Attendance 50,290
The 1-1 draw leaves the Ibrox men with a mountain to
climb before next week's return in Pamplona, and only
a vastly-improved performance in Spain will suffice
for the Light Blues.
It has been all of 22 years since the Spanish club
last visited Ibrox - but once again the heavens opened
above Ibrox, although even tonight's dismal conditions
could not compare with the monsoon rain in 1985.
Manager Walter Smith made one change from Easter Road
with Stefan Klos replacing the suspended Allan
McGregor - although many were mystified by the
retention of a 4-5-1 formation in a home European
fixture.
There was a massive travelling support backing
Osasuna, who made an impressive start with Aguiue
Webo's header from a David Lopez cross being held by
Klos in seven minutes.
The opener was merely delayed however - Raul Garcia's
header from a Luis Gomez cross nine minutes later
giving the visitors a crucial away goal.
Rangers suffered a further blow in 28 minutes when
Barry Ferguson was yellow-carded for a foul on the
goalscorer, thus ruling him out of the Pamplona
return.
The Ibrox men were simply not at the races, with
Osasuna controlling play and retaining possession
throughout the remainder of the half.
Nacho Novo replaced Charlie Adam at the interval, but
the home side were being played off the park - and
only an outstanding save by Klos on the hour denied
Osasuna a second goal when Ugo Ehiogu's error enabled
David Lopez to feed Inaki Munoz whose low shot was
turned wide.
Rangers finally responded - two minutes later Novo's
cross from the right was diverted over his own
crossbar by Jimenez Guellar.
The resultant Novo corner broke to Kevin Thomson whose
twenty-yard drive produced a fine one-handed save from
goalkeeper Ricardo.
That strike was Thomson's last act - being replaced by
Dado Prso immediately thereafter.
The Croatian lifted the capacity crowd, yet Rangers
were still being comprehensively outplayed and the
Spaniards were again denied by Klos in 79 minutes when
he blocked Inaki Munoz from a David Lopez header.
Filip Sebo replaced the ineffective Kris Boyd, who had
made nary a contribution throughout the play, in 86
minutes.
The one-goal margin did not even begin to reflect
Osasuna's overwhelming superiority - yet incredibly
the scores were levelled in injury time when Javad
Nekunam gave the ball away enabling Hemdani to curl a
superb shot home from all of 25 yards.
Afterwards a frustrated Walter Smith reflected:
"We were dissappointing. 1-1 flattered us. Every
aspect of our game was poor. The goal does put us in a
better position for the return, but we will have to
play far better in Pamplona."
You could say that again, Walter.
RANGERS Klos; Hutton, Weir, Ehiogu, Murray; Burke,
Ferguson, Hemdani, Thomson (Prso 66), Adam (Novo 45);
Boyd (Sebo 86)
UNUSED SUBS Sionko, Robinson, Rae, Svensson
ATLETICO OSASUNA Ricardo; Izquierdo, Guellar, Miguel
Flano, Monreal; Nekunam, David Lopez, Munoz, Raul
Garcia, Gomez (Torres 76); Webo (Romeo 81)
UNUSED SUBS Romeo, Vallejo, Cruchaga, Flano, Font
REFEREE Jan Wegereef (Netherlands)