Rangers will take a commanding lead into the second leg of their Champions League third-round qualification tie towards Viktoria Plzen after thrashing the Czech facet 3-0 at Ibrox within the first leg.
Russell Martin was seething with Rangers’ efficiency as they began the Scottish Premiership season with a 1-1 draw at Motherwell on Saturday, saying members of their squad wanted to “drop their egos”.
Nonetheless, he was handled to a much better efficiency from his new facet on Tuesday, with Djeidi Gassama scoring their 14th-minute opener after a give-and-go with Cyriel Dessers.
Dessers received their second simply earlier than half-time, slotting residence from the penalty spot after Oliver Antman was nudged over within the space by visiting captain Matej Vydra.
Rangers continued to hunt objectives after the break however needed to settle for only one extra, with Gassama nodding residence when left unmarked from Antman’s right-wing cross.
Martin’s crew now have one foot within the play-off spherical forward of subsequent Tuesday’s second leg in Czechia, with Salzburg or Membership Brugge awaiting in the event that they advance.
Full-Time: Rangers 3-0 FC Viktoria Plzeň | #UCL
Three objectives at Ibrox in tonight’s first-leg victory. pic.twitter.com/ABmwVoN9SY
— Rangers Soccer Membership (@RangersFC) August 5, 2025
Knowledge Debrief: Gassama’s robust begin continues
It’s honest to say Gassama has hit the bottom operating since arriving from Sheffield Wednesday final month, having scored in all three of the Gers’ Champions League qualifiers up to now.
Having netted in each legs of their 3-1 combination success towards Panathinaikos, Gassama now has 4 objectives in simply three European matches for Martin’s crew.
Vaclav Cerny (six within the Europa League) was the one Gers participant to attain greater than 4 objectives in European competitors all through the complete 2024-25 marketing campaign.