Rangers Suffer Consecutive Europa League Defeats
Rangers' disappointing start to the season continued with a second consecutive defeat in the Europa League, this time against Austrian champions Sturm Graz.
Following a stoppage-time victory at Livingston on Sunday, which marked their first win in the Scottish Premiership after six attempts, hopes for momentum quickly faded with Tomi Horvat's early goal.
Once again, Rangers were their own worst enemies. A weak throw-in by James Tavernier in his own defensive third was intercepted, leading to a well-placed shot that found its way past a struggling Jack Butland.
The away defense faltered again for the second goal, as a well-executed free-kick cut through a disorganized backline, allowing the influential Georgian international Otar Kiteishvili to score before halftime.
While things could hardly have worsened, Rangers showed significant improvement after the break. Gassama, often the standout player in blue, provided a glimmer of hope by scoring a lifeline.
Revitalized, the Ibrox side pushed for their first European point of the season, with Youssef Chermiti, Nico Raskin, and John Souttar all coming close against a Graz side that had lost to Midtjylland the previous week.
However, it proved too little, too late for Martin's team, who have now secured only five wins in his 16 matches in charge across all competitions.
Analysis: Improvement Not Enough for Rangers
A competition that has historically offered solace to Rangers is now mirroring the struggles they face domestically. Initially aiming for the Champions League, the Europa League now appears to be a challenging task.
Sturm Graz, like Genk last week, are not among the elite teams in this second-tier competition, as evidenced by Genk's defeat to Ferencvaros on Thursday.
In the first half, Rangers struggled significantly against their Austrian opponents. The opening goal would have had fans hiding behind cushions, while the second would have sent them scurrying behind the sofa.
This match marked the 23rd consecutive away game in all competitions in which Rangers conceded a goal, breaking a club record that had stood since the Victorian era (22 games between 1895 and 1897).
After regrouping at halftime, there was noticeable improvement, but it came only after Martin's side had already been placed on the defensive. When they did attempt to break free from their constraints, they appeared disorganized at the back. A more formidable opponent would have capitalized on their vulnerabilities.
Stronger teams, including Braga, Porto, and Roma, lie ahead, and the prospects for qualification are already looking bleak.
Looking Ahead for Rangers
Rangers are now focused on securing back-to-back Premiership victories with an upcoming match against Falkirk on Sunday at 15:00, before several players depart for international duty.