Rangers delivered their most impressive performance of the season with a dominant 4-1 win over Nice in the Europa League, a result that Philippe Clement described as their best display to date. The Scottish side came out firing in the first half, capitalizing on defensive mistakes from Nice to take a commanding lead. Vaclav Cerny opened the scoring in the 17th minute, with Mohamed Diomande doubling the lead shortly after. Hamza Igamane, who was making his first start in the competition, added a third, and just minutes into the second half, Igamane scored again, putting Rangers 4-0 ahead.
Nice managed to pull one back through Badredine Bouanani’s free-kick, but it was little more than a consolation. Despite the late goal, the result was a statement performance from Rangers, particularly on the European stage. The win lifted Rangers to eighth place in the 36-team standings, leapfrogging Tottenham. Rangers also benefited from an equaliser by Mats Hummels for Roma, which confirmed their position and secured an automatic spot in the next round.
Clement was full of praise for his team's performance, highlighting the maturity and resilience they showed in what was a commanding win on the road. "We’ve had big performances in Bucharest and Malmo, but knowing the level of this opponent, I think this is the best performance of the season," Clement said. He acknowledged that despite the early stage of the campaign, his young team has shown substantial growth, with many players new to the club. Clement noted the importance of building cohesion, especially with a squad that is still getting to know each other.
One of the standout players of the match was Hamza Igamane, who seized the opportunity to impress with a brace on his first start in the Europa League. Igamane, who had been recovering from an injury and missed part of the pre-season, was a key contributor throughout the game. He not only scored twice but also assisted Cerny’s opening goal and created three other chances. His work rate was evident as he had eight touches in Nice's penalty area, more than any other player on the pitch. Clement was particularly pleased with Igamane's technical abilities, acknowledging that the young forward is still adapting to the higher level of competition but is making strides in the right direction. “We’re working hard with him to make him stronger, but also ensuring he’s doing the right things for the team,” Clement explained. The manager emphasized that resilience is key for young players, especially in big games like this one.
This victory marks an important milestone for Rangers as they now turn their attention to their domestic campaign in the Scottish Premiership. Following a disappointing 1-1 draw with Dundee United, Clement will be hoping the momentum from the Europa League win can propel his side forward in the league, where they currently sit third, trailing Celtic by 11 points. Despite the gap to the top, Clement remains focused on securing results in the Premiership. "We need to win," he stated, underlining the importance of consistency as Rangers aim to narrow the gap at the top.
Rangers’ performance against Nice has given them a confidence boost, and they will look to carry that momentum into their upcoming league fixtures. With young players like Igamane stepping up and a growing understanding within the squad, there is optimism that they can push on both domestically and in Europe this season.
