Rangers' defeat to Progres Niederkorn and other embarrassing European losses
Wednesday 5 July 2017 17:20, UK
After Rangers' shock 2-0 defeat to Progres Niederkorn in the Europa League on Tuesday night, we look at other embarrassing European losses for British teams over the years.
The Scottish Premiership side exited the competition in the first qualifying round after a 2-1 aggregate loss, meaning their return to Europe lasted just two games after being beaten by a part-time team who finished fourth in the Luxembourg league last season.
The setback is arguably one of the worst defeats in the club's 145-year history, coming against a team who lost 3-0 to Shamrock Rovers in Dublin at the same stage of Europe's second-tier competition in 2015.
But how does Rangers' loss compare to other surprise results in Europe? Well, read on and then vote below...
Lincoln Red Imps FC v Celtic (Champions League second qualifying round, July 2016)
Brendan Rodgers' first game in charge of Celtic did not quite go according to plan, as the Scottish Premiership champions were on the end of their worst defeat in European history after losing 1-0 to Gibraltarian part-timers Lincoln Red Imps.
Luckily for Rodgers, there was a second leg in Glasgow the following week for his players to atone for the loss, with Celtic going on to win that clash 3-0 to progress 3-1 on aggregate.
Artmedia Bratislava v Celtic (Champions League second qualifying round, July 2005)
Another tough baptism of fire for a Celtic manager as Gordon Strachan suffered a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Slovakian side Artmedia on his debut in the Hoops dugout.
Juraj Halenar scored a hat-trick for the home team and despite the Glaswegians gaining an element of revenge with a 4-0 win in the return, they still exited Europe's premier club competition before the group stage.
Groclin Grodzisk v Manchester City (Uefa Cup second round, November 2003)
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Manchester, Kevin Keegan's side were still expected to make it through to the Uefa Cup third round against little known Groclin Grodzisk.
However, after waiting 25 seasons to get back into Europe, City then exited the competition with three weeks later in Poland with Grodzisk progressing on away goals after a 0-0 draw in the second leg.
Rotor Volgograd v Manchester United (Uefa Cup, first round, September 1995)
Alex Ferguson's side were competing in the Uefa Cup after relinquishing the Premier League title to Blackburn Rovers the previous season.
However, United did not make it past the first round after surprisingly losing to underdogs Rotor Volgograd 2-2 on aggregate.
The first leg in Russia ended goalless and despite coming back from 2-0 down in the return at Old Trafford, Peter Schmeichel's last-minute equaliser was not enough to prevent United from being eliminated on the away-goals rule.
Trelleborgs FF v Blackburn Rovers (Uefa Cup, first round, September 1994)
Big-spending Blackburn Rovers had earned a place in the 1994/95 Uefa Cup after finishing runners-up to champions Manchester United in the previous campaign.
However, Kenny Dalglish's side suffered a shock first-round loss to minnows Trelleborgs in September 1994.
Rovers, who would go on to win that season's Premier League title, were already on the back foot after losing the first leg 1-0 at Ewood Park. And Blackburn were dumped out of Europe's second-tier competition after only managing a 2-2 draw in the return clash in Sweden.
Have your say on which is the most humiliating European defeat...
