This week saw both Glasgow sides in Europa League action, as Rangers took on Bulgarian champions Ludogorets at Ibrox whilst Celtic travelled to Italy to take on Bologna.
With the Gers all but out and sitting on just a mere point in the Europa League, they were playing for pride and looking to continue their improving form under Danny Röhl.
On the other hand Celtic took on an out of form Bologna side on their quest for qualification to the next round, with a result abroad being massively important to a top 24 place.
Rangers Finally Get First win of European Campaign
Rangers beat Bulgarian champions Ludogorets as they extended their winning run to seven games and finally got their first three points in the Europa League.
The hosts took control in the opening stages of the game, although they struggled to create any real clear cut chances in front of goal and lacked cutting edge in the final third.
And it would be the away side that had the first real chance of the game, when some nice interplay down the left wing set up Peter Stanic inside the Rangers box, but Jack Butland was fast off his line with a crucial block.
Rangers came up with the perfect response to this, as a scrappy fight for the ball eventually fell to Mohammed Diomande who could stab the ball low into the net for the opener.
The game lacked much clinical play and there was a general dead feeling around Ibrox, both the players and fans were well aware that this game ultimately meant nothing.
This didn’t change going into the second half, and although Rangers did have multiple chances to double their advantage, the game fizzled out as a narrow win for the hosts, who will be happy to continue their winning form in what was a meaningless game.
Ten-Men Hoops Battle for Point in Italy
Elsewhere in Scottish football, Celtic travelled to Italy to take on Bologna, playing with a renewed confidence under Martin O’Neill and his coaching staff, they hoped to win and gain a vital three points for qualification.
The Hoops couldn’t had asked for a better start when goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski gifted Daizen Maeda the ball, who then squared for Reo Hatate to turn the ball into an empty net and give Celtic a priceless lead after just five minutes.
The Pole was called into action shortly after to deny Yang, as Celtic looked to double their advantage, however as time went on it was the hosts that started to take control.
Kasper Schmeichel was called into action on several occasions whilst Auston Trusty and Callum McGregor made vital blocks to deny the hosts search for an equaliser.
With their backs already against the wall, things got even harder for Celtic as goalscorer Hatate was sent off for two yellow cards accumulated in three minutes, leaving Martin O’Neill and the travelling support furious.
This didn’t seem to halt the Hoops though, and just six minutes later they had doubled their advantage with Auston Trusty arriving at the back post to knock the ball off of the bar and just over the line.
Bologna came out in the second half completely in control and despite the ten men of Celtic holding strong for the early minutes of the half, they would eventually find the breakthrough.
It came after a crossed ball was flicked on and met by Thijs Dallinga who headed home with too much power from Schmeichel.
The hosts continued to batter Celtic with chance after chance as they searched for an elusive equaliser, their search eventually proving successful when Englishman Jonathan Rowe smashed the ball high into the Celtic net from the edge of the box.
Celtic manged to see out the rest of the game, and despite being two goals to the good at half time, they will be more than happy with what was a well fought for point abroad in Europe.
Featured Image Credit: Vincenzo.togni via Wikimedia Commons
2nd year journalism and sport student at the University of Stirling, with a particular interest in music and sports. Sport editor for Brig Newspaper.
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