Next up, Rangers go to St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership, with Ajax hosting PSV in the Eredivisie.
Rangers are the first Scottish side to exit the Champions League without a point after falling to defeat against Ajax. Tasked with winning by five or more goals to qualify for the Europa League, Rangers conceded after just four minutes. Tadic started the move, curling the ball down the left to Wijndal who was a constant threat. The left-back found Kudus in the middle, who laid a pass into the feet of Berghuis, stroking it past McGregor. One then became two for Ajax through a similar method. Tadic found Wijndal bursting forward again, with the defending sliding to the floor to keep the attack active. He did so successfully, finding Kudus who saw his deflected effort bounce into the net. The game looked beyond the hosts when Kudus tucked away Rensch’s cross, but the striker was deemed to be in an offside opposition after a VAR check. Replacing the ineffective Colak, Morelos missed an open goal after blocking Pasveer's clearance before Rangers halved the deficit. It came through Tavernier, with the captain converting a penalty after Matondo was brought down by Alvarez. However, their chance of coming away from Ibrox with a point was short-lived, with the Dutch outfit scoring a third moments later. Substitute Conceicao latched onto Tadic’s throughball before directing it past McGregor and into the bottom corner.
90' + 5' FULL-TIME: RANGERS 1-3 AJAX
90' + 4' Driving into the box from the right, Sakala beats Kudus before slashing his wild attempt past the post.
Francisco Conceição
Yellow Card
90' + 3' Scoring almost immediately after coming on, Conceicao now receives a yellow card.
90' + 2' Rangers have conceded eight goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in the Champions League this season.
90' There will be four minutes of additional time.
D. Tadić
Assist
90' Tadic's pass is perfect, making it easy for Conceicao to control the ball before directing it into the bottom corner.
Francisco Conceição
Goal
89' GOAAALLL! CONCEICAO SCORES! 3-1 AJAX! The away side restore their two-goal lead almost immediately. Tadic finds the substitute who runs down the middle of the pitch. One-on-one with the goalkeeper, Conceicao curls the ball into the bottom corner. It's his first Champions League goal this season.
Francisco Conceição
S. Bergwijn
88' Substitution for Ajax. Bergwijn is replaced by Conceicao.
F. Grillitsch
K. Taylor
87' Substitution for Ajax. Taylor is replaced by Grillitsch.
J. Tavernier
Penalty Goal
87' GOAALLLLLL! TAVERNIER SCORES! 2-1 AJAX! Rangers have a goal back through their captain. Tavernier rolls the ball down the middle of the goal with Pasveer diving to the right.
85' PENALTY TO RANGERS! Substitute Matondo is pushed to the ground by Alvarez who comes steaming across. Tavernier is given the responsibility to take it.
84' HOW HAS HE MISSED? Morelos blocks the clearance of Pasveer before the goalkeeper goes to the ground. Just to the right of the goal inside the box, the striker drills the ball wide.
A. Lowry
S. Arfield
83' Substitution for Rangers. Arfield is replaced by Lowry.
R. Matondo
R. Kent
83' Substitution for Rangers. Kent comes off for Matondo.
83' Alvarez bursts into the box before heading over Tadic's cross from the right.
82' Ajax have been happy to keep the ball inside their own half. There has been little to no pressure from Rangers, with Morelos the only man willing to press.
81' Klaassen plays the ball to Tadic on the edge of the box who attempts to spin past Kamara. Instead, he crashes into the Rangers substitute and concedes a free-kick.
79' Bergwijn moves forward with the ball inside the Rangers half before releasing it to Taylor. The midfielder then looks to chip it towards Sanchez but gets it all wrong with the ball going out for a goal-kick.
76' Tadic and Timber look to complete a one-two on the edge of the Rangers box but Wright comes across to win possession.
75' Ajax have attempted 11 shots in this match, higher than their season average of 10.3 in the Champions League.
74' Bergwijn turns Sakala, bursting towards the edge of the Rangers box. However, he is crowded out by a combination of Arfield and Kamara.
72' Tavernier slides down Tadic with the Rangers man receiving treatment before returning to the pitch.
70' SAVE! Latching onto a header from Kamara, Arfield swivels outside the box before unleashing a rasping effort. His shot is dipping, with Pasveer flicking the ball over.
69' Arfield goes bursting down the right with no Ajax man there. However, his cross is poor, with Bassey clearing the danger. Even if it did lead to a goal, the Canadian looked like he was in an offside position.
67' Tavernier shoots from a distance after Kent wins a free-kick, but his attempt is caught by Pasveer. There was no pace on the shot with the goalkeeper untroubled.
65' Sakala puts a cross in from the right, but Timber is there to smash it away. The ball into the box was tame and easy to deal with.
62' Bergwijn plays the ball to Tadic who switches it out to Sanchez. Taking one touch inside the box, his attempt is blocked by Barisic.
S. Wright
M. Tillman
60' Substitution for Rangers. Tillman is replaced by Wright.
A. Morelos
A. Čolak
60' Colak has failed to make an impact and is replaced. Morelos is now leading the Rangers attack.
