Rangers beat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 in their 1000th game at the Signal Iduna Park since its opening in 1974, giving them their first-ever win against German opposition (D1, L7).
Dortmund and Rangers' first meeting since the UEFA Cup final in 1999/2000 got off to a frantic start. Rangers attempted to draw first blood through Borna Barii, but his low shot was brilliantly thwarted by shot-stopper Gregor Kobel's left foot in the tenth minute. BVB defender Dan-Axel Zagadou missed an incredible chance minutes later when he directed a free header from just outside the six-yard box straight into the hands of opposition goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
As the first half progressed, Marco Rose's men came inches away from taking the lead on several occasions as they incessantly peppered Rangers' box with dangerous crosses but instead found themselves on the receiving end of a quickfire double from the visitors just before halftime. Zagadou handled in that area to give the visitors a penalty, which right-back James Tavernier duly converted before Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos took advantage of a loose ball from a corner to stun the home crowd once more and double his side's lead.
The second half started as wildly as one might expect. First, a brilliant left-footed John Lundstram effort from just outside the penalty area tripled the visitors' lead in the 49th minute, before Dortmund cut Rangers' lead in half two minutes later through Jude Bellingham, whose curling strike mirrored Lundstram's. The Scottish giants put the 'Schwarzgelben' to the sword once more, just as the Westfalenstadion welcomed a brief respite. Morelos received the ball on the left-wing and fired a shot that deflected off Zagadou and into the goal of Kobel.
Rangers were comfortable with a three-goal lead, so they chose to sit back and attack the hosts on the counter. Dortmund struggled to break down the Rangers' tenacious defense until the 82nd minute when Raphael Guerreiro scored a long-range screamer to give Dortmund a lifeline.
'Die Borussen' was unable to prevent Giovanni van Bronckhorst's inspired Scottish side from putting in arguably one of their best-ever away continental performances due to a lack of inspiration. Dortmund will face a difficult task when they travel to Glasgow next week, and honestly, they have to outperform the visitors if they want to have a chance to advance to the round of 16.
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