BBC Sportfootball

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Related BBC sites

Page last updated at 12:50 GMT, Monday, 19 October 2009 13:50 UK

Papac targets victory over Unirea

Champions League
Venue: Ibrox Date: Tuesday, 20 Oct Kick-off: 1945 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Scotland MW


Rangers defender Sasa Papac
Papac scored a late winner for Rangers at St Johnstone

Sasa Papac thinks victory in Tuesday's Champions League tie with Unirea Urziceni is vital if Rangers are to have any hope of reaching the last 16.

And the defender admits Rangers must up their game after labouring to a 2-1 win at St Johnstone on Saturday.

"If we want to get to the last 16, we must win this game," said Papac, who scored the late winner in Perth.

"We respect this team, we know they are a good team, but we need the three points to finish second in the group."

The Ibrox side prop up Group G, having taken a point from their opener in Stuttgart, before crashing 4-1 to Sevilla in Glasgow.

Walter Smith's men now face back-to-back games against the Romanians, who drew at home to Stuttgart after losing out in Spain.

Rangers are buoyed by a return to the top of the Scottish Premier League and Papac was delighted to pop up with a rare goal at a crucial time.

"The result is always good if you take the three points," said Papac.

MY SPORT: DEBATE

"But we cannot be happy with the game because we didn't play well in the first half. We kept trying to win the game and that was a positive in the second half.

"It was a massive three points for us as we are now ahead of Celtic.

"We have started the last couple of games slowly. I don't know why. We must try to play from the first minute and give 100%.

"When you start slowly, it is harder to come back into the game later on especially if you are a goal down, like this game.

"But we showed the character to get the three points."

Rangers were without Madjid Bougherra in Perth after the central defender returned late from international duty with Algeria.

But he was recalled to the squad after explaining to the Rangers manager why he was late back and is set to face the Romanians.

"We would always miss him, he is a great player," Papac said.

"I hope he will be back for the next game. Nobody has spoken to him and nobody knows what has happened.

"The players don't speak too much about Madjid, really. I don't know too much about this situation."



Print Sponsor


see also
Bougherra restored to Gers fold
19 Oct 09 |  Rangers
Rangers 1-4 Unirea Urziceni
20 Oct 09 |  Europe
Petrescu plots Rangers downfall
19 Oct 09 |  Rangers
St Johnstone 1-2 Rangers
17 Oct 09 |  Scottish Premier


related bbc links:

related internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites