Rangers against Villarreal

Rangers are doing most of the pressing as the minutes tick down; Villarreal are stuggling to get the ball back at the moment.

There is more late drama at Stamford Bridge: Eto'o has put Barcelona 2-1 up.

VILLARREAL SUB: Jose Mari is replaced by Roger. A late change from the visitors as they look to see out this match without any further drama.

So, we have a fascinating finale here at Ibrox; Rangers have pressed hard in the second half without creating a lot, but they have somehow got back in to the tie with Venta's own goal.

GOAL! Buffel sends a hopeful ball in to the penalty area towards Novo; Venta sticks out a boot and diverts the ball past Viera!

Smith sends a great low cross in from the left, and Tacchinardi needs to be alert at the near post to hook the ball clear.

...He sends a deep ball in to the middle, but Villarreal deal with it comfortably.

A silly foul from Sorin gives Rangers the chance to load the penalty area and send in a dangerous cross. Novo stands over the ball...

There is a lot of space for Villarreal to use on the counter-attack now, but Rangers are having most of the possession.

Forlan is booked for a late challenge on Hutton on the touchline.

Prso flicks on Ferguson's chip in to the penalty area, and Venta confidently nods it back to his goalkeeper, who collects under his crossbar.

Ferguson almost breaks in to the penalty area, but Javi Venta is quick to come out and tackle; Villarreal have defended very deep and very well in this second half.

Barcelona have equalised at Stamford Bridge: 1-1.

Rangers have looked lively in this second half, but haven't been able to create the opportunities they did in the first; it's been very tough for them.

RANGERS SUB: Lovenkrands is replaced by Novo. Lovenkrands has worked hard tonight, and looks tired as he trots off.

Jose Mari flicks on in midfield for Forlan to chase, but Waterreus is alive to the danger and collects the ball on the edge of his penalty area.

Buffel beats one challenge and breaks in to the penalty area, but Gonzalo comes flying across and makes a brilliantly-timed sliding challenge.

Villarreal look so comfortable in possession; they are killing this game by knocking the ball about in midfield, pulling and stretching Rangers at every opportunity.

Viera takes a cross at full stretch before delivering a superb kick up-field to the feet of Forlan to set-up another counter-attack.

RANGERS SUB: Buffel replaces Hamdani. An attacking change from the home side, who will be desperate to get an equaliser to take to Spain.

A moment of confusion between Forlan and Sorin means Hutton can nip in and steal the ball inside the Rangers penalty area.

Rangers are preparing a substitution; it looks as though Buffel is readying himself to step in to the action.

Prso picks out Ferguson with a cross, but he can't get enough power on his header and Viera collects on his goal-line.

Prso does well to deliver a cross under pressure down the right; the ball is only half-cleared to Ferguson, but the skipper can't control the ball on the edge of the area and the visitors clear.

Villarreal are starting to pick holes in the Rangers back-line now; Sorin is worked in to some space inside the penalty area, but his cut-back is intercepted.

Villarreal are experts at keeping hold of the ball, and they are really making Rangers work hard for possession.

News from Stamford Bridge Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona...

SHOT! Riquelme brilliantly plays in Forlan down the left side of the penalty area. The former Manchester United man elects to shoot, but Waterreus saves.

VILLARREAL SUB: Arruabarrena is replaced by Sorin. The Argentinian seems to have gone in to the left-back slot - a direct swap.

Villarreal are prepraring a substitution; Sorin is stripping down on the touchline. Arruabarrena seems to have picked up a knock.

Burke looks to be completely on top of his game tonight; he has caused problems for the Spaniards every time he has got the ball.

GREAT MOVE! Burke does superbly to beat two men and play a one-two with Lovenkrands, but the Danish striker's shot from inside the area is blocked.

It has been a very scrappy start to this second half; not what Rangers wanted; they need to keep the tempo high and force the issue.

Villarreal have only spent seven seasons in the top flight in Spain, so have done very well to get so far in this competition in such a short space of time.

Jose Mari's shot from distance doesn't trouble Waterreus, but Villarreal still look very threatening on the ball.

Good defending from Smith as he tracks back and nicks the ball from the feet of Riquelme as he tried to launch a counter.

