This competition has always been beneficial to the Ibrox side, and they achieved another historic win by defeating Real Betis 3-2.
Rangers had hoped for a redemption arc, as Seville became a pleasant place 18 months after they suffered a Europa League Final heartbreak in the same city.
But this league has always been kind to the Ibrox team, and they won another seismic result by overcoming Real Betis 3-2 at home, becoming the first team to accomplish so this season. Philippe Clement’s side was reduced to skeletons, yet the Belgian devised a cunning strategy to demolish Manuel Pellegrini.
The pugilistic narrative was running through the post-match coverage as publications made sure to heap praise on the men in the blue corner while jabbing Betis. Record Sport looks at the best of the reaction from across the globe as Rangers earned a playoff bye and £3m extra for their latest European success.
Diario de Sevilla (Spain)
“Rangers achieved it, they won and sent the team from Seville to the purgatory of the Conference League to atone for their sins. In the end Betis were disarmed and between the lack of strength and the lack of control due to changing so many players, in 17 minutes after Roofe scored for the Scottish squad they did not even try once to Butland, with crosses to nothing and shots into the stands.
“The Glasgow team had superiority in the centre of the field and that was where Betis began to lose the match, leaving a lot of space and not being very expeditious in the rearguard, missing the marks in all the goals conceded.
El Correo (Spain)
“Betis said an abrupt goodbye to the Europa League. The green and white team crashed against the effectiveness of Rangers and said goodbye at the first opportunity and now head to the Conference, the third tier of European football. Betis dominated at times but had a jaw of glass in the face of the few but forceful Scottish attacks, and also suffered from a lack of aim when push came to shove. Without success in the areas there is no possible paradise in football.
“Panic broke out in Villamarín, with their team out of the Europa League and just 10 minutes of play left. Pellegrini did the rest with the changes but there was no longer any ability to react in a knocked out team, overwhelmed by the enormous effectiveness of the Rangers. Betis has the Conference League left, that third tier of European football until now adverse to Spanish clubs.”
beIN Sports (Middle East)
“Rangers brought Real Betis’s 10-game unbeaten run at home to a shuddering halt with a 3-2 Europa League win that sees the SPFL giant progress to the Last 16 as Group C winner.”
SoFoot (France)
“Betis frankly disappointed despite two hits and a disallowed goal: as they were defeated 3-2 by the boys from Glasgow, the Spaniards finished third following a pretty crazy encounter, while the Scots took the leadership position. Opportunistic”
Coma (Catalonia)
“Before half time Ayoze equalised again for Betis. It was the 37th minute. But the kick has reached the 78th minute. Roofe has scored 3-2, which would already be the final result and which, combined with the victory of Sparta Prague against Betis consumed Betis to disaster and eliminated it from the competition.”
“Before the final round, Betis led the group with 9 points, followed by Rangers stood with 8, Sparta 7 and Aris 4 points. The twisty Betis-Rangers match ended with a 3-2 victory for the away team. It seemed that the group leader could be decided between Betis and Sparta Praha, who are equal in all basic aspects, which of them scored more goals in their three away group matches.”
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