Rangers suffer setback, falling 2-1 in Viktoria Plzen, giving Martin's team a 4-2 aggregate advantage and advancing them to the playoff round.
Rangers Advance in Champions League Despite Away Struggles
Rangers have secured a place in the play-off rounds of the Champions League, after a thrilling 4-2 aggregate win over Viktoria Plzen, despite a 2-1 loss in the second leg.
The Scottish Premiership side struggled in the second leg, as the hosts carried momentum into the second half. Viktoria Plzen, based in the Czech Republic, scored first in the match, with Rafiu Durosinmi getting the goal four minutes before halftime.
Svetozar Markovic scored for Viktoria Plzen, heading past Jack Butland from a cross by Christophe Kabongo, to take the lead in the match in the 83rd minute. However, Rangers managed to withstand the late pressure and secured their victory through a scrappy goal by Lyall Cameron, coming from a deflected shot by Danilo.
Butland was in fine form for Rangers, making eight saves in the second leg, including a stunning save to deny Prince Adu, who thought he had scored for Viktoria Plzen with less than 20 minutes remaining. The manager of Rangers, Steven Gerrard, will be particularly grateful for Butland's performance in the match.
Rangers have failed to win any of their last seven away matches in all competitions, and their struggles in away games have been evident in their UEFA Champions League campaign this season. They won convincingly at home against Viktoria Plzeň (3-0) but lost the away leg 2-1, showing a drop in effectiveness on the road.
Their last victory on the road was against Dundee on March 29. The inconsistency in their away performances has been attributed to tactical challenges, travel fatigue, and possible psychological pressure playing away.
Despite these struggles, Rangers have shown strong home form recently, and they will be hoping to continue this form in their upcoming matches.
Despite their troubles on the road, Rangers managed to progress in the Champions League, securing a spot in the play-off rounds with a 4-2 aggregate win over European rivals Viktoria Plzen. Interestingly, Rangers' upcoming matches will see them focusing on improving their sports performance in European leagues, particularly building on their strong home form.
