Real Betis32105147
2AC Milan32015326
3Olympiakos31113304
4F91 Dudelange300306-60

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Rangers31205325
2Villarreal312010555
3Rapid Vienna310238-53
4Spartak Moscow302135-22

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Frankfurt33008269
2Lazio32016606
3Marseille301247-31
4Apollon Limassol301236-31

I

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1KRC Genk32017526
2Malmö FF31113304
3Sarpsborg 0831115504
4Besiktas310257-23

J

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Sevilla320112396
2FK Krasnodar32014316
3Standard Liege320157-26
4Akhisarspor300319-80

K

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1FC Astana31205325
2Dynamo Kyiv31206515
3Rennes310235-23
4FK Jablonec302145-12

L

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Chelsea33005149
2PAOK Salonika31024403
3MOL Vidi310223-13
4BATE Borisov310247-33
View full Europa League tables