Lovenkrands hooks the se-piece in to the middle; the ball isn't properly cleared, but Rangers can't force it goalwards and the visitors win a goal-kick.

Rangers win a corner when arruaberrena takes no chances and puts out a dangerous cross.

Arruabarenna is booked for a late challenge on Burke as the young winger tried to turn him on the right-hand side.

Namouchi shows good determition and commitment to block Rodriguez's clearance, though he just can't keep the ball in play.

Kyriakos' long-ball up-field is easily cut out by Venta; Rangers need to continue to play, and try to get the ball to Burke as much as possible.

Rangers' problem is that Villarreal are such an accomplished counter-attacking side, they will really fancy it if the home side attack too much in this second half.

SHOT! Hutton fires a shot a couple of yards over the crossbar from around 25 yards out.

Rangers need a good strong half to give themselves any chance in the return leg in Northern Spain in a fortnight's time.

Villarreal kick off the second half. No changes at the break.

HALF-TIME: Rangers will consider themselves hard done-by, and they have a tough task to get back in to this tie. But there is a lot more to come from Ibrox tonight, I think.

Tacchinardi's shot from the edge of the area is blocked by Hemdani. Another Villarreal corner.

A third goal for Villarreal would surely have killed off Rangers; but Waterreus' save has given them a glimmer of hope.

SAVE! Forlan springs the off-side trap, but his low shot is saved by the legs of Waterreus. Crucial stop by the Gers keeper. Corner.

Rodriguez is booked for a late, sliding challenge on Forlan in midfield.

Again, Burke skips past Arruaberrena; he has caused the Villarreal full-back all sorts of problems so far this evening.

Rangers have a half-hearted penalty shout turned down as Viera nicks the ball from the feet of Ferguson as the Gers skipper broke in to the area.

Here, Rangers are trying to press for a second equaliser; they have done quite well so far this half, and can probably consider themselves unlucky to be a goal down.

News from the other Champions League tie involving a British club: Chelsea 0-0 Barcelona, though the home side have had Del Horno sent off.

Again, the odds are stacked against Rangers now; two away goals will be crucial for Villarreal in the second leg.

There was a lot of confusion in the Rangers defence about off-side in the lead up to Villarreal's second goal; Senna was on-side as the ball was lofted back in, but Forlan was definitely off - it is a question of whether he was interferring with play.

GOAL! The ball is only half-cleared. A Villarreal man chips it back in to the middle, where Senna controls, and Forlan smashes past Waterreus.

Senna draws a foul from Smith, 40 yards out. Riquelme stands over the ball...

Rangers should be trying to get the ball out to Burke as often as possible; he has been at the heart of everything good so far this evening.

OVER! Senna runs with the ball all the way from inside his own half, but his shot from 25 yards dips a few yards over the crossbar.

Prso shows good strength to win a throw for his side, deep in the Villarreal half.

Burke feeds a good pass in to the penalty area for the run of Ferguson; the Rangers skipper just gets to the ball before the keeper, but the ball runs out of play for a goal-kick.

A swift, incisive Villarreal counter-attack is halted when Smith cuts out Senna's intended pass towards Forlan.

Forlan has a goal ruled out for off-side as he sprints on to Tacchinardi's through-ball; replays show that Smith was playing Forlan on-side - the goal should have counted.

Namouchi heads wide of the far post, under pressure from Venta. Rangers are playing well at the moment.

Ibrox is buzzing again since the Rangers equaliser; the Gers fans really believe their side can go on and grab a couple more to take over to Spain.

Burke has been Rangers' best player by some distance so far this evening; he is a very confident and willing runner and is causing a lot of problems down the Rangers right.

Superb goal from the Danish forward, and Rangers are right back in this tie.

GOAL! Burke's run through the middle draws a couple of Villarreal challenges; the ball breaks to Lovenkrands, who smashes a left-foot shot in to the top corner.

Burke does brilliantly to skip past Arruabarrena on the Rangers right; he crosses towards Lovenkrands, but Pena challenges well and clears with a good header.

...The Argentinian play-maker whips the second set-piece in to the far post, and Waterreus makes a good catch underneath his own crossbar.

