Champions League following a goalless draw with
Barcelona at Ibrox tonight.
It was at times a backs-to-the-wall performance from
the Light Blues against a side many would regard as
the world's finest, and certainly the strong
favourites to win the competition this season - but it
was a result that leaves the Ibrox men in a strong
position to progress from this most difficult of
groups.
Remarkably Rangers are now unbeaten in thirteen
Champions League fixtures, including four qualifiers,
since losing 0-1 to Internazionale Milan in September
2005, a run that has incorporated six clean sheets out
of seven this season alone.
The capacity crowd of 49,957 spectators included a
healthy contingent from Catalonia, and many might have
viewed the presence of Austrian Referee Konrad Plautz
as a favourable omen, given that he had taken charge
of Rangers 1-1 draw at Ibrox with the aforementioned
Inter which ensured qualification for the knock-out
stages of the Champions League two seasons ago, not to
mention Scotland's memorable win in Paris last month.
Barca were a club that Rangers had encountered twice
before, in 1956 and 1974, but never in a competitive
European fixture, but the Catalans certainly knew how
to endear themselves to the Light Blue legions by
wearing their change strip of bright orange.
Manager Walter Smith fielded an unchanged side from
Saturday's 'Old Firm' encounter, but it was the
visitors who were first to threaten - Carles Puyol's
header from Xavi Hernandez's corner in five minutes
clearing the crossbar.
Ten minutes later Ronaldinho was presented with an
opportunity to demonstrate his dead-ball expertise
with a thirty-yard free-kick only to sky it over, but
when in 23 minutes the same scenario presented itself
the Brazilian's effort was touched onto the crossbar
by Allan McGregor.
Kevin Thomson was yellow-carded in 36 minutes for a
foul on Ronaldinho, a booking that will keep him out
of the Nou Camp fixture in two weeks time.
Three minutes later Puyol saw his header from a
Thierry Henry cross turned over by McGregor, then from
the resultant Xavi Hernandez corner Ronaldinho's shot
was blocked by Alan Hutton.
Somehow Rangers survived to the interval on level
terms, but Barca were still forcing the pace upon the
restart - Eidur Gudjohnsen seeing his 25-yard shot
parried by McGregor in 54 minutes.
Eight minutes later the referee was obliged to speak
to Barcelona Coach Frank Rijkaard following an
altercation with the fourth official - a sign perhaps
that the Catalan giants were becoming frustrated.
Nevertheless Henry missed a golden opportunity to
break the deadlock in 68 minutes when he headed over
from a Xavi Hernandez corner, yet within sixty seconds
at the other end Daniel Cousin's cross was inches away
from being turned home by the inrushing Nacho Novo and
Barry Ferguson.
Cousin himself squandered a golden opportunity when he
shot wide from a Barry Ferguson cross in eighty
minutes, but as the minutes ticked away it was clear
that Barcelona, as well as Rangers, were content to
settle for a share of the spoils.
The final whistle produced a massive roar from the
Ibrox legions, an indication of just how vital a point
was tonight.
In the other group fixture, Lyon defeated Stuttgart
2-0 in Germany - meaning Rangers (and Barcelona) lead
the group by four points from the French club.
Afterwards Walter Smith summed up:
"I'm delighted with the result. We defended very well,
but were forced to do so by an excellent team.
Barcelona did not have all that many goalscoring
opportunities. Our levels of concentration were tested
to the limit."
Barcelona Coach Franl Rijkaard reflected:
"We played to win, started well and had excellent
possession. It was disappointing not to score, but
Rangers defended well, they are a very strong team. A
draw is not a bad result."
RANGERS McGregor; Hutton, Weir, Cuellar, Papac; Novo
(Beasley 71), Ferguson, Thomson, Adam, McCulloch;
Cousin
UNUSED SUBS Carroll, Boyd, Broadfoot, Whittaker,
Naismith, Faye
BARCELONA Valdes; Thuram, Milito, Puyol, Abidal; Xavi
Hernandez, Iniesta, Gudjohnsen; Messi, Henry (Giovani
81), Ronaldinho
UNUSED SUBS Jorquera, Sylvinho, Ezquerro, Oleguer,
Crosas, Bojan Krkic
REFEREE Konrad Plautz (Austria)
Attendance 49,957