Lech Poznan vs Rangers. UEFA Europa League Group D.
INEA Stadion.
Report as Rangers win 2-0 at Lech Poznan to extend their unbeaten run this season to 26 matches; goals either side of half-time from Cedric Itten and Ianis Hagi see visitors top Group D; as a result, Rangers will now be seeded in Monday's draw for Europa League last 32
Thursday 10 December 2020 23:53, UK
Rangers beat Lech Poznan 2-0 in their final Europa League group game to top Group D and be seeded for the draw for the last 32 of the competition.
Cedric Itten's powerful drive gave Rangers the lead just past the half-hour mark, the Swiss striker's first European goal for the club.
Ianis Hagi's first goal since August with 18 minutes to go sealed the win for Steven Gerrard's side, who finished above second-placed Benfica in the group and so should get a more favourable last-32 tie in Monday's draw.
Gerrard made seven changes to the team that won 4-0 at Ross County on Sunday, with Jon McLaughlin making his first European appearance in goal and 19 year-old Nathan Patterson starting at right-back for the first time, not that you would have known after a dominant display at the INEA Stadion on Thursday.
The hosts could, and should, have opened the scoring early on, only for captain Lubomir Satka to somehow head Jakub Kaminski's inch-perfect cross off target from six yards out.
But it was the visitors who took a 31st-minute lead thanks to a brilliant strike from Itten - given his chance in attack as Gerrard left Alfredo Morelos on the bench - albeit with some help from Poznan as Kaminski gifted possession straight to the Swiss.
However, the forward still had a lot to do to find the net from an acute angle, but his rising drive into the top right-hand corner of the goal left Filip Bednarek helpless at his near post.
Hagi, another handed a rare start up front by the Rangers boss, almost doubled the visitors lead just before half-time, before the Romania international did give his side breathing space on 72 minutes.
Borna Barisic's floated free-kick into the area was headed goalwards by Connor Goldson, only for the defender's looping effort to beat Bednarek and strike the underside of the bar, with Hagi making sure by nodding home from on the line.
The acting Rangers skipper thought it was his goal, only for replays to show that the ball had not crossed the whole of the line before Hagi's touch, not that the visiting players cared.
And now the runaway Scottish Premiership leaders, who extended their unbeaten run this season to 26 games in the process, can now look forward to Monday's last-32 draw not fearing anyone left in the competition.
Steven Gerrard: "I think it is a huge achievement to win the group and it is thoroughly deserved.
"Going on our performances over the six games, we deserve to be in the number one position and with a bit more experience we could have won the six games.
"But I don't think we are ready to be named in the same bracket as some of those big powerhouses across Europe.
"We have to focus and concentrate on ourselves. I think our progress and how quickly we are moving forward is clear to see, certainly from a European point of view.
"There were a lot of changes that needed to be made when we came in because of what had gone on in Europe in terms of not qualifying against part-timers in the first round.
"So to be at this level now and competing and beating teams at this level shows the big steps that we have taken as a group. The challenge now is can we keep building on it?
"We are looking forward to the draw on Monday. We will need a bit of luck, of course we will.
"But when Europe comes around again in February time we will hopefully have a fit squad and if we do we will be a challenge for whoever we face."
The Switzerland international was given a rare opportunity to showcase his talents up front as Steven Gerrard opted to rotate his squad for their final Europa League group clash in Poland, but the striker has now given his manager a selection dilemma for Sunday's trip to Dundee United after this impressive performance.
The 23-year-old, who joined the club from St Gallen in August 2020, made the crucial first-half breakthrough in Poznan with an unstoppable finish into the roof of the net.
However, the frontman also displayed a number of lovely touches in his excellent hold-up play, in particular when sending Hagi through on goal with a gorgeous layoff just before the interval.
And after this display, the player could now be in contention to lead the line at Tannadice on Sunday lunchtime.
Rangers take on Dundee United at Tannadice in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday at 12pm, with the match live on Sky Sports Football.
Meanwhile, the draw for the Europa League last 32 will take place at midday on Monday, December 14 in Nyon - after the Champions League last-16 draw. You will be able to follow it across Sky Sports' platforms.
