What the press in Poland had to say about Rangers' victory over Lech Poznan in the Europa League

Alfredo Morelos takes a shot against Lech Poznan at Ibrox (Photo by Robert Perry - Pool/Getty Images)

While focus in Scotland was on the record-equalling header and Rangers grinding out another win to extend their early season promising run, there was positivity in Poland around the Poznan performance.

“There was no shame, but there are no points in the Europa League again,” wrote Maciej Lehmann in GÍos, adding that the Ibrox visitors without main man Pedro Tiba “surprised us very pleasantly”.

Indeed the chance for Thomas Rogne in the second half when the ex-Celtic man glanced a header just wide had the visitors almost expecting a goal – until Rangers’ response.

He added: “When Rogne hit his head slightly inaccurately, we did not expect that the next 15 minutes would be so difficult for our players. Rangers clearly picked up the pace, the Lechites gave the impression that they lost their strength a bit. The hosts took advantage of the weakness of Poznań residents. In 69 minutes, Alfredo Morelos, Rangers' biggest star, headed from close range after a cross from the left and it was 1-0.

“The Rangers got their way and clearly ‘took their foot off the gas. This encouraged Kolejorz again,” but it was not to be and Poznan became the second Polish side inside 14 months to be defeated at Ibrox by the head of the Colombian, as Stefan Szczepłek noted in Rzeczpospolita.

"The situation from last year was repeated. In the fourth qualifying round for the Europa League, Legia also played well in Glasgow, keeping the scoreless result until the 90th minute, which meant extra time. In added time, however, Alfredo Morelos used a pass from the left to score.

“The goal lost by Lech was almost identical, except it happened not in the 91st, but in the 68th minute.”

Radoslaw Nawrot, writing in Warsawa Wyborcza said: “Good, smart play was not enough to succeed in Scotland. Glasgow Rangers finally got their way. They kicked up the pace and Colombian Alfredo Morelos scored the winning goal.”

Szczepłek was, in Rzeczpospolita, more scathing on the Rangers side however, claiming “Benfica, with which Lech lost a week ago after a fierce fight 2-4, represents a level much higher than the Scots,” and added “this is not a team to kneel to. If someone is called Hagi and son of the great Gheorge, that doesn't mean he is a great player.

"It is a bit illogical, because Lech should be praised again, even though they lost for the second time in a row.”

Newspaper Fakt added after the goal, “the players from Poznań started to play boldly, they visited the hosts more often in the vicinity of the penalty area, but they were still unable to create a clear situation.

"Only in added time did Kolejorz close the hosts in their half, but nothing came of it. Lech finished the match not only without points, but also without an accurate shot.”

Super Express: “There were no fireworks and no shots on the pitch. When browsing the statistics, you could only come across one - on the side of the hosts. It was a bit like a basketball game with constant attacks on both sides.”

Read how it happened with the Scotsman here.

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