MX23RW : Thursday, June 13 11:02:52| >> :600:16838898:16838898:
[monks data]
Europa League | Group Stage
Dec 10, 2020 at 5.55pm UK
INEA stadion
Rangers logo

Lech Poznan
0 - 2
Rangers

FT(HT: 0-1)
Itten (31'), Hagi (72')
Zungu (8'), Balogun (57')

Rangers secure top spot with two-goal victory over Lech Poznan

Rangers secure top spot with two-goal victory over Lech Poznan
© Reuters
Being seeded means Rangers can avoid a string of European heavyweight sides.

Rangers banked a £1.4million windfall as Steven Gerrard's team made sure they will be seeded for Monday's Europa League last-32 draw with victory in Poland.

A 2-0 triumph over Lech Poznan at Stadion Miejski earned the Light Blues the standard £515,000 win bonus – plus an extra £900,000 prize for pipping Benfica to top Group D.

But it is the fact Gers are now set to avoid a string of European heavyweights – including Manchester United, Arsenal, Ajax, Bayer Leverkusen, and Roma – in the next round which will be priceless to Gerrard.

Striker Cedric Itten fired the Light Blues ahead as he made the most of a rare run out through the middle before Ianis Hagi confirmed the unbeaten Scottish Premiership leader's fourth victory from six games as he tapped home from point-blank range after the break.

Having secured qualification with last week's win over Standard Liege, Gerrard decided it was too risky to name a full-strength side ahead of Sunday's vital league trip to Dundee United.

He made seven changes to the team which thrashed Ross County on Sunday as Itten, Bongani Zungu and 19-year-old Nathan Patterson came in to make their first European starts.

But there was still plenty of experience with the ever-present Connor Goldson lining up along with Borna Barisic and Scott Arfield.

Poznan had lost four of their previous five group games but the hosts settled quicker than the unfamiliar Gers line-up.

Jon McLaughlin, back in goal as he replaced Allan McGregor, had to gather Pedro Tiba's strike at the second attempt.

Patterson and Zungu's nerves were also apparent, with the latter harshly booked after slipping as he challenged Karlo Muhar. The South African midfielder was then rescued by Barisic after gifting the ball away just outside his own box.

From the corner, Poznan worked a crossing opportunity but Lubomir Satka missed a glorious chance as he put his free header over McLaughin's bar.

Gers did find their feet by the half-hour mark and thought they had the opener as Patterson's cross found Itten – but Kaminski's desperate block kept the Swiss hitman out.

But Poznan's saviour turned sinner just seconds later as he fired the ball straight to the man he had just foiled. Itten still had work to do but brilliantly skipped beyond Djordje Crnomarkovic before drilling an unstoppable drive past keeper Filip Bednarek at his near post to hand Rangers a 31st-minute lead.

Ianis Hagi should have made it two just before the break as he galloped onto Itten's flick but the Romanian did not have the pace to shrug off Satka, who recovered well to get a block in.

McLaughlin dealt well with Tymoteusz Puchacz's free-kick.

Patterson – who had put in a display to be proud off after shaking off his early butterflies – was replaced by skipper James Tavernier on 65 minutes.

And Gers had more to celebrate with 18 minutes left as they sealed the win.

Goldson thought he had got the all important second goal as his firm header from Barisic's set-piece clipped the bar before bouncing down on to the line but it took the replays to show that it had not crossed over until Hagi darted to in to make sure with his header.

Hagi was just getting into full flow as he tried for a second but was replaced by Ryan Kent soon after forcing Bednarek to throw himself full-length to parry away a stinging shot.

ID:425962: cacheID:425962:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5869:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard pictured on November 22, 2020
Read Next:
Steven Gerrard: 'Finishing first in group is not about the money'
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, June 14
 
8pm
Saturday, June 15
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Sunday, June 16
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Monday, June 17
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, June 18
 
5pm
Wednesday, June 19
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Thursday, June 20
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Group Stage
Spain
vs.
Italy
Friday, June 21
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 22
 
5pm
 
8pm
Sunday, June 23
 
8pm
 
8pm
Monday, June 24
 
8pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, June 25
 
5pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
 
8pm
Wednesday, June 26
 
5pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 29
Sunday, June 30
Monday, July 1
Tuesday, July 2
Friday, July 5
Saturday, July 6
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany00000
2 Hungary Hungary00000
3 Scotland flag Scotland00000
4 Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Albania national flag Albania00000
2 Croatia Croatia00000
3 Italy Italy00000
4 Spain Spain00000

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Denmark Denmark00000
2 England flag England00000
3 Serbia Serbia00000
4 Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Austria Austria00000
2 France France00000
3 Netherlands Netherlands00000
4 Poland Poland00000

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Belgium Belgium00000
2 Romania Romania00000
3 Slovakia Slovakia00000
4 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Portugal Portugal00000
4 Turkey Turkey00000


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!