Rangers have one foot in the play-off round of the Champions League after a comprehensive 3-0 win over Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox.
Russell Martin’s men head to Czechia next week with a commanding advantage in this third qualifying round tie and are landslide favourites to face either Club Brugge or Salzburg later this month.
Stung by criticism from Martin after starting the Premiership campaign with a 1-1 draw at Motherwell on Saturday, Rangers put in a vastly improved performance in front of 45,000 fans. The manager dropped captain James Tavernier and popular midfielder Nicolas Raskin, but both decisions were vindicated.
New signing Oliver Antman was handed a debut and impressed as a right winger, but the star of the show once again was Djeidi Gassama on the other flank. He scored twice and is already the darling of the home support.
The young Frenchman opened the scoring on 15 minutes after good link-up from Cyriel Dessers and the Nigerian striker, on his first start of the season, converted a penalty right on half-time after a foul on Antman.
Rangers bagged a third on 51 minutes when Gassama headed home an Antman cross and while the hosts could have scored more, they head into next Tuesday’s second leg with a commanding advantage against limited opposition.
We give each player a mark out of ten for their performance at Ibrox.
9. Djeidi Gassama
This boy loves a Champions League night. A real menace to Plzen all night long. Opened the scoring when sprinting in and showing good composure to fire past Wiegele. Headed home with a well-timed run after Antman's cross. Plays with a grin on his face but was a smiling assassin. Has quickly developed into Rangers' talisman. 9 | SNS Group
10. Cyriel Dessers
This was a proper No 9 performance from the Nigerian. Happy to come short and also go in behind. Showed excellent link-up play with Gassama to set up the opener and kept his cool to send Wiegele the wrong way with a vital penalty just before half-time. Rangers are a better team for his presence. Replaced by Danilo on 75 minutes. 8 | SNS Group
11. Oliver Antman
Direct, speedy, end product. This was quite the debut. Had a shot blocked on the line on 21 minutes. Showed his surging pace to win the penalty - albeit the foul was soft - and skipped away early in the second half to cross for Gassama to head home. A monumental upgrade on makeshift winger Dowell, who has occupied that role previously. Looks like the sort of right winger Rangers' rivals Celtic are crying out for as they bid for his former Go Ahead Eagles teammate Jakob Breum. 9 | SNS Group
12. Nicolas Raskin
One of the Motherwell sinners benched for this match. Came on to huge applause for Rothwell on 65 minutes. Rangers weren't as controlled with him at the base of the midfield. 4 | SNS Group