Rangers 0-2 Stuttgart Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
Kick-off: 7.45pm
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Unirea have beaten Sevilla 1-0 so the result at Ibrox was academic as far as the Champions League was concerned. However, Stuttgart's win put an end to any chance of the Europa League. In truth, after three defeats in three home games, the Rangers support may see that as a blessing in disguise. For Walter Smith, it is time to concentrate on the most intriguing SPL title race for years. There is still an away game to be contested in Seville but only pride to play for. That's it from me after another night of disappointment for Scottish teams in Europe.
The match, and Rangers' interest in Europe this season, are over. To be honest, they can have no complaints as they never really got going tonight. Stuttgart were deserving winners and could have matched Unirea and Sevilla for goals, were it not for McGregor's sterling efforts in goal.
Full-time: Rangers 0-2 Stuttgart
90 mins There will be three added minutes but even if Rangers were to grab a late consolation, there would be few at Ibrox left to see it.
87 mins Hitzlsperger has two shots from distance within a minute and David, then McGregor block. Stuttgart are getting chances to pick up a third goal but Rangers are frustrating them.
86 mins The Rangers fans are leaving early and unfortunately, their side hasn't given them anything to cheer tonight. McGregor makes another fine save and he has been the only Rangers man to put in a real performance tonight.
85 mins Kyle Lafferty comes off and DaMarcus Beasley gets the last five minutes.
82 mins Stuttgart have had 20 shots on goal, seven on target. Rangers have had five shots and are yet to get one on target.
81 mins Boka, who has looked shaky at left back, surges forward and, with Whittaker tracking Hitzlsperger, moves into space before blasting a long distance shot narrowly wide.
77 mins Stuttgart break on the right and Pogrebnyak collects the ball into the box. He could play it back to Cacau for a tap-in but elects to turn and smacks the ball of the post. Another let-off for Rangers. This could, and probably should be worse than 2-0.
75 mins Fleck is introduced with Kevin Thomson making way.
74 mins Tormentor-in-chief Kuzmanovic is subbed off with Stuttgart captain and "poor man's Jorg Albertz" Thomas Hitzlsperger coming on. John Fleck is getting stripped and ready to come on for Rangers.
72 mins Davis carries the ball 40 yards before releasing Novo on the right wing but the Spaniard's low cross is to nobody.
70 mins Lafferty is getting a lot of possession on the right but, other than a whipped cross that found Boyd, can't turn advanced positions into opportunity.
66 mins Kevin Thomson, carrying the ball out for from the back, makes the universal "give me an option" hand gesture before playing the direct and long ball forward. Kenny Miller is withdrawn and Nacho Novo comes on. The little Spaniard has done well in Europe before, can he inspire Rangers?
64 mins Rangers still can''t get a foothold in this game. The effort is there but the Bundesliga side seem to always have more time on the ball.
60 mins Could have been three but for McGregor's heroics. Cacau fizzes in a shot that the 'Gers keeper blocks and Pogrebnyak, surely offside, pounces on the rebound. McGregor is up quickly and reacts brilliantly to keep out the follow-up effort.
58 mins Rangers 0-2 Stuttgart Stuttgart break, Rudy crosses from the right and Kuzmanovic rises to head the ball past McGregor. Too easy and you have to think Rangers' European involvement is over, barring a miracle.
58 mins Penalty shout. Davis plays Miller through the middle and the striker goes down but the referee says no.
55 mins Stuttgart have a corner but Rangers clear. not far enough though. Cacau steals the ball from Davis as Rangers try to break and finds Kuzmanovic who shoots from distance.
54 mins Davis plays in Miller but the striker, who should know better, is about a yard offside. Boyd was waiting in the middle and does not look happy.
50mins Stuttgart are definitely out to get a second goal but Rangers just cannot get a grip of the game. Kevin Thomson and Steven Davis are both good players but neither can dictate the pace of the game and Rangers seem to be reacting to Stuttgart all the time instead of creating their own play.
48 mins The second half has developed an early pattern with Stuttgart enjoying the bulk of the possesion and passing comfortably up to Rangers 18-yard line before the ball is blootered clear. Not what the Rangers fans want to see and the atmosphere is a little flat.
46 mins No changes in personnel for Rangers at half-time but they have lined up in a 4-4-2 with Boyd and Miller up front and Lafferty dropping into midfield.
Rangers started poorly but have had dangerous spells and improved as the half went on. They have to really go for it now and Walter Smith will have to sort things out in the dressing room. His tactical changes haven't paid off but Boyd has looked like he could grab a goal tonight. He needs support though, and with Miller and Lafferty both having dropped deep in the first period something needs to change.
With every passing minute of Champions League football this season, the task ahead of Rangers seems to get a little harder. Unirea have taken the lead through an own goal right on half time. That scoreline makes qualification look very unlikely but there is still the Europa League place to consider.
Half-time: Rangers 0-1 Stuttgart
44 mins Not much happening as the game draws towards half-time. Stuttgart comfortable in possession but not being put under enough pressure.
41 mins A goal before half-time would give Rangers belief but they seem to be playing a little too direct and aren't stretching Stuttgart. A nice ball out to Lafferty on the right sees the lanky striker decide to try something different and his long shot is deflected wide. The corner, yet again, is too easy for Lehmann.
