Rangers are nearly eliminated from the Europa League as unbeaten Ferencváros rallied to hand the Ibrox team a fifth loss in six games.
Bojan Miovski scored a stunning volley to give Danny Rohl’s team a remarkable lead against the flow of the game; however, Rangers couldn’t maintain their narrow edge until the break as Bence Otvos located the bottom corner through a deflection.
The home team wasted numerous opportunities to take the lead, with forward Bamidele Yusuf especially wasteful, but their superiority eventually paid off when Barnabas Varga headed in Callum O’Dowda’s cross in the 72nd minute.
Findlay Curtis nearly secured a point for Rangers in the closing moments but was thwarted by an excellent save from the home keeper, David Grof.
Rohl’s team—still winless in the tournament—needs to defeat both Ludogorets and Porto in their last two league-stage games and rely on outcomes in other matches to work in their favor.
Even at that stage, seven points is very unlikely to suffice, with 22 teams already having at least eight.
They might be eliminated as early as Thursday if outcomes, such as Celtic defeating Roma, don’t favor them.
Rangers’ recent surge in performance over the past month has been based on a stronger defensive display, although the center-back duo of Nasser Djiga and Emmanuel Fernandez appears exposed.
Nevertheless, their defense was broken down for each Ferencváros goal.
Otvos found himself isolated in the box for the equalizer, and although Varga’s winner was remarkable from a Ferencvaros perspective, it demonstrated a significant defensive lapse.
O’Dowda had plenty of time to deliver his cross from the left, and Varga moved in front of Fernandez to direct his header beyond Jack Butland.
Fernandez stood with his hands on his head while the hosts celebrated, capturing the moment perfectly.
It was not significantly improved at the opposite side.
There has been considerable focus on Rangers’ challenges in their attack this season, as major acquisition Youssef Chermiti has netted only once in 16 matches, while Danilo has yet to secure a consistent role since his transfer from Feyenoord in 2023.
Bojan Miovski, a reliable scorer in Scotland, found the net twice against Kilmarnock last weekend and finished his goal brilliantly in Hungary, swiftly reacting to Danilo’s deflected shot to execute a bicycle kick over Grof.
Nonetheless, that was Rangers’ initial attempt on goal, as they found it difficult to create opportunities.
Rohl will be concerned by how Miovski hobbled off in the second half, as well as the complete invisibility of substitute Chermiti.
The ex-Everton forward, acquired for an estimated £8m, made contact with the ball only six times during nearly 30 minutes of play.
He has not yet demonstrated anything near justifying that substantial transfer fee.
