Porto 3-1 Rangers: Player ratings + talking points as blunt visitors collapse after fast start to end campaign with a whimper
How we rated the Rangers players in their 3-1 Europa League defeat against Porto at the Estádio do Dragão
Rangers’ miserable Europa League campaign ended in a whimper as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat against classy Portuguese powerhouses Porto at the Estadio Do Dragao.
While Danny Rohl has managed to reinvigorate the Ibrox club since his appointment back in October, his arrival came too late to salvage their European campaign.
And this performance in northern Portugal summed up their failings on the continent this season as a run of eight games without defeat came to an abrupt end.
Despite taking the lead in the early exchanges, the visitors folded like a pack of cards. But there was still enough positive signs for Rohl and his players to take forward into Sunday’s huge Premiership clash against Hibs.
With little to play for against a fallen Euro giant barring the opportunity to maintain their impressive run of form after their League Phase elimination was confirmed last week, head coach Rohl opted to rotate his starting line-up and a change of shape with one eye already fixed on Easter Road.
There were five changes from the team that saw off Dundee 3-0 to stretch their unbeaten run to eight games last weekend, with Max Aarons drafted in to form a back five defensive line, Findlay Curtis given the nod out wide and Youssef Chermiti recovering from illness to spearhead the attack.
It was a youthful looking bench with five academy prospects all hopeful of making their European debut, while captain James Tavernier became the Light Blues’ joint-top European appearance holder alongside legendary keeper Allan McGregor on 109 games.
There might have been no hope of finishing inside the top 24 qualifying spots, but Rangers looked well up for the battle against an in-form Porto team, who had won nine and drawn one of their last 10 games and were in the thick of the fight for a place in the last-16 of the competition.
While the hosts have been imperious on home soil this season and expected to present the biggest challenge of Rangers’ recent improvement, Francesco Farioli’s men were left stunned as they fell behind to the visitors first attack after only six minutes.
The Portuguese giants were slack in attempting to play out from the back, allowing Curtis - justifying his inclusion once again - to swing in a teasing cross towards the back post where Djeidi Gassama was lurking to plant a downward header back across the keeper into the net - his sixth goal in Europe this season.
Porto looked dangerous on the counter, though, and they were back on level terms after 27 minutes with a sweeping move that cut the visitors open. It stemmed from Nicolas Raskin losing possession, with the ball eventually reaching teenage sensation Rodrigo Mora who took a neat touch under pressure in the penalty area before slotting low past Jack Butland.
Thereafter, the home side began to turn the screw, and a quickfire second almost arrived moments later. It took an outstanding last-ditch challenge from Manny Fernandez to deny Pepe and despite the home fans’ loud appeals for a penalty, the referee allowed play to continue after a VAR check.
Rangers’ bright start had been extinguished and they fell behind after an embarrassing breakdown in communication saw Butland and Tavernier collide as the keeper came to collect the ball, allowing it to spill out to Francisco Moura who backheeled into an empty net. It was truly slapstick stuff.
And things went from bad to worse for Danny Rohl’s side shortly before half-time when a corner from the left was turned into his own net by centre-back Fernandez as he rose to challenge Jan Bednarek at the front post.
While there was nothing on the line, Rangers still had to regroup quickly after that dramatic collapse to prevent the score line from turning really ugly. At times, they struggled to cope with Porto’s vibrant and clinical attack.
John Souttar replaced the inexperienced Jayden Meghoma at the break as Rohl looked to shore up his backline, with Aarons moving across to cover at left-back.
The second half was one of precious few chances. Porto rarely looked like adding a fourth, perhaps in the mindset that it was job done in their case with a top eight finish all-but confirmed.
Rangers were seeing more of the ball without testing the goalkeeper after Rohl opted for a change of formation. The German boss continued to ring the changes as the half wore on with fit-again winger Oliver Antman among those to benefit from some valuable game time ahead of Sunday’s visit to the capital.
Raskin had a 30-yard drive comfortably saved by Costa before substitute Bojan Miovski failed to trouble the shot-stopper with a tame header from Aarons’ knock down.
The game fizzled out in the closing stages with Pepe’s effort from a Borja Sainz lay-off straight at Butland.
The full-time whistle brought Rangers bleak campaign to an end with just four points claimed from eight Europa League assignments, losing all of their away fixtures and scoring only three times in the process.
Here, GlasgowWorld breaks down three main talking points from the 90 minutes and how the Rangers players fared:
Rangers crumble after encouraging start
After an incredible start, it was Rangers who looked the more assured and displaying the confidence of a team that had won their last eight games. How quickly things can change...
Ultimately, the damage was done in the space of 14 first-half minutes when the 30x Primeira League champions scored three goals to render Gassama’s headed opener a mere consolation.
It was a nightmarish end to a first half that began so encouragingly. They crumbled under intense Porto pressure and were severely punished for some questionable defending.
Curtis offers spark ahead of loan move
Kilmarnock have an agreement in principle to sign Curtis on loan for the rest of the season and what a coup he could prove to be for Neil McCann’s struggling side in their battle to avoid relegation.
There have been question marks over how much game time the youngster will get following the recent arrival of Andreas Skov Olsen, and with Oliver Antman now back from injury, a move away from Ibrox in the short-term should benefit Curtis, who offered the bright spark that he has often showed when given an opportunity to impress.
Full focus now turns to title race
With Europe now consigned to the history books, Rohl’s side now return to domestic matters with a trip to Leith this weekend. With their unbeaten streak over, attention will quickly shift back on reigniting momentum in the title race as Rangers look to stay ahead of rivals Celtic and close the gap on leaders Hearts.
Rangers player ratings vs Porto
GK - Jack Butland (5/10)
RB - Max Aarons (5/10)
CB - Nasser Djiga (5/10)
CM - Nicolas Raskin (6/10)
CM - Mohamed Diomande (6/10)
LCF - Findlay Curtis (7/10)
RCF - Djeidi Gassama (6/10)
CF - Youssef Chermiti (5/10)