Rangers Defeat Viktoria Plzen 3-0 in Champions League Qualifier

Rangers, under head coach Russell Martin, secured a commanding 3-0 first-leg victory against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League third qualifying round, putting them in a strong position to advance to the playoff round. Martin, known for his high standards and no-nonsense approach, had earlier criticized the team's lackluster attitude in a 1-1 draw with Motherwell, resulting in several key players being rested or left out for the Viktoria Plzen match, a decision that ultimately paid off. New signings, including winger Oliver Antman, who made a standout debut, and Djeidi Gassama, who scored his fourth goal in three European games, were instrumental in the win. Despite overall satisfaction with the team's performance, Martin expressed frustration over the last 15 minutes when the team appeared to lose intensity and held the ball too much in their own half. Martin emphasized the importance of rotation and freshness in the squad, insisting that no player is permanently dropped but rather that team selection is based on what is best for each match. Rangers now look ahead to the second leg and, if successful, a playoff against either FC Salzburg or Club Brugge, with Martin proud of the team's response to earlier setbacks and their ability to raise their level in European competition.