It was far from a spectacle, but when survival in the Europa League is on the line, aesthetics take a back seat.
Rangers clawed their way to a crucial draw against Athletic Club last night, and the result sparked reactions from across Spain, the Basque Country, and beyond.
The Ibrox side had their backs against the wall following Robin Propper’s early red card, but Ernesto Valverde’s side couldn’t make their advantage count.
Alex Berenguer thought he’d found the breakthrough, only for his goal to be ruled offside. Even when the incident was reviewed and turned into a penalty due to an earlier foul by Leon Balogun, Liam Kelly stepped up to deny him—cementing his status as the unlikely hero after replacing Jack Butland in goal.
Barry Ferguson was clearly the happier manager at full-time, but global media reactions were mixed—some praising Rangers’ grit, others less complimentary.
Deia (Basque Country)
Deia noted that Rangers played the underdog role to perfection, piling the pressure on Athletic Club before the match. Barry Ferguson labeled the Basque outfit as tournament favourites, but Valverde didn’t bite.
Athletic couldn’t blame the referee or external factors—their failure to score was purely down to their own inefficiency. They couldn’t find a way past a 10-man Rangers side despite nearly 100 minutes of play. The result leaves Rangers very much alive, having broken a five-game losing streak at Ibrox, while Athletic must now summon the spirit of San Mamés.
This match also snapped a streak of 18 European games in which Athletic had scored, the last blank being in 2017 against Zorya Lugansk.
Koha (Albania)
Koha described a fiery atmosphere at Ibrox for the goalless first leg of the quarter-final. The match had drama but no goals, with everything to be decided in the return leg. Albanian international Nedim Bajrami made a brief appearance in stoppage time for Rangers.
Todo Alicante (Spain)
Todo Alicante emphasized the missed opportunity by Athletic. Despite playing with a numerical advantage from the 13th minute, they couldn’t break down a resilient Rangers side. Berenguer missed a late penalty after scoring a disallowed goal, leaving it all to be decided in Bilbao.
Cyril Dessers came close for Rangers, who refused to lie down even when reduced to nine men following an injury to Dujon Sterling after all subs had been used.
Daily Mail (UK)
The Mail highlighted the adversity Rangers faced—down to ten men early after Propper’s reckless foul on Inaki Williams, and later nine after Sterling’s injury.
Liam Kelly, chosen over Jack Butland, became the match-winner with a crucial penalty save. Despite the odds, every Rangers player rose to the occasion, showing the kind of heart and discipline needed at this level.
Super Deporte (Spain)
Super Deporte echoed the theme—domination without reward for Athletic. Rangers’ resistance proved enough to keep the tie alive. Valverde’s men will now count on the energy of San Mamés to push them through to the semi-finals.
Irish Examiner (Ireland)
The Examiner hailed Liam Kelly as the star of the night, saving a penalty and anchoring a defiant 10-man Rangers side. The Scots held firm through 12 minutes of stoppage time, even after going down to nine men, and have left themselves with a fighting chance in the return leg.
Berria (Basque Country)
Berria struck a slightly frustrated tone—Athletic should have taken more from the game, especially with a man advantage from the 12th minute. They dominated possession but couldn’t convert it into goals. Now it’s up to San Mamés to deliver.
