This was as poor a performance as Rangers have produced at home all season.
Most of the credit goes to the Sporting Lisbon team who fully merited their draw and could have in fact have snatched a late goal.
The only consolation for Rangers was that they did not concede a goal at home.
It was a nervy opening 20 minutes until Jean-Claude Darcheville out-paced Anderson Polga in a run from the halfway line, but his cross was cleared behind for a corner.
Sporting threatened with some clever one-twos on the edge of the box but there was no end product.
Kevin Thomson's cross was spilled by keeper Pedro Rui Patricio before Rangers went close.
Lee McCulloch hit a snapshot on the turn from 30 yards which the Sporting keeper did well to save.
McCulloch's header from a Steven Davis cross was then deflected for a corner.
Rangers tried to step up the pressure in the second half, but Sporting threatened on the break and it was only a great tackle by Sasa Papac which stopped Liedson from breaking free.
Allan McGregor made a superb save from Leandro Romagnoli as Sporting threatened to take the lead.
On the right flank, Kirk Broadfoot and Davis failed to combine all night and even the introduction of Nacho Novo failed to spark Rangers into life.
It was Sporting who finished the stronger and McGregor did well to save at the feet of substitute Yannick Djalo.
Sporting won most of the physical battles and look favourites to go through at this stage.