Borussia Dortmund were the favourites to win the Europa League before this tie with Rangers. By the time it concluded – sadly though that was for neutrals – the Germans found themselves eliminated from the competition. For Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who has watched Rangers stutter on the domestic front, this felt a hugely significant success. Rangers had a the aim of not wasting the lead earned by an outstanding display at Signal Iduna Park and duly delivered. Dortmund’s showing amid a raucous atmosphere on Glasgow’s south side was markedly better than in front of their own support but they proved unable to turn the tide. Over 180 minutes, Rangers played the more effective football. Van Bronckhorst and his team will bounce into the last 16, with Marco Rose left to field questions regarding what will be an embarrassing outcome for Dortmund. High praise of Rangers’ first leg performance, while valid, required context. Unfortunately for Van Bronckhorst and his players, 90 minutes of the tie remained against a free-scoring side. Indeed, Dortmund recovered from their home loss to Rangers by trouncing Borussia Mönchengladbach 6-0 at the weekend. Prior to this game, Dortmund had played seven in 2022 that had featured more than 40 goals. They were highly unlikely to fire blanks in Glasgow. Unsurprisingly, the German side opened positively. Jude Bellingham bundled the ball against Allan McGregor’s left-hand post from a Julian Brandt corner inside four minutes. Donyell Malen’s snapshot from just outside the area bounced narrowly wide. Rangers had been forced into their defensive third for the majority of the first quarter, adding to the craziness of Brandt’s next key involvement. Ryan Kent, who starred in Germany, was facing away from goal and offering no particular threat at all when Brandt dropped a lazy leg into his path. As Kent toppled, a penalty was the straightforward outcome. James Tavernier slotted it home, high down the middle of Gregor Kobel’s goal. Rangers, having been outplayed, now had a three-goal advantage. Brandt stung McGregor’s palms as Dortmund pursued swift salvation. It arrived after 31 minutes, Bellingham enjoying the break of the ball from Connor Goldson before beating McGregor with a calm, low finish. Rangers could rue the softness of the goal but had no legitimate argument that parity was not valid. Scott Arfield was denied by Kobel and Alfredo Morelos blasted the rebound against Matt Hummels. Arfield should, in truth, have squared to Kent. Such moments can define ties. McGregor produced a terrific diving save to deny Malen. Before a pulsating first-half closed, Dortmund edged in front on the night. Brandt was again involved, this time playing a ball into the six-yard area that was flicked beyond McGregor by the impressive Malen. Dortmund’s collective reaction demonstrated their belief that the last 16 was now a wholly legitimate aspiration. That Rangers switched to a back five during the interval suggested an acceptance that Dortmund would dominate the second period. Morelos, though, twice came close to extending the Rangers lead within 10 minutes of the restart. Tavernier prevailed where his teammate could not, with a fierce back-post finish after Hummels swiped at and only partly connected with a Calvin Bassey cross from Rangers’ left. Such dreadful defending had been a feature of Dortmund’s play a week earlier. The visitors’ situation was now desperate. Marco Reus stumbled having rounded McGregor, with the experienced forward due credit for not tumbling under a challenge from Leon Balogun that could have resulted in a spot-kick. Controversy did follow. Emre Can was extremely fortunate to win a free-kick, via VAR, after appearing to kick the ground before Morelos stole possession just inside the Dortmund half. Rangers had briefly celebrated a third, Morelos having marched down on goal before passing for Kent to tap home. They were denied that lead which appeared rather harsh on further viewing. Dortmund still needed two to force extra time. Their chances of scoring had been reduced by the lack of prominence enjoyed by Bellingham in the second period. Reus limped off in the closing minutes. Equally ominous for Dortmund was the recurring menace as shown by Rangers on the break. There was to be no further scoring; Ibrox euphoria depicted the historic, and perhaps unlikely, result.