Rangers 2-1 loss to Jagiellonia Bialystok in Europa League

Rangers suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie on Thursday, August 6. The loss in Bialystok leaves the Scottish club with work to do in the return leg at Ibrox next week.

Manager Derek McInnes, overseeing his first European match in charge, saw his team take an early lead when Jagiellonia defender Guilherme Montoia turned a cross from Rangers' Tuur Rommens into his own net after just four minutes. The visitors' advantage was short-lived, however, as Polish striker Kajetan Szmyt scored twice in eight first-half minutes to turn the match around. Szmyt equalized in the 13th minute and added a second in the 21st after a defensive error, capitalizing on a parried save from Rangers goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.

McInnes criticized his team's lack of concentration after the match, stating they had beaten themselves with fundamental mistakes. He acknowledged the strength of the Polish league but expressed disappointment that his side did not secure a victory. The manager made three substitutions at halftime, introducing Cammy Devlin, Nico Raskin, and Findlay Curtis, which spurred a...