Rangers and Athletic Bilbao battled to a goalless draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash, with Rangers' goalkeeper Liam Kelly emerging as the hero of the night. The match, filled with drama and tension, saw Rangers overcome an early setback when Robin Pröpper was controversially sent off in the 13th minute for a desperate tackle on Inaki Williams. This left the Scottish side battling with ten men for the majority of the game.

The encounter was dominated by Athletic Bilbao in terms of possession and attempts on goal. The Spanish side managed to create 19 shots, accumulating 2.37 expected goals (xG), yet their finishing lacked the necessary precision. The game reached a critical point in the 76th minute when Alex Berenguer thought he had broken the deadlock, only for his goal to be disallowed after Gorka Guruzeta was judged to have handled the ball in the build-up.

The tension heightened moments later when a penalty was awarded against Rangers after Dujon Sterling was penalized for handball. Athletic's hopes were swiftly dashed as Kelly made an extraordinary save with his left leg to deny Berenguer from converting the spot-kick. This save further bolstered Kelly's reputation, marking Rangers' third penalty save in their last seven major European shootouts, maintaining a legacy carried by former keepers Allan McGregor and Jack Butland.

Defensive Resilience Holds the Line

Despite being pushed to their limits, Rangers demonstrated remarkable defensive resilience, especially after Sterling was stretchered off the field late in the game, temporarily reducing them to nine players. Athletic Bilbao's Maroan Sannadi missed several opportunities, including a critical header that was brilliantly saved by Kelly, and another effort that went sky-high.

Much to Rangers' relief, they not only preserved the draw but did so by recording no shots on target themselves — a feat not seen since April 2022. Meanwhile, Athletic ended their impressive 19-match scoring streak in European competitions. Following the match, Kelly credited his 'goalkeeping union' for the strong defensive performance, highlighting the unity and resilience of the team amidst recent criticism.

As the tie remains evenly poised, both teams will turn their focus to the upcoming second leg in Bilbao next week. For Rangers, advancing means clinching a significant milestone of 100 Europa League goals, a first for any Scottish club. It’s a daunting task that requires another defensive masterclass or a historic breakthrough in Spain.