Rangers secured top spot in Europa League Group D with an impressive 2-0 win over Lech Poznan in Poland on Thursday night.
With qualification for the Round of 32 already secured, Steven Gerrard made seven changes to the side that hammered Ross County 4-0 in Dingwall at the weekend.
The hosts had little to play for in the game, but it was they who created the first clear opportunity, with skipper L’ubomir Šatka heading over from close range.
It was the Gers who opened the scoring, though, in the 32nd minute. Moments after seeing an effort blocked, Cedric Itten drove into the box and worked space for a shot, before firing a superb finish beyond Filip Bednarek and high into the net.
Oozing confidence following his first Europa League goal, Itten was involved again moments later as the visitors almost doubled their lead. The Swiss international released Ianis Hagi in behind and the Rangers no.7’s deflected shot narrowly missed to the left.
Hagi got another effort away shortly after the interval, following a flick from Glen Kamara, but it was comfortably saved by Bednarek.
The Romania international’s persistence finally paid off in the 72nd minute, though, when he had the simple task of heading over the line after Connor Goldson’s looping header from a Borna Barisic free-kick had come off the bottom of the crossbar.
Hagi saw a dipping shot from range well-saved in the 76th minute, before he was replaced in one of five substitutions made by Gerrard.
The ease with which Jon McLaughlin kept a clean sheet in his first European appearance for the club was an indication of the control the Gers had in the game, and after seeing out a 2-0 win, they will now be seeded in Monday’s draw as their remarkable unbeaten run reaches 26 matches.
