Rangers won the opening match of their 2023/24 UEFA Europa League campaign by defeating Real Betis 1-0 at Ibrox.
Adballah Sima scored the only goal of the game when he stabbed the ball home in the midst of a goalmouth scramble to put the Gers ahead in the 67th minute.
Michael Beale’s side looked comfortable all evening as their opponents failed to carry any real threat in the final third.
Elsewhere in Group C, Sparta Prague beat Aris Limassol 3-1 at home to top the group on matchday 1.
After a tough first half, Rangers dominated large periods of the second 45 minutes. The manager Michael Beale shared his half-time words that inspired his side to victory. He said:
“I asked them what they thought and it comes down to beleif and going for it. We’ve been here too often before in big games and fallen a little bit short.
“Ultimately, I think we deserved to win the game, I was under no illusions coming into the game the quality that they possessed and I knew that at times it would be tough.
“I explained that to the team at half-time. Step over the line. Commit to the game, really commit. Not half, not 7 out of 10, commit to the game.
“I’m telling you, in that changing room there, it’s worth it tonight.”
However, Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini disagreed his Beale’s take on the game. He added:
“I don’t remember chances of goal that Rangers created in this game.
“One in the first 45 mintues of this game. After that just one corner. We had another 3 or 4 chances that their goalkeeper saved very well.
“I was happy with the way we played, happy with the personality but in these games, you must score if you want to win. We didn’t score and we lost.”
