Rangers exit Europa League after home draw against Jagiellonia Białystok

By Joel Kavanagh — 14 August 2026 — 3 min read

Rangers’ European Campaign Ends

Rangers have been eliminated from the Europa League qualifiers following a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Jagiellonia Białystok. The Scottish side drew 1-1 at Ibrox in the second leg, which was not enough to overturn their 2-1 loss in the first leg in Poland.

The result means that manager Derek McInnes continues his winless start to his tenure, having failed to secure a victory in four competitive matches since joining from Hearts over the summer. The team will now compete in the Conference League playoff round, where they are set to face Jablonec from Czechia.

During the match at Ibrox, optimism grew when captain Lawrence Shankland converted a penalty in the 19th minute, levelling the tie on aggregate. However, Jagiellonia Białystok responded in the 65th minute with a goal from attacker Nik Prelec, equalising in the match and re-establishing their aggregate lead. Despite attempts to change formation and personnel, Rangers were unable to regain control, leading to frustration among the home supporters who voiced their displeasure at full time.

McInnes’ Pre-Match Comments and Match Performance

Ahead of the second leg, Derek McInnes had emphasised the importance of a strong European performance at Ibrox. He expressed a desire for his team to deliver a significant performance in front of their home fans, aiming to shift the pressure onto the opposition. McInnes noted the impact of the home atmosphere in the first leg in Poland and hoped for similar backing from the Rangers faithful.

Following a challenging home result in the Scottish Premiership, the manager highlighted the squad’s responsibility to navigate this difficult period and start securing wins. He acknowledged that the team needed a victory to boost confidence among both players and supporters. McInnes also reflected on the first leg, suggesting that Rangers had contributed to their own downfall through the goals conceded. He believed that tightening up defensively would allow the team to perform well enough to progress.

McInnes outlined key areas for improvement, including the need for more players in the box and a willingness to play with greater risk. He mentioned reviewing clips from the first leg to identify specific actions the team needed to commit to. The manager felt that the team had played too safely in the initial encounter and needed to force the issue more, increasing their tempo. He noted that the tempo improved in the second half of the first leg, leading to more opportunities, and hoped for a similar start in the return leg. Additionally, he stressed the importance of effective counter-pressing and strong defending when attacking to minimise the influence of opposing players.

Other European Results

In other European action, Hearts also exited the Europa League, drawing 1-1 with Benfica. Tómas Magnússon scored for Hearts in the 77th minute, giving home fans hope, but Dodi Lukébakio equalised for Benfica less than a minute later. Benfica advanced with a 7-2 aggregate victory, having secured a 6-1 win in the first leg. Despite their elimination, Hearts‘ performance was seen as encouraging, particularly against a Benfica side that made seven changes from the first leg. Hearts will now participate in the Conference League playoffs, where they are scheduled to play Rapid Vienna of Austria.

Meanwhile, Hibernian achieved a 2-1 aggregate victory over Shkendija, securing their place in the Conference League playoff round against Belgian side Gent. The second leg saw a 0-0 draw in the intense heat of the Todor Proeski National Arena. Manager David Gray praised his players for their “incredible achievement,” highlighting their first clean sheet of the season and their resilience in challenging conditions. He noted that the team put their bodies on the line and demonstrated a strong attitude.

The upcoming Conference League playoff rounds will see Rangers face Jablonec, Hearts take on Rapid Vienna, and Hibernian compete against Gent.

Source: theguardian.com