Rangers 1-0 Ludogorets: Diomande Fires Winner As Gers Extend Winning Run

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Rangers extended their strong run under Danny Rohl with a 1-0 home win over Ludogorets, securing a seventh straight victory in all competitions. Mohammed Diomande scored the only goal at Ibrox, while the result damaged Ludogorets’ push for the Europa League playoffs, even though Rangers are already unable to reach the knockout stage.

The match also ended Rangers’ nine-game winless streak in the Europa League, a sequence that included two draws and seven defeats. Rohl collected a first Europa League victory with Rangers at the fifth attempt, after one draw and three losses, adding a continental lift to the club’s domestic momentum.

Rangers began assertively, pressing Ludogorets back and creating an early opening. Youssef Chermiti forced Hendrik Bonmann into a save with a low effort, and Mikey Moore fired the rebound over from close range. Ludogorets threatened when Petar Stanic tested Jack Butland soon after the half-hour, but the goalkeeper blocked confidently.

The decisive moment arrived in the 33rd minute after sustained Rangers pressure inside the area. Several efforts were charged down before the ball broke kindly to Diomande near goal. Diomande reacted quickest and nudged the ball over the line from close range, giving Rangers a deserved lead that they protected for the rest of the night.

Rangers maintained control after the interval and continued to create clearer openings than Ludogorets. Nicolas Raskin met a Thelo Aasgaard free kick with a firm header, but Bonmann gathered centrally. The German goalkeeper later stopped Djeidi Gassama’s shot on 72 minutes and reacted sharply again to turn away a well-struck attempt from Findlay Curtis.

Ludogorets struggled to break Rangers down in the closing stages and failed to fashion a clear chance to equalise. The hosts stayed compact without the ball and managed the final minutes efficiently, closing out a first Europa League win of the season in front of an Ibrox crowd that responded strongly at full-time.

The underlying numbers highlighted Rangers’ attacking edge over the 90 minutes at Ibrox. The hosts generated 1.56 expected goals from 14 shots, while Ludogorets produced 0.96 expected goals from 12 attempts. The shot totals and quality reflected Rangers’ territorial control and the visitors’ difficulty turning possession into dangerous situations.

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Diomande’s goal continued a mixed yet influential Europa League record with Rangers. Diomande now has two goals, three assists and two red cards for the club in this competition. Since 2009-10, Diomande is one of three players to collect multiple goals, assists and red cards for one team, alongside Ricardo Quaresma for Besiktas and Ibrahim Sangare for PSV.