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By David Sharp
2152: Well, that's it for the first leg. On immediate reflection it's another great result for Rangers. Not the best performance from the depleted Ibrox men. They can definitely play better than that. But, with no goals conceded they will fancy their chances in the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence next Thursday.
Walter Smith's men have saved their best displays for the away ties in Europe so far and have thrived on sucking teams in and then sucker-punching them on the break. Undoubtedly Fiorentina will be a much more tasty proposition at home - they only showed flashes of their artistry tonight, especially the enigmatic Mutu - but the Gers will welcome some key players back from injury and suspension.
The dream of Manchester is certainly still alive and kicking. Thanks again for all your cheeky chat. Catch you again very soon.
2150: "Great result!! No away goal conceded, Italians created nothing apart from one Mutu free-kick! What did Alexander have to do? Ok, Rangers didnt create much but who really expected anything else. It was never gonna be an open, flowing 3-3 or something - it's the semi-final of a European cup for gawdsake! I feel confident about going to Italy and getting a goal, then on to Manchester." giganticsportcrazy Join the debate on 606
2146: "Fiorentina might as well give up now. Five plus players injured including keeper and four midfielders and our best right-back sold for �9m and YOU STILL COULDN'T BEAT US." Stardog Join the debate on 606
Grrrrrr, fighting talk!
2144: "You wouldn't buy the DVD of some of Rangers' performances but it's served them well this far." BBC Radio Scotland pundit Murdo MacLeod
2140: "Rangers now need another performance like the one in Lisbon." BBC Radio Scotland pundit Billy Dodds
2136: Zenit St Petersburg have held Bayern to a 1-1 draw in the other semi-final. A well-kent name, the shy, retiring wallflower, Fernando Ricksen was, shock-horror, booked in that match and will miss the return leg. Ricksen, of course, spent a somewhat 'colourful' six years at Ibrox...
2134: FULL-TIME Rangers 0-0 Fiorentina
2133: Corner for Rangers. Last chance. Davis sends it in but the Italians clear it easily and the ref blows for full-time. It's all over and Rangers have kept ANOTHER clean-sheet.
2130: The Ibrox tannoy has announced that Carlos Cuellar is their pick for Man of the Match. You chaps seem to agree with that one. He's top of our Player Rater too. Vote below:
2128: Mutu elbows Broadfoot off the ball. Free-kick Rangers. Unbelievably, the Romanian escapes a booking. He would have missed the return leg too. That was assault on Rangers' big Hobbit-named right-back. Poor Bilbo Broadfoot! Shocking oversight from the, quite frankly, rotten ref.
2127: Four minutes of normal time to play. How much abnormal time will be added on? Not much probably. No-one has really spent any time on the deck getting treatment etc.
I'm not sure Jean-Paul - I don't know old money. I just think a sixpence sounds small. And it's another old cliche, non?
2125: Cousin spins on a sixpence, rolling round Gamberini on the edge of the visitors' box but a swarm of red jerseys dispossess the big striker as he lifts his leg to shoot.
2121: Veteran striker Christian Vieri comes on for Fiorentina. The Italian/Aussie legend is immediately in the thick of the action from a dangerous free-kick. Davis blocks his left-foot drive and it flies over the bar. Corner to la Viola. Rangers clear. Some heroic defending from the men in blue.
2119: Rangers go close. Dailly gets a header to Broadfoot's cross but it drifts wide.
2117: "What an important addition to the squad Alexander has turned out to be. Priceless hands, even" bringthemon Join the debate on 606
2116: Superb save by Alexander from Mutu's 30-yard sizzler. He manages to hold onto the ball too. It must be still hot, like a fiery comet. Fantastic hands from the Rangers goalie. Another great cliche that, 'fantastic hands'. Wonderful paws. Marvellous mitts.
2113: Has moody blue Daniel Cousin actually touched the ball since he came on? Rangers are camped worryingly deep in their own half inviting the Italians to come at them. I reckon with a smidgen more risk going forward Rangers could nick a priceless goal here. But they don't appear to want to even try.
2112: The ball is dinked over the top of the Rangers defence towards legendary guitar axe-hero 'Carlos' Santana but the flag is up for offside. His real name is Mario...
