Aleksandar Dragovic reacts to clash with Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos
Aleksandar Dragovic is coming to terms with his side’s defeat to Rangers and his own defeat in a one on one clash with Alfredo Morelos.
On a wild night at Ibrox Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side once again raised their game to run out 3-0 winners in their Europa League first leg tie, but had to ride their luck as Red Star Belgrade had three goals ruled out for offside and a penalty saved.
It was a rough night all round for the visitors, none more so than for their Austrian international Dragovic, who understood what he was up against when he came off second best in an early meeting with Gers’ Colombian forward.
The 31-year-old said after, via The Scottish Sun: “We knew Alfredo Morelos was a good striker and we knew how good he was at hold-up play.
“The first time I had a tackle with him, he bounced me five metres away.
“He had one chance and took it.
“I actually thought I did okay against him, but the goal he scored came from a break and it punished us.”
El Bufalo strikes
The Light Blues’ main man was firing on all cylinders on a big European night once again.
As well as leaving an impression on the opposition defenders physically, he scored the second goal on the night to overtake Radamel Falcao as the highest scoring South American in the competition.
It was a night of fine margins and if three tight offside calls had gone an inch or two the other way the complexion of the tie heading back to Serbia would be very different.
The magnificent penalty save from Allan McGregor preserved a valuable clean sheet, belying the shaky nature of his recent form.
And a late thunderbolt from Guelor Kanga crashed off the home crossbar to suggest Dejan Stankovic’s men have enough to cause Gers problems in the return leg.
Although everything fell the home side’s way last night, they lifted their game to take advantage, putting them in pole position for the quarter finals.
In other Rangers news, there has been another big development for Glen Kamara in the case with Ondrej Kudela.