Champions League roundup: Rangers end their drought, Copenhagen and Zagreb advance
PSV - Rangers 0-1
With the tie finely balanced, Rangers travelled to the Netherlands in the knowledge they’d have to overcome a wretched run of one victory from their previous 11 European away games. It didn’t stop the UEFA Europa League runners-up from venturing forwards early on, with John Lundstram flashing a shot just wide of Walter Benítez’s goal.
From thereon in, the hosts set the tempo, yet wastefulness from PSV meant they failed to enter HT with what would’ve been a deserved lead. At the heart of things for the Dutch side was starlet Cody Gakpo, who sliced one effort high over the crossbar, before edging a 1v1 just wide of the post later on in half.
After PSV skipper Luuk de Jong was substituted with an injury at the break, there was a feeling as if the tide may be swinging in Rangers’ favour. Looking to capitalise on their visitors' misfortune, the Scottish side took the lead midway through the second half, when Malik Tillman picked the pocket of PSV defender André Ramalho Silva, before squaring to Čolak for a simple tap-in.
Trailing, with their Champions League status at risk, PSV began the onslaught. Half-time substitute Xavi Simons orchestrated the PSV attacks, creating opportunities for both Philipp Max and Gakpo, but neither were able to find an equaliser. In the end, it would be Giovanni van Bronckhorst who prevailed over compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy, with Rangers returning to the UCL group stage for the first time since 2010.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Connor Goldson (Rangers)
Trabzonspor - Copenhagen 0-0
In pursuit of their first UCL home victory since 2005, the hosts began the game in a menacing fashion with a deafening roar from the stands urging them on. Hoping to make their fifth appearance in the UCL group stages, the visitors struggled to produce a replica of their attacking capabilities against Lyngby Boldklub (3-0) in the first period, as Mathew Ryan acrobatically flicked Andreas Cornelius’ header over the crossbar to keep the scoreline level.
This was just the second encounter between the sides, after meeting for their maiden H2H in the first leg, and Trabzonspor were left ruing missed opportunities as referee Danny Makkelie blew his whistle for HT, knowing that a failure to score in the second half would bring a disappointing conclusion to their aspirations of UCL participation.
As the most successful Danish side in the UCL, Copenhagen were inches away from having their foot firmly in the doorway of Europe’s elite competition when the retreating Trabzonspor defence only just managed to block Viktor Claesson’s effort. With time running out for the visitors, Abdullah Avcı decided to roll the dice by introducing Trézéguet, someone familiar with scoring pivotal goals as demonstrated in Aston Villa’s 2019/20 Premier League survival, for the final 25 minutes - though this had little effect.
Despite a late onslaught from the desperate visitors, Copenhagen remained in control of the tie and Jess Thorup’s side will not have to wait long to find out the group stage opposition, with the draw scheduled to take place in Istanbul on Thursday. Meanwhile, Trabzonspor will take their place in the UEFA Europa League after failing to qualify for only their second-ever appearance in the group stages of the UCL.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Mathew Ryan (Copenhagen)
Dinamo Zagreb - Bodo/Glimt
It was the biggest game in the Norwegian sides’ history following on from their special UEFA Europa Conference League run to the quarter-finals last season. The Superlaget started off rather nervously when Dinamo had two big chances in the opening minutes to open the scoring. Firstly, Boško Šutalo’s long-range effort was saved by Bodø/Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin, and then seconds later Dario Špikić fired over when well-placed.
With only a slender 1-0 lead from the first-leg it was imperative that Bodø/Glimt stayed strong in the opening stages. However, that lead was wiped out inside four minutes when a Mislav Oršić effort was initially blocked, but the striker was quickest to follow up and level the tie on aggregate.
The Croatian side surprisingly sat back after taking the lead on the night and invited the visitors to attack. The Norwegians almost capitalised on Dinamo’s lethargy when Joel Mugisha Mvuka placed his shot wide from around eight yards out. All of a sudden, as if to shake the home side up, Dinamo’s captain Arijan Ademi fired a 20-year strike against the crossbar. The hosts went two goals up ten minutes before HT when a stunning overhead kick from Bruno Petković gave Plavo a 2-1 aggregate advantage.
Knowing that they needed to score, surprisingly Bodø/Glimt took a while to get going in the second half as the home side sunk deeper and deeper into their own half. The visitors forced their first chance when Mugisha Mvuka’s low shot was spilled by Dinamo goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, but the 27-year-old smothered at the second attempt. The Norwegian side went close again when Marius Høibråten powered a header towards goal, only to see it cleared off the line.
Eventually Bodø/Glimt’s pressure counted when substitute Albert Grønbӕk scored to level the tie and force an extra 30 minutes. Norwegian hearts were broken in ET when goals from Josip Drmić and Petar Bočkaj sent Dinamo through to the Group Stages, while the visitors will enter the Europa League.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Bruno Petković (GNK Dinamo Zagreb)