Rangers faced a challenging away match against Sturm Graz in the Europa League, held on Thursday, 2 October 2025, at 21:06 UK time. The Scottish club didn’t have the best of starts to the match. They soon went down by two goals early, conceding on defensive mistakes that led to intense scorn from pundits and Twitter users alike.
Kris Boyd, a mainstay in the Scottish sports commentary space and former player himself, shared his experience from the field. He referred to the Rangers’ lackluster defensive performance as ‘embarrassing. He noted the mistakes that allowed Sturm Graz to capitalize on their opportunities. Boyd’s comments further underscore a very important point. Whether in the trenches on defense or starring down the opposing goalie on offense, the team can’t keep their cool when it matters most.
As the game wore on, it became evident that Rangers simply weren’t ready for the fierceness of their foes. In the 15th minute, Sturm Graz pounced. They took advantage of a lapse in the Rangers’ defense, a miscommunication between the backline. The second of the pair came just minutes after the first to double Rangers’ nightmare scenario. This early misstep left them at a disadvantage in the race.
Even after going down by two goals, Rangers tried to reset and come back into the match. Boyd said their entire defensive scheme looked chaotic, only creating more chances for Sturm Graz to thrive on. The lack of ability to quickly counter the speedy plays and keep superiority would shut down their hopes of digging back into the scoreline.
The contest underscored the many aspects where Rangers must still improve as they turn their attention to more formidable opponents in the coming Europa League group stage matches. Ultimately Boyd’s analysis is a challenge to the coaching staff and players alike. They need to rethink their approach to defense and train themselves to respond to pressure better.
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