Rangers are into the last eight of the Uefa Cup for the first time in their history after a backs-to-the-wall display in Germany.
Defiant Rangers triumph in Germany
Rangers are into the last eight of the Uefa Cup for the first time in their history after a backs-to-the-wall display in Germany.
The Gers lost their second leg 1-0 to Werder Bremen but won through to the quarter-finals courtesy of a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Rangers were indebted to the heroics of goalkeeper Allan McGregor who time and time again denied the Bundesliga side with a string of superb saves.
It took a piece of magic from Brazilian Diego to fire the German side ahead after 58 minutes, with a neat turn and low left foot shot.
But despite almost constant pressure Rangers hung on, McGregor tipping Boubacar Sanogo's close range effort on to the bar six minutes from time.
Quick start
Bremen wasted no time stamping their authority on the battle. Just 100 seconds into the game, Daniel Jensen shot from the right corner of the box - a low drive which flew inches past the left post.
Markus Rosenberg failed to control a header from Per Mertesacker's deep ball, then Sebastian Boenisch dragged a 20-yard effort wide and Hugo Almeida nodded over from Aaron Hunt.
Rangers had difficulties coping with the pressure but they managed an attack and Charlie Adam found himself with time and space inside the Werder box. However, Mertesacker made sure he got nothing out of the situation.
Rosenberg then forced McGregor into a strong save with a shot from 16 yards out on the right, then the unmarked Tim Borowski volleyed over from close range.
The hosts kept going forward, with McGregor spectacularly stopping a well-struck effort from Jensen in the 24th minute. McGregor was impressive again when he tipped a shot from right-back Patrick Owomoyela past the left post.
But luck was on his side in the next move as he misjudged a cross from the left and Almeida headed wide.
Novo then wasted a golden chance to break the deadlock following a superb feed from Kirk Broadfoot, who passed the ball down the right flank. The striker's shot from a sharp angle was fisted away by Tim Wiese.
One sided
Naldo tested McGregor with a thunderous 38th-minute free-kick, before Adam picked up the first booking of the match for a foul on Diego shortly before the end of a one-sided first half.
Neither side made a change during the half-time break and the pattern of the match largely remained the same. Bremen launched one furious assault after another and McGregor made two fine saves from Jensen moments after the interval.
Steven Whittaker came on for Adam before Diego eventually put his side in the lead in the 58th minute.
The Brazilian playmaker fooled two Rangers defenders on the edge of the box and then beat McGregor with a low shot to the right.
Rangers almost pulled one back straight away but Steven Davis stepped over a superb ball from Broadfoot.
Resolute defending
David Weir and Carlos Cuellar did well to defend their box but whatever they headed away came straight back at them. Mertesacker threatened with a header off Bremen's 14th corner.
A run from Whittaker into the box killed some valuable time for the visitors - even though the resulting corner was cleared.
Six minutes from time McGregor denied Sanogo what appeared a certain goal when he finger-tipped on to the crossbar from point-blank range.
But Rangers did not allow Bremen another chance, surviving a dramatic final minute to book their place in the last eight.