G. Kamara
S. Davis
60' Kamara replaces Davis in the Rangers midfield.
59' Kent and Tillman have speculative efforts from outside the box blocked in quick succession.
57' NO GOAL! After a VAR check, the goal is given as offside. Kudus ran just beyond the last Rangers defender.
56' GOAALLLLL! KUDUS SCORES AGAIN! 3-0 AJAX! VAR CHECKING THE GOAL! The game must be beyond Rangers now. Rensch bursts down the left and curls it towards Kudus who finishes with composure. However, there will be a VAR check on a possible offside.
D. Klaassen
S. Berghuis
55' Substitution in the Ajax midfield. Berghuis is replaced by Klaassen.
D. Rensch
Yellow Card
55' Rensch slips, allowing Sakala to go past him. The defender then pulls the shirt of the Rangers man and gives away a free-kick.
52' Rangers have lost all five of their games in the Champions League this season. No Scottish side have ever been beaten six times within a single campaign in the European Cup/Champions League. They must score twice without conceding if they want to avoid an unwanted record.
50' Kudus looks for Tadic who slides the ball down the left to Rensch. Looking to cross the ball, it deflects off of a defender and into the hands of McGregor.
48' A big collision between Rensch and Sands with the Rangers man slamming into the back of the left-back leaping into a duel. Both men are back on their feet and can continue.
47' Rangers failed to score a first half goal in five of their six games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Champions League this season.
46' Ajax get the second half underway. Kudus, who has a goal and an assist, has the first kick.
For Rangers, they must look to support Tavernier defensively. There is no doubting his attacking quality, but Ajax are targeting him side with both goals coming from his side. Sakala and Kent have also looked threatening when going forward, but they have failed to produce adequate crosses towards Colak who the opposition defence has nullified. As for the Dutch outfit, they will be disappointed that Wijndal was forced off with an injury. The left-back played a key role in both of their goals, so there will be an expectation that Rensch can do the same. Tadic, Kudus and Berghuis have also been a level above the opposition's defence, regularly finding space in the final third.
Rangers are edging closer to their sixth loss in Group A after conceding two first half goals against Ajax. It took four minutes for the Dutch outfit to open the scoring, with Berghuis directing the ball into the bottom corner. Tadic started the move, launching the ball down the left for Wijndal to chase. He then found Kudus in the middle who set it towards Berghuis who found the net. Sakala looked dangerous for the home side, driving forward with the ball and seeing a headered attempt cleared away by Bassey before Ajax doubled their advantage. Tadic, Wijndal and Kudus repeated the move that broke the deadlock, with the striker shooting this time. Shifting the ball onto his right foot, his attempt bounced off the head of King and past McGregor who dived the other way.
45' + 3' HALF-TIME: RANGERS 0-2 AJAX
45' + 2' Wijndal almost provides an assist. Playing a one-two with Tadic on the left, he cuts the ball across the box to Berghuis who scuffs his attempt wide.
45' There will be two minutes of additional time.
D. Rensch
O. Wijndal
44' The injured Wijndal is replaced by Rensch at left-back.
43' It does not look good for Wijndal. The medical staff are helping walk around the outside of the pitch.
42' Arfield crashes the ball towards the goal from the left of the box but Alvarez comes sliding across to block the attempt.
40' Barisic searches for Sakala in the box, but the ball is cleared away by Wijndal who comes parading across. He is hurt, colliding with the advertising boards. He is off the pitch and is receiving treatment.
39' Bassey has been key for Ajax today. This time intercepting Tavernier's low cross from the right. Tillman then looks to retrieve the ball but is blocked by the referee.
37' Kudus goes close to getting his second with his dragged shot from outside the box rolling past the post.
35' Rangers have not created a chance since conceding. Instead, Ajax look more likely to score.
34' Rangers have lost more matches against Ajax (five) than against any other opponent in European competition, with two of those coming in home games for the Scottish side. No team have ever won away to Rangers in European competition on more than two occasions. That may change today.
32' SAVE! McGregor keeps Rangers in the game. On the left, Berghuis chips it to Bergwijn who goes bursting down the middle. The former Tottenham man takes one touch before his curling effort is pushed away by the goalkeeper.
O. Wijndal
Assist
30' Wijndal was involved in the first goal and gets an assist for the second. The left-back stretches to keep the ball on the pitch, flicking it towards the striker from the left. Some Rangers fans have already called it a day and are heading for the exit.
M. Kudus
Goal
29' GOAALLLLL! KUDUS SCORES! 2-0 AJAX! The away side double their lead. Tadic slides the ball towards Wijndal down the left. He then cuts it back to Kudus in the middle of the box with his strike deflecting off of the head of King and into the net.
26' Frustration for Rangers. Sakala gets the ball on the right and fires it towards Arfield. The former Burnley man looks to find Colak but the striker leaves it for the midfielder to run onto. However, with Arfield not anticipating this, the ball rolls to the goalkeeper who is happy to claim it.
24' Ajax have the ball down the right with Sanchez overlapping Berghuis. However, his cross goes out for a goal-kick, with his attempt blocked before hitting him and rolling out.