38 mins Papac crosses from the left and in a sea of players McCulloch lifts his hand in the general vicinity of Jens Lehmann. As ever, keepers get too much protection and Stuttgart get a free-kick.
36 mins Best chance so far for Rangers. Miller latches on to a clearance and Boyd runs back onside before before his strike partner crosses from deep. Boyd is in space with lehmann rushing out but heads over the bar. Rangers looking far better now and applying a little pressure.
34 mins Boyd is crowded out on the edge of the box and Davis wins the ball when it breaks and smartly wins a corner. The ball in is far too high and hangs in the air for an eternity before bouncing at the back post where there are no blue jerseys.
33 mins McCulloch goes in the book now for catching Hleb a little late.
32 mins Lafferty wins a header on the right and puts it across for Boyd who turns and smacks the ball just wide of the post. A good opportunity and a reminder of what Boyd can do with service.
29 mins Kuzmanovic is pulling the strings in midfield and he feeds Cacau who whistles a shot from a fair distance past McGregor's left post.
27 mins The last few minutes have looked better and Lafferty and Miller have switched flanks. Stuttgart look calmer with the ball at their feet though and look dangerous when they break.
25 mins Thomson sees the yellow card now. The midfielder has had a couple of fouls now and the ref has his eye on him. Time to calm down as Rangers need 11 men if they are to rescue this.
24 mins Georg Niedermaier gets a yellow card for a shove on Boyd.
22 mins McCulloch started at centre-back, moved into a position to screen the defence and has now popped up to join the attack. Everything is looking a little disorganised but Rangers are at least on the front foot now.
20 mins Rangers just haven't settled at all and someone has to make things happen for them. Thomson delivers an inviting cross from the left but Boyd is well marshalled and there is no support coming into the box.
17 mins Rangers are lucky not to be two behind as Stuttgart "score" a free-kick but the assistant flags for offside. It would be hard to argue Pogrebnyak was interfering with play but Rangers won't complain. They have it all to do now as it is.
15 mins Rangers 0-1 Stuttgart Hleb makes it into the box on the left and cuts the ball back. Pogrebnyak missed the chance to bury it but Rudy is at the back post and makes no mistake.
14 mins Boyd is still being treated on the sidelines and Stuttgart are starting to take control.
13 mins Boyd has a cut on the back of his head after being elbowed and the Stuttgart players all point out the blood to the referee. I didn't know they cared.
10 mins Very scrappy again from Rangers as they make a hash of a clearance. Stuttgart players fall over themselves trying to pounce on the loose ball but it comes to nothing.
8 mins A set-piece opportunity after a hand ball sees Thomson float on e into the box but Lehmann comes out to punch under pressure from David Weir. Who says football is a young man's game. Weir and Lehmann have a combined age of 79.
6 mins Early chance for Stuttgart as Cacau turns Weir too easily and rifles in a shot that McGregor does well to save. The corner is wasted but that was a real chance.
5 mins It has all been very scrappy so far. Someone has to put theior foot on the ball and try to get a spell of early possession.
4 mins Miller and Lafferty are both playing deep. Is the newly minted 3-43 a 5-4-1 already? Kris Boyd can't play as a lone striker, it has been said.
3 mins The referee has a word with Kevin Thomson after the midfielder is late and high with a tackle.
1 mins We are off. Can Rangers settle quickly in an unfamiliar formation?
7.40pm Nearly kick-off time at Ibrox. The last twice Stuttgart have visited Ibrox they have gone lost 2-1. Let's hope for a hat-trick of Rangers wins.
7.35pm It's a wet and wild night in Glasgow. I wonder if experienced professionals look at conditions like this and say "Great, it's slide tackling weather". Teenage central defender Danny Wilson may not have grown out of that yet but you have to say his game hasn't lacked maturity so far.
7.30pm I have to admit I'm still surprised by the Rangers line-up. Lafferty, Boyd and Miller has a little bit of everything. Height, pace, a natural goalscorer. It's all shaping up to be an entertaining game. The only worry is that the midfield falls too far back to protect that three man defence.
7.25pm An attacking line-up from Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel too. He's gone for Cacau and Pogrebnyak up front with Hleb and Kuzmanovic supporting. The German side are in big trouble domestically, third bottom of the league and finding it very difficult to score. Kuzmanovic's goal against Hertha Berlin on Saturday is the only goal Stuttgart have scored in the Bundesliga since September.
7.20pm Stuttgart team: Lehmann, Osorio, Niedermaier, Boka, Delpierre, Trasch, Rudy, Hleb, Kuzmanovic, Cacau, Pogrebnyak
7.15pm Well, well, well. Walter Smith never struck me as much of a gambler but he has taken a punt tonight in terms of both tactics and selection. The man who made 4-5-1 his signature line-up has opted for a 3-4-3 formation with Kris Boyd at the apex of the attack. A draw is no use, and all sorts of complicated mathematics required to figure out who could or would go through, the bottom line is Rangers need to win. In poker parlance, Smith is pot committed but does he hold aces? Let us know your thoughts on the team by text or e-mail. Kick-off is half an hour away so stick with us and follow all the action.
Rangers team to face Stuttgart: McGregor; Wilson, Weir, McCulloch; Thomson, Davis, Whittaker, Papac, Naismith; Lafferty, Boyd, Miller.