2111: "Rangers should throw caution to the wind, and go all out for a goal." bringthemon Join the debate on 606
2106: Former Gers' gaffer, Dick "The Little General" Advocaat's Zenit St Petersburg have equalised in Munich. A Lucio own goal. 1-1 in the other semi-final now. Great away goal for the Russians.
2105: Papac brilliantly breaks up an Italian attack in his own box and gambols forward. Rangers have the chance to counter but a disastrous ball from Dailly scuppers the move - his wayward pass flies out of play without touching a team-mate. That was utter guff.
2100: It's the little Spaniard's last contribution of the game. Buffel comes on to replace him. And it's a double-switch. The unpredictable Daniel Cousin will add aerial power up front in place of Darcheville. Come in number 19 - your time is up! Quite literally...The Rocket has fulfilled his one hour of non-stop running and he'll be wrapped in red-white-and-blue cotton wool for Sunday's Old Firm clash..
2059: Novo hares down the right flank like a little, erm hare, but flashes his attempted shot well wide of Frey's left-hand post.
2057: Thomas Buffel is stripped and ready for action.
2054: Rangers are rushing everything. The normally on-song Steven Davis is decidedly off-key tonight. The little Northern Irishman is giving away cheap posession. Composure is required. The home side are feeling the absence of inspirational skipper Barry Ferguson and the swaggering Kevin Thomson.
2052: Then Novo attempts an audacious chip from 40-yards but it soars over Frey's bar. Better, much more ambitious play from Rangers.
2050 Broadfoot sends a lovely pass down the middle eluding the Italian defence but, as Novo attempts to latch onto the pass Frey is super alert and snatches the ball in his arms.
2049: "Since my team (Spurs) did not make it & as we have taken one of your own into our fold, I wish you well. Beat this Italian mob and then pleasure of all pleasures let's see a British team take out the other likely finalists those jammy Germans." Greavesman Join the debate on 606
2048: Belgian international Thomas Buffel is warming up for Rangers.
2047: Again la Viola are on the ball, weaving pretty patterns across the pitch. Deja vu here.
2045: Here we go again! Rangers kick off the second half attacking the Copland Road end - the traditional 'Rangers end' of Ibrox Park.
2038: Point of interest regarding bookings. Sasa Papac is a yellow card away from missing the second leg. Fiorentina have Adrian Mutu, Ricardo Montolivo and Tomas Ujfalusi in the same precarious position.
2036: "This Rangers team are built on form and function over flair." BBC Radio Scotland pundit Craig Paterson
Yer darn tooting Craig. But it has been incredibly effective...so far...although it would be nice to see them throw a few more bodies further forward to help the isolated Darcheville. He was a one-man attacking band in the opening 45. Mind you, he's so lightning fast it's hard for any Rangers players to keep up with him.
2034: Rangers haven't lost a goal at home in the Uefa Cup this season. But they haven't scored a goal at home either. Oooops, sorry, they scored two against Werder Bremen!! My absurd mistake! Moving on swiftly...
2032: HALF-TIME Rangers 0-0 Fiorentina
2030: Davis swings in a free kick in stoppage time but it comes to nowt and the half fizzles out as it began - goalless.
2028: We're moving towards half-time now. Two minutes to go. The Italians have been impressive and Rangers haven't. In fact, the Ibrox side still look nervy and have been very sloppy in possession.
2025: Mutu slips a lovely ball through to Pazzini but Alexander comes rushing out and scares him off, diving bravely at the Romanian striker's feet. Ibrox can breathe again.
2022: "A goose-down pillow has more cutting edge than Rangers at the moment. COME ON!!" nowthennathan Join the debate on 606
That's a good one! And tragically apt at the moment. Rangers have no, what's that great word...ooomph, that's it...
2019: Darcheville leaps above the Italian defence as he tries to get his head to Broadfoot's floated cross from the right but he is penalised for pushing.
2016: Alexander gets a desperate paw to Mutu's header after the Romanian met Kuzmanovic's superb curling cross but Pazzini has fouled Cuellar and Rangers get a questionable free-kick. Phew! That was close. But Alexander made a terrific save anyway.
2015: Half an hour gone and no goals as yet, with none on the horizon really. Despite dominating play Fiorentina haven't troubled Alexander much in the Rangers goal.