22' Barisic swings the ball into the box from a corner but it is cleared away by Alvarez who is unchallenged.
21' Ajax have kept possession well in the last few minutes, looking to halt the momentum Rangers have been building.
K. Taylor
Yellow Card
19' Taylor receives the first yellow card after pulling the shirt of Sakala who was looking to break away.
18' Rangers have been the better side in the past couple of minutes. This time Davis looks to pass the ball to Arfield who was running free down the right, but his attempt is intercepted by Bassey.
16' Ajax and Rangers are the two teams who have conceded the most goals from crosses and headed goals in the Champions League this season – Ajax have conceded the most headers (five – Rangers with four) and the Scottish side have shipped the most goals from crosses (five – Ajax with four).
14' CLOSE! Kent drives down the left, chipping the ball across the box after beating Sanchez. His cross is met by Sakala but is cleared away by former Rangers man Bassey.
11' Sakala drives inside the box from the right looking to get a shot away but is tackled by Wijndal who comes away with the ball.
9' Since the start of last season, Berghuis has been directly involved in eight goals in 14 appearances for Ajax in the Champions League (four goals and three assists); the most of any current player for the club.
7' Berghuis looks to lob the goalkeeper from a long distance after receiving the ball from Bergwijn, but McGregor catches his attempt.
5' Bergwijn looks to add a quick second but his shot is blocked.
M. Kudus
Assist
5' Kudus is unselfish, laying the ball off to the scorer whose scuffed attempt beats the goalkeeper.
S. Berghuis
Goal
4' GOAALLLL! BERGHUIS SCORES! 1-0 AJAX! Worst possible start for Rangers. Tadic curls the ball down the left looking for Wijndal. The left-back then cuts it back to Kudus who lays it off towards Berghuis. The Ajax man then strokes the ball past the goalkeeper into the bottom corner. Both of his Champions League goals this season have come against Rangers.
2' Sakala looks to slide the ball down the right to Colak but the striker is dispossessed inside the box.
1' Early foul for Ajax inside their box. Colak pushes Timber to the floor as he attempts to clear the ball.
1' Rangers get this Champions League clash underway. Kent with the first kick of the ball.
Rangers have lost all five of their matches against Ajax in European competition, by an aggregate scoreline of 15-4. Indeed, Ajax have scored nine goals in their three meetings against Rangers that have taken place in the Champions League.
As for Ajax, Schreuder makes three alterations to the team that lost to Liverpool in their previous match. At right-back, Wijndal is preferred ahead of Blind who moves onto the bench. On the right of a three-man midfield, Taylor comes in for Klaassen. Finally, Kudus gets a place in the starting 11 and leads the attack, with Brobbey named as a substitute.
Rangers make three changes to the team that beat Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership last time out. With John Lundstram suspended after collecting three yellow cards in five Champions League matches, the midfielder is replaced by veteran Davis who partners Tillman in the middle. There is also a swap at left-back, with Barisic moving into the team instead of Rıdvan Yılmaz. The final switch sees Arfield starting and Davies dropping out of the squad. As a result, the Canadian plays at right wing with Sands moving to centre-back.
AJAX SUBS: Florian Grillitsch, Brian Brobbey, Maarten Stekelenburg, Daley Blind, Francisco Conceicao, Devyne Rensch, Lisandro Magallan, Lorenzo Lucca, Jay Gorter, Davy Klaassen, Ahmetcan Kaplan, Lucas Ocampos.
AJAX (4-3-3): Remko Pasveer; Jorge Sanchez, Jurrien Timber, Calvin Bassey, Owen Wijndal; Kenneth Taylor, Edson Alvarez, Steven Berghuis; Steven Bergwijn, Mohammed Kudus, Dusan Tadic.
RANGERS SUBS: Alexander Lowry, Jon McLaughlin, Connor Allan, Adam Devine, Scott Wright, Robbie Fraser, Alfredo Morelos, Rabbi Matondo, Robby McCrorie, Glen Kamara.
RANGERS (4-2-3-1): Allan McGregor; James Tavernier, Leon Thomson King, James Sands, Borna Barisic; Malik Tillman, Steven Davis; Scott Arfield, Junior Fashion Sakala, Ryan Kent; Antonio-Mirko Colak.
As for Ajax, they are just three points better off than Rangers. Beating their upcoming opponents in their Champions League opener, Alfred Schreuder’s team lost home and away to Liverpool and Napoli, so are unable to qualify for the knockout stage. However, they will move down to the Europa League if they avoid a heavy defeat. The away side will be full of energy going into this final group match as they did not have a game in the Eredivisie on the weekend.
Rangers’ first Champions League group stage appearance since the 2010/11 season will come to an end no matter the result today. The Scottish outfit have lost all five games in Group A and will finish at the bottom if they fail to beat Ajax by five or more goals. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have scored just once, with Scott Arfield netting the opener in a 7-1 defeat against Liverpool, conceding 19 in the process.
Hello and welcome to the live commentary for the Champions League clash between Rangers and Ajax.
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