Riquelme sends in a corner from the left, and Namouchi is forced to head behind for a second...

Ferguson has the chance to break through the middle, but the Gers skipper mis-controls and the chance disappears.

A good tackle from Kyriajos prevents Jose Mari sending in a dangerous cross, though his tackle comes at the expense of a corner.

Namouchi ignores Burke out on the right as he attempts to slide a tough pass through to Lovenkrands, but it is too strong and Viera collects.

Rangers are living very dangerously; a second goal for the visitors would all-but wrap-up this tie, even in these early stages.

RULED OUT! Gonzalo scrambles the ball in to the net after Riquelme's corner had caused a panic inside the six-yard box, though the linesman rules the Villarreal man was off-side.

Burke sends over a good cross from the by-line on the right wing, but no-one has made a near-post run and the keeper collects under no pressure.

Rangers have reacted positively to going behind, but Villarreal are a fantastic counter-attacking side, and Rangers will need to be very careful.

WIDE! A nice passing move from Smith and Ferguson sees the ball worked to the feet of Namouchi, but his shot from 25 yards is sliced a few yards wide of the post.

EASY SAVE! Kyriagos gets up highest inside a crowded penalty area, but he can only direct Ferguson's free-kick straight in to the hands of Viera.

Ibrox has gone very quiet since Riquelme put the Spaniards in to an early lead; it is going to be very tough for Rangers to come back from this.

It was a really baffling piece of defending from Prso, back in his own area to help out on the corner; his arm was high in the air as he jumped, and everyone inside Ibrox saw the ball strike his arm.

GOAL! Riquelme smashes the penalty in to the roof of the net to give Villarreal the perfect start.

PENALTY! Riquelme's corner is handled by Prso as he tries to head clear. Clear penalty.

Villarreal win their first corner; Riquelme sends it in...

Riquelme is making his first appearance in four weeks tonight, so he might be a little rusty; there is no doubt he is the main danger-man, however.

CHANCE! Namouchi has a good chance to play Lovenkrands in to a shooting position, but his pass is a little behind the Danish striker and Venta is able to block.

Villarreal have already played two British sides so far in the Champions League this season, knocking out Everton and playing a big part in Manchester United's downfall.

Rangers are breaking new ground here, so they will want to feel their way in to the tie; not go too gung-ho to begin with.

There is a strong South American influence in this Villarreal side, and they certainly play like it; they are a great passing side.

Forlan is fouled by Hutton on the Villarreal left; a good chance for Riquelme to send a dangerous cross in to the middle.

Good, confident start from Rangers as Smith whips in a cross from the left, though it is a couple of yards behind Burke.

Rangers kick off this historic night. There is a cracking atmosphere inside Ibrox; a full-house, really getting behind the home side.

Hi, welcome to coverage of Rangers' historic Champions League match against Villarreal; the first time a Scottish side has ever reached the knockout stages of the competition.

RANGERS SUB: Lovenkrands is replaced by Novo. Lovenkrands has worked hard tonight, and looks tired as he trots off.

Jose Mari flicks on in midfield for Forlan to chase, but Waterreus is alive to the danger and collects the ball on the edge of his penalty area.

Buffel beats one challenge and breaks in to the penalty area, but Gonzalo comes flying across and makes a brilliantly-timed sliding challenge.

Villarreal look so comfortable in possession; they are killing this game by knocking the ball about in midfield, pulling and stretching Rangers at every opportunity.

Viera takes a cross at full stretch before delivering a superb kick up-field to the feet of Forlan to set-up another counter-attack.

RANGERS SUB: Buffel replaces Hamdani. An attacking change from the home side, who will be desperate to get an equaliser to take to Spain.

A moment of confusion between Forlan and Sorin means Hutton can nip in and steal the ball inside the Rangers penalty area.

Rangers are preparing a substitution; it looks as though Buffel is readying himself to step in to the action.

Prso picks out Ferguson with a cross, but he can't get enough power on his header and Viera collects on his goal-line.

Prso does well to deliver a cross under pressure down the right; the ball is only half-cleared to Ferguson, but the skipper can't control the ball on the edge of the area and the visitors clear.

