Rangers roar back with 3-0 win in Champions League qualifier

Russell Martin expressed immense pride in his Rangers squad's response as they showcased "amazing energy" and "real moments of quality" in their dominant 3-0 victory over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League qualifying first leg.

Key Takeaways from Rangers' Performance

The Ibrox manager had strongly criticized his players' mentality following Saturday's disappointing Scottish Premiership draw at Motherwell. His decision to drop captain James Tavernier and Nicolas Raskin among four changes raised eyebrows, but proved inspired.

Attacking Prowess on Display

Cyriel Dessers, making his first start of the season, played a pivotal role in setting up summer signing Djeidi Gassama for the opener. Gassama continued his impressive European form with two goals, taking his tally to four in three continental matches.

New signing Oliver Antman, who joined on Tuesday, formed an exciting attacking trio with Dessers and Gassama. The Finnish winger won a penalty after being fouled by Matej Vydra, which Dessers converted just before halftime.

The scoring was completed shortly after the break when Antman's excellent run and cross found Gassama for a clinical header.

Defensive Improvements Needed

While Rangers showed significant improvement, defensive lapses remained, particularly in the first half. Rafiu Durosinmi missed a headed chance, while Nasser Djiga made a crucial block to deny Vydra.

Mohamed Diomande came close to adding a fourth when his powerful strike rattled the crossbar.

Manager's Reaction

"I'm really happy with a lot of it," Martin told BBC Scotland. "The players showed amazing energy and quality moments after absorbing Saturday's criticism. It's difficult to implement tactical details with the right intensity, especially after a tough result, so I'm extremely proud."

Player Performances

• Djeidi Gassama: The summer signing continues to impress with four goals in as many games
• Oliver Antman: Made an immediate impact with his debut performance, contributing to two goals
• Cyriel Dessers: Proved his worth with a goal and assist, taking his Rangers tally to 69 goal involvements in 113 appearances
• Lyall Cameron: Looked comfortable in his first Rangers start, effectively linking midfield and attack

Expert Opinions

"Antman has shown fantastic promise. He's looking very, very exciting indeed. For the Rangers fans, it will definitely get them out of their seats." - Peter Lovenkrands, former Rangers winger

"For the opening 60 minutes, it's clearly been Rangers' best performance under Martin. I was so impressed with Antman's delivery." - Andy Halliday, ex-Rangers midfielder

"Dessers has to stay. He is the main man to play number nine. You need that attitude and belief in the dressing room." - Neil McCann, former Rangers winger

This comprehensive victory puts Rangers in a strong position to advance to the playoff round, where they would face either RB Salzburg or Club Brugge.