Five-star Gers Pole-axe Amica

Rangers got their Group F campaign off to a flying start with a 5-0 win over Amica Wronki.

Alex McLeish's side proved far too strong for their Polish opponents to coast to an easy victory and top place in their group.

Amica started brightly and came close to scoring in the second minute when Pawel Kryszalowicz set up Mateusz Bartczak inside the box, but he rushed his shot firing well wide of the target.

Rangers had a let-off six minutes later when Jacek Dembinski ghosted into the box unmarked to get on to a flick on inside the box, but with the goal at his mercy he fired his shot into the side-netting.

Rangers began to get a foothold in the game and they broke the deadlock on 17 minutes through Peter Lovenkrands.

Shota Arveladze helped create the goal with a fine run past two defenders and when the ball broke to Lovenkrands in space he rifled a low shot into the net past Arkadiusz Malarz.

Marvin Andrews got in a vital challenge on 36 minutes to deny Marcin Burkhardt getting a shot in on Stefan Klos after a clever pass from Dembinski.

Dado Prso came close to adding to Rangers' lead on 54 minutes with a nice turn and shot on the edge of the box which flew just wide of the far post.

Rangers did double their lead three minutes later with substitute Nacho Novo scoring with almost his first touch after a neat back-heel from Prso.

Amica came within inches of pulling a goal back on 67 minutes when Dembinski somehow hit the crossbar from six yards out after the ball had been headed into his path.

Rangers made the game safe two minutes later with Prso teeing the ball up on the edge of the area for Fernando Ricksen to smash his shot into the bottom corner.

The Scottish outfit grabbed a fourth when Arveladze converted from the penalty spot after he had been felled in the area.

Substitute Steven Thompson wrapped up the win with the fifth a minute from time with a simple header after Malarz could only palm out Chris Burke's powerful cross.

In the other game in the group Auxerre were held to a disappointing goalless draw by Grazer AK at Stade Abbe-Deschamps in their opening game.

Both sides showed plenty of attacking endeavour, but neither could find the crucial goal which would have won the day for them.

Kanga Akale had the best chance of the game on 56 minutes for Auxerre when he was played in by Bonaventure Kalou, but he dragged his shot horribly wide.

Kalou himself had a chance to break the deadlock three minutes from time, but his volley was too weak to trouble Andreas Schranz and Auxerre had to be content with a point.

Match summaries:
Amica Wronki 0-5 Rangers
Auxerre 0-0 Grazer AK

 	Amica Wronki	Rangers
Possession %	46%	54%
Goals	0	5
Shots on target	2	5
Shots off target	10	6
Blocked shots	5	2
Corners	10	5
Fouls	15	11
Offsides	3	3
Yellow cards	0	0
Red cards	0	0