2011: Beyond two lung-bursting breaks from Darcheville, Rangers have offered hee-haw threat up front.
2009: "Bayern Munich goal description - Vyacheslav Malafeev dives to his right to palm away Franck Rib�ry's spot kick, but the French winger is on hand to slot in the rebound and get Bayern off to the perfect start, unlucky for the Russian international goalkeeper." Script Writer Join the debate on 606
Thanks for that pal.
2008: Bayern Munich 1-0 Zenit St Petersburg. Franck Ribery puts the Germans in front in the other semi-final.
2006: Santana cuts Darcheville down in full flight. First booking of the match. Santana knew exactly what he was doing rugby-tackling the explosive Darcheville.
2002: A trademark rampaging run down the left from Darcheville. He explodes past Jorgensen and makes it as far as the Fiorentina box. But the angle defeats the Frenchman and Sebastian Frey gathers his trundled shot.
2000: The elegant Liverani is pulling the strings in la Viola's midfield. Rangers must contain his puppet-masterly play.
1958: Rangers still look awful nervy and can't get a foothold in this game. Cuellar does brilliantly to thwart Pazzini as the young striker shapes to shoot from inside the Rangers six-yard box.
1957: It's all Fiorentina but Rangers are keeping them at bay with some ease...at least for now. Chief dangerman Adrian Mutu lets loose from 25-yards but it's straight at Alexander. First shot on target.
1954: Broadfoot needlessly gifts the ball to Ujfalusi. His cross is cleverly left by David Weir and the danger is gone. That was really slack from Broadfoot.
1953: Martin Jorgenson gallops forward and unleashes a humdinger from the edge of the box, but it balloons high over an unperturbed Neil Alexander's bar.
1951: The Italians have a lot of possession, which was expected. Rangers seem quite happy to let them ping the ball about, which was also expected.
1949: "Find it difficult to get too excited about the attacking play at Ibrox, with one up front. But we can hope..." stutheger. Join the debate on 606
Tut tut. That kind of negative chat has been banned! (see 1918)
1948: A gentle start from both sides. Perhaps nerves are still a factor at this early stage of proceedings.
1947: The pitch looks pretty lush. Not sure what Fiorentina were moaning about. Playing sneaky mind games I guess.
1945: And we're off! Fiorentina get the match underway.
1943: Both sides have taken the field at a packed Ibrox. The ref is Kyros Vassaras from Greece. He's a travel agent by trade. Just in case you're interested. Here's another fascinating factoid: Tomas Ujfalusi collects model airplanes in his spare time.
1918: "OK two phrases are hereby banned tonight... 'Business end of the season' and 'anti-football'. That bandwagon cant hold that many people!". donkamero Join the debate on 606
What about 'squeaky-bum time' - is that allowed? That's always been my personal fave football cliche of recent years. Sir Alex Ferguson uses it all the time. 'It's getting tickly now for the Rangers fans - squeaky-bum time'!
1918: So, Rangers manager Walter Smith has had to overcome a lengthy injury and suspension list in order to field eleven bodies.
Skipper Barry Ferguson and midfielder Kevin Thomson are suspended while goalkeeper Allan McGregor, Charlie Adam, Lee McCulloch, Steven Naismith, Chris Burke and DaMarcus Beasley are all jiggered with various ailments.
Smith has started with a midfield five of Steven Whittaker, Steven Davis, Christian Dailly, Brahim Hemdani and Nacho Novo, with Jean-Claude Darcheville playing the lone-striker's role.
Meanwhile, Fiorentina midfielder Tomas Ujfalusi has recovered from a knock picked up in the 1-0 win over Palermo at the weekend to keep his place
And former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu partners former Italy Under-21 international Giampaolo Pazzini in attack.
Well this is it. The sun is shining on the southside of Glasgow and we're 30 minutes away from Rangers biggest game in 36 years (well until next week's second leg at least!). That was the last time the Ibrox side played in a European final. The Gers are in for a stern test against crack Serie A opposition in the violet-clad shape of Fiorentina. It's bound to be a night of high-drama down Govan way so hold onto your hats and please send in all your rants and raves as the action unfolds...
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