Rangers draw with Barca, with a little help

By: Ian Rose | October 23rd, 2007

Barcelona is one of those teams against which a draw is a pretty decent result, even at home. Rangers’ scoreless draw with Barca today brings both of them to 7 points in Champions League group E, with Lyon in third with 3 and Stuttgart looking lost at the bottom with nothing to show for three matches.

I have to admit, though, as happy as I am with Rangers being able to equal one of the best offensive forces in the world (Messi, Henry, etc), they got a lucky break. Well, a few lucky breaks. Barca were pushing in the middle of the second half, and were winning corner after corner, and should have gotten another as Allan McGregor flicked a Ronaldinho free kick over the bar, but it was called a goal kick and Rangers regained possession. The more important one, though, was Alan Hutton blocking a Ronaldinho shot with his hand in the 40th minute. It’s one of those that comes through clearly in instant replay, but in the mass confusion of 14 or so guys in a penalty box, the ref just missed it. So we got away with one.

Altogether, Rangers did basically what they had to do. I was a little disappointed to see them playing for a scoreless draw for most of the match, but a point against Barca is a point against Barca. It’s a result, and it makes it that much harder for Rangers to get caught by Lyon. Not one of the better matches of the day, but I will take the point and be relatively happy with it.

Tomorrow, Benfica v. Celtic.

Category: Scottish Premier League

Tags: Barcelona, Champions League, Games which entirely lack highlight - much less several, Group E, Rangers, Scottish Premier League

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• Ryan |  October 23rd, 2007 at 1:17 pm

  
  
  

  Rangers did what they had to do to win this game, and had a bunch of chances to even go up 0-0. I haven’t seen Barça content to play for a draw at the end of the game for a very long time. Cheers to the Gers for giving it to the Catalans today.

  And I never noticed, but DaMarcus Beasley is incredibly smaller than the rest of the Rangers team.

  Posted from United States

  

• chris |  October 23rd, 2007 at 1:46 pm

  
  
  

  I think Rangers should go through to the knockouts just for the fact that they held a starting lineup including 4 forwards/strikers in Ronaldinho, Henry, Messi and Gudjohnsen to zero goals. Unreal.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ian |  October 23rd, 2007 at 1:56 pm

  
  
  

  I know, chris. That front line is a nightmare, and Rangers handled them incredibly well. Cuellar impresses me more all the time.

  Posted from United States

  

• Nuno |  October 23rd, 2007 at 2:15 pm

  
  
  

  You do know that Celtic are going to loose their game tomorrow, dont you? You were extremely optimistic in your last post and Benfica, without any doubt the biggest club in the world, will miss half of the first team, but Celtic doesnt stand a chance. Watchout for newboys Bynia and Di Di Di Maria!!!

  Posted from Portugal

  

• Ian |  October 23rd, 2007 at 2:28 pm

  
  
  

  “Benfica, without any doubt the biggest club in the world”

  I’M optimistic?

  Hope it’s a good match, mate.

  Posted from United States

  

• Trent |  October 23rd, 2007 at 3:32 pm

  
  
  

  I think this is a pretty good result, even at home. If Gers can nick a point or two (1 down!) from Barca, they can still qualify nicely.

  Posted from United States

  

• Jan |  October 24th, 2007 at 5:13 am

  
  
  

  Another great result for the Rangers. They seem like the biggest surprise team this CL season.

  Posted from Germany

  

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