Villarreal are starting to pick holes in the Rangers back-line now; Sorin is worked in to some space inside the penalty area, but his cut-back is intercepted.

Villarreal are experts at keeping hold of the ball, and they are really making Rangers work hard for possession.

News from Stamford Bridge Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona...

SHOT! Riquelme brilliantly plays in Forlan down the left side of the penalty area. The former Manchester United man elects to shoot, but Waterreus saves.

VILLARREAL SUB: Arruabarrena is replaced by Sorin. The Argentinian seems to have gone in to the left-back slot - a direct swap.

Villarreal are prepraring a substitution; Sorin is stripping down on the touchline. Arruabarrena seems to have picked up a knock.

Burke looks to be completely on top of his game tonight; he has caused problems for the Spaniards every time he has got the ball.

GREAT MOVE! Burke does superbly to beat two men and play a one-two with Lovenkrands, but the Danish striker's shot from inside the area is blocked.

It has been a very scrappy start to this second half; not what Rangers wanted; they need to keep the tempo high and force the issue.

Villarreal have only spent seven seasons in the top flight in Spain, so have done very well to get so far in this competition in such a short space of time.

Jose Mari's shot from distance doesn't trouble Waterreus, but Villarreal still look very threatening on the ball.

Good defending from Smith as he tracks back and nicks the ball from the feet of Riquelme as he tried to launch a counter.

Lovenkrands hooks the se-piece in to the middle; the ball isn't properly cleared, but Rangers can't force it goalwards and the visitors win a goal-kick.

Rangers win a corner when arruaberrena takes no chances and puts out a dangerous cross.

Arruabarenna is booked for a late challenge on Burke as the young winger tried to turn him on the right-hand side.

Namouchi shows good determition and commitment to block Rodriguez's clearance, though he just can't keep the ball in play.

Kyriakos' long-ball up-field is easily cut out by Venta; Rangers need to continue to play, and try to get the ball to Burke as much as possible.

Rangers' problem is that Villarreal are such an accomplished counter-attacking side, they will really fancy it if the home side attack too much in this second half.

SHOT! Hutton fires a shot a couple of yards over the crossbar from around 25 yards out.

Rangers need a good strong half to give themselves any chance in the return leg in Northern Spain in a fortnight's time.

Villarreal kick off the second half. No changes at the break.

HALF-TIME: Rangers will consider themselves hard done-by, and they have a tough task to get back in to this tie. But there is a lot more to come from Ibrox tonight, I think.

Tacchinardi's shot from the edge of the area is blocked by Hemdani. Another Villarreal corner.

A third goal for Villarreal would surely have killed off Rangers; but Waterreus' save has given them a glimmer of hope.

SAVE! Forlan springs the off-side trap, but his low shot is saved by the legs of Waterreus. Crucial stop by the Gers keeper. Corner.

Rodriguez is booked for a late, sliding challenge on Forlan in midfield.

Again, Burke skips past Arruaberrena; he has caused the Villarreal full-back all sorts of problems so far this evening.

Rangers have a half-hearted penalty shout turned down as Viera nicks the ball from the feet of Ferguson as the Gers skipper broke in to the area.

Here, Rangers are trying to press for a second equaliser; they have done quite well so far this half, and can probably consider themselves unlucky to be a goal down.

News from the other Champions League tie involving a British club: Chelsea 0-0 Barcelona, though the home side have had Del Horno sent off.

Again, the odds are stacked against Rangers now; two away goals will be crucial for Villarreal in the second leg.

There was a lot of confusion in the Rangers defence about off-side in the lead up to Villarreal's second goal; Senna was on-side as the ball was lofted back in, but Forlan was definitely off - it is a question of whether he was interferring with play.

GOAL! The ball is only half-cleared. A Villarreal man chips it back in to the middle, where Senna controls, and Forlan smashes past Waterreus.

Senna draws a foul from Smith, 40 yards out. Riquelme stands over the ball...

Rangers should be trying to get the ball out to Burke as often as possible; he has been at the heart of everything good so far this evening.

OVER! Senna runs with the ball all the way from inside his own half, but his shot from 25 yards dips a few yards over the crossbar.

Prso shows good strength to win a throw for his side, deep in the Villarreal half.

