Thursday night Rangers defy the Bilbao odds as Liam Kelly saves the day (2025)

After a tumultuous 90 minutes plus 12-added on the Ibrox roar was back to greet a lion-hearted performance

The fear was Bilbao’s home growns would inflict more home groans on Rangers.

But after a tumultuous 90 minutes plus 12-added on the Ibrox roar was back to greet a lion-hearted performance that emphatically ends the horror run of five consecutive defeats on their own turf.

Another of those magical mystery Thursday nights in Govan meant Barry Ferguson’s players were back basking in their fans’ glow after holding the Basque giants for almost 90 minutes with 10 men.

It was a night for heroes. And none more so than Liam Kelly, brought back in for the error-prone Jack Butland, who produced a wonder penalty save late in the second half to ensure Rangers Euro dream lives on.

5 TALKING POINTS

A Propper performance

If Rangers task wasn’t tough enough the 13th minute red card dished out to Robin Propper gave them an absolute mountain to climb. The Dutch defender, back for his first start since Fenerbahce away, was done by Inaki Williams’ quick turn as the winger burst into the box, and by the letter of the law was not just last man but also denied a clear goalscoring opportunity. Propper thought he’d escaped with a yellow but when Istvan Kovacs was called to the monitor there was only going to be one outcome.

That meant Rangers, who had started with a back three that quickly became a back five when out of possession, reverting to a four after the red card. But even defending their own 18 yard line they looked comfortable and organised in two banks of four. Dujon Sterling and Leon Balogun in particular were immense in the heart of the battle. The character and fight that missing against Hibs was certainly there. It looked like a sixth straight home defeat was on the cards. But Rangers earned their get out of jail card produced by Kelly's penalty save.

No Buts

Ferguson promised there would be big calls in his starting XI. And of his six changes there was no doubting the biggest as Jack Butland was dropped after a series of clangers. In came Liam Kelly - and answered his boss’ SOS with a heroic display. The understudy has had his own critics but his penalty save after 79 minutes almost took the rood off Ibrox and ensured Rangers head to Spain with a real fighting chance. Kelly brilliantly booted Alejandro Ramiro’s spot kick to safety with his trailing foot but over and above that showed a real safe pair of hands as Rangers soaked up waves of attack. The former Motherwell keeper looked lively, made good first half saves when he topped Marian Sannadi’s effort over and from the corner threw himself to hold onto Orhan Sancet’s header. But it was the other bits where he impressed just as much. Like dealing with the bread and butter crosses and sweeping up outside his box when Bilbao broke. The number one jersey is his now. Where this leaves Butland is anyone’s guess.

Teenage kicks

If dropping Butland was a big call then handing 18-year-old Bailey Rice only his second start on such a big occasion wasn’t far behind. The kid had only started against Queen’s Park before and became the youngest Ger since Danny Wilson in 2009 to start a Euro game. The occasion never appeared to faze the super confident midfielder early on as he looked bright and an early dinked pass into Vaclav Cerny got fans on his side. With Ferguson audibly coaching him from the side Rice looked eager to get on the ball and provide a link between defence and the final third. But like many in light blue he faded as Rangers dropped deeper and deeper with 10 men. He struggled to get on the ball after the break and spent more time defending the edge of his box. His evening was to end on a sore note on a stretcher after 65 minutes following head knock. That was a worry - but the sight of him returning the fans’ applause as he was carried off eased concerns.

Basque-ing in it

There’s something brilliantly pure about Bilbao thanks to their policy of signing only Basque-born or bred players. But they failed to shine in Govan. Athletic Club are favourites to go on and lift their first ever Euro silverware in their own home next month and there’s no doubting the talent in their ranks - nobody more so than the two Williams brothers who tore down the flanks, caused Robin Propper to see red and caused Ridvan Yilmaz in particular nightmares at times. But Bilbao lacked a cutting edge even against 10 men for the vast majority of the evening and maybe - after a third goalless draw in a row - they are there for the taking next week. Ernesto Valverde made seven changes to the side that drew with Villarreal at the weekend and, as expected against 10-men, they dominated the ball. Maroan Sannadi looked a handful up front but was well marshalled by Dujon Sterling and Leon Balogun. And on the rare occasion the Spaniards did fashion clear scoring opportunity their finishing was wild.

Happy Bears

Barry Ferguson admitted the sight of Ibrox emptying long before the final whistle against Hibs hurt. He also said he couldn’t blame the punters for the mass exodus. Time’s a healer though and the supporters were back onside at kick off, Ibrox was rocking and the pre-match display reminded the players the fans at least were “still dreaming”. Even the early sending off couldn’t dampen their hunger to get behind their side. If anything, galvanised the home fans being their side in a siege mentality. Ferguson wanted his players to empty the tank for their fans at the very least and they did that. This result keep that dream alive ahead of next week’s return in Spain. And after 13 minutes that’s all they could have asked for.