Rangers kept their Europa League hopes alive with a goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their quarter-final clash, despite playing the majority of the game with 10 men.
The major talking point of the match came in the opening 15 minutes, as Robin Propper was sent off for a foul on Inaki Williams, having been deemed to deny the forward a goalscoring opportunity by VAR.
Rangers bravely fought on, despite being a man down, and they were understandably under pressure from the visitors for most of the match, but the La Liga club struggled to break down the Rangers defence.
Athletic Bilbao thought they had the lead late on, when Alex Berenguer appeared to give them an advantage, but the goal was chalked off for an offside.
However, Dujon Sterling was punished for a handball before the offside, so after another VAR check, the visitors were awarded a penalty, but Berenguer was denied from the spot after a brilliant save from Liam Kelly.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Iconsport
As goalless draws go, that was not bad at all!
The Gers coped well after Propper's dismissal, and Kelly pulled off two excellent saves before the interval, as he tipped Maroan Sannadi's effort over the bar before then stopping Oihan Sancet's header from the resulting corner.
Athletic Bilbao would have been fortunate to have taken a lead with them back to Spain, but it appeared as if it was heading that way, but Berenguer's goal was ruled out for offside, and then he was denied from the penalty spot by Kelly.
Rangers defended superbly under extreme pressure from the visitors, and Bilbao will be very disappointed not to have taken a win back to the Basque Country next week, given that they had a man advantage for most of the match.
The hosts would have absolutely signed up for a 0-0 when Propper was dismissed early on, and they are in with a fighting chance of making it through to the semi-finals with this result.
RANGERS VS. ATHLETIC BILBAO HIGHLIGHTS
13th min: Robin Propper (Rangers) red card
AND IT'S A RED CARD 🟥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 10, 2025
After a lengthy VAR check, Robin Propper is sent off, as Rangers are reduced to 10-men 😱
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Va3DowpuA6
Oh dear - Rangers are going to have to play the majority of this game with 10 men!
Propper brings down Williams just outside the penalty area, and he originally is given a yellow card by the referee, but after a lengthy VAR check it has been upgraded to a red!
82nd min: Liam Kelly (Rangers) penalty save
PENALTY SAVED BY KELLY 🧤
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 10, 2025
After a lengthy VAR check, where Bilbao thought they'd scored, only to be ruled out for offside, but given a penalty instead for handball - Berenguer has his penalty brilliantly kept out by Kelly!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/hpSjtS9l97
An unbelievable few minutes of drama here! Bilbao thought they were ahead through Berenguer, but the goal is ruled out for offside.
Just as Rangers fans are celebrating, after a VAR check, the La Liga club have a penalty due to a handball by Sterling before the goal.
Berenguer still wanted his goal, and he stepped up for the resulting penalty, but Kelly is the hero as he saves to keep the scores level!
MAN OF THE MATCH - LIAM KELLY
© Iconsport
Chosen ahead of Jack Butland in goal, Kelly repaid Barry Ferguson's faith in him with a clean sheet and a penalty save to keep the scores level against the odds.
He made several good saves throughout the evening and was a standout performer for the hosts tonight.
RANGERS VS. ATHLETIC BILBAO MATCH STATS
Possession: Rangers 29%-71% Athletic Bilbao
Shots: Rangers 4-19 Athletic Bilbao
Shots on target: Rangers 0-3 Athletic Bilbao
Corners: Rangers 2-9 Athletic Bilbao
Fouls: Rangers 6-12 Athletic Bilbao
BEST STATS
2 - @Athletic_en have lost both of its visits to Scotland 🏴 in major European competitions, losing 1-0 to Dunfermline Athletic in 1965-66 and 4-1 to Rangers in 1969, both in the Fairs Cup. Wallace#rangersathletic 🦁#EuropaLeague pic.twitter.com/CxeivguppN
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 10, 2025
The Rangers team to face Athletic Bilbao this evening 📋
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) April 10, 2025
Liam Kelly replaces Jack Butland in goal 🧤
18-year-old Bailey Rice makes just his second ever start for the club 👶#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/Bs8D5cd40G
Was it the correct decision to send Robin Propper off? 🟥🤔#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/xYkN6aQoYr
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) April 10, 2025
4 - @Athletic_en 🩶❤ are, along with Braga and U. Saint-Gilloise, the team have caused the most red cards to their opponents this season in any European competition (4, no Spanish team have caused more than the Lions in a single season this century). Verticality#UEL 🦁 pic.twitter.com/hjfL7AdOjm
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 10, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Rangers are in action again at the weekend as they travel to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.
Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao are at home to Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, before they meet Rangers again next Thursday to settle this tie.
Tom Humphrey