Burke feeds a good pass in to the penalty area for the run of Ferguson; the Rangers skipper just gets to the ball before the keeper, but the ball runs out of play for a goal-kick.

A swift, incisive Villarreal counter-attack is halted when Smith cuts out Senna's intended pass towards Forlan.

Forlan has a goal ruled out for off-side as he sprints on to Tacchinardi's through-ball; replays show that Smith was playing Forlan on-side - the goal should have counted.

Namouchi heads wide of the far post, under pressure from Venta. Rangers are playing well at the moment.

Ibrox is buzzing again since the Rangers equaliser; the Gers fans really believe their side can go on and grab a couple more to take over to Spain.

Burke has been Rangers' best player by some distance so far this evening; he is a very confident and willing runner and is causing a lot of problems down the Rangers right.

Superb goal from the Danish forward, and Rangers are right back in this tie.

GOAL! Burke's run through the middle draws a couple of Villarreal challenges; the ball breaks to Lovenkrands, who smashes a left-foot shot in to the top corner.

Burke does brilliantly to skip past Arruabarrena on the Rangers right; he crosses towards Lovenkrands, but Pena challenges well and clears with a good header.

...The Argentinian play-maker whips the second set-piece in to the far post, and Waterreus makes a good catch underneath his own crossbar.

Riquelme sends in a corner from the left, and Namouchi is forced to head behind for a second...

Ferguson has the chance to break through the middle, but the Gers skipper mis-controls and the chance disappears.

A good tackle from Kyriajos prevents Jose Mari sending in a dangerous cross, though his tackle comes at the expense of a corner.

Namouchi ignores Burke out on the right as he attempts to slide a tough pass through to Lovenkrands, but it is too strong and Viera collects.

Rangers are living very dangerously; a second goal for the visitors would all-but wrap-up this tie, even in these early stages.

RULED OUT! Gonzalo scrambles the ball in to the net after Riquelme's corner had caused a panic inside the six-yard box, though the linesman rules the Villarreal man was off-side.

Burke sends over a good cross from the by-line on the right wing, but no-one has made a near-post run and the keeper collects under no pressure.

Rangers have reacted positively to going behind, but Villarreal are a fantastic counter-attacking side, and Rangers will need to be very careful.

WIDE! A nice passing move from Smith and Ferguson sees the ball worked to the feet of Namouchi, but his shot from 25 yards is sliced a few yards wide of the post.

EASY SAVE! Kyriagos gets up highest inside a crowded penalty area, but he can only direct Ferguson's free-kick straight in to the hands of Viera.

Ibrox has gone very quiet since Riquelme put the Spaniards in to an early lead; it is going to be very tough for Rangers to come back from this.

It was a really baffling piece of defending from Prso, back in his own area to help out on the corner; his arm was high in the air as he jumped, and everyone inside Ibrox saw the ball strike his arm.

GOAL! Riquelme smashes the penalty in to the roof of the net to give Villarreal the perfect start.

PENALTY! Riquelme's corner is handled by Prso as he tries to head clear. Clear penalty.

Villarreal win their first corner; Riquelme sends it in...

Riquelme is making his first appearance in four weeks tonight, so he might be a little rusty; there is no doubt he is the main danger-man, however.

CHANCE! Namouchi has a good chance to play Lovenkrands in to a shooting position, but his pass is a little behind the Danish striker and Venta is able to block.

Villarreal have already played two British sides so far in the Champions League this season, knocking out Everton and playing a big part in Manchester United's downfall.

Rangers are breaking new ground here, so they will want to feel their way in to the tie; not go too gung-ho to begin with.

There is a strong South American influence in this Villarreal side, and they certainly play like it; they are a great passing side.

Forlan is fouled by Hutton on the Villarreal left; a good chance for Riquelme to send a dangerous cross in to the middle.

Good, confident start from Rangers as Smith whips in a cross from the left, though it is a couple of yards behind Burke.

Rangers kick off this historic night. There is a cracking atmosphere inside Ibrox; a full-house, really getting behind the home side.

Hi, welcome to coverage of Rangers' historic Champions League match against Villarreal; the first time a Scottish side has ever reached the knockout stages of the competition.