Rangers European journey for the season is all but over after defeat to Napoli in Naples.
It was always going to be a tough task for Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men against the unbeaten group and Serie A league leaders in their own backyard and after conceding twice in the opening 15 minutes to Giovanni Simeone you feared the worst for the visitors but they managed to regroup, create a couple of chances and compete with the hosts only managing one further goal.
It's a fifth successive loss in the Champions League section with just Ajax at Ibrox to come next week. They lost out to Liverpool meaning only three points stands between the two sides but after the Dutch side cruised to a 4-0 win on matchday one, any hopes Rangers have of dropping into the Europa League would require a five goal win due to head-to-head and the superior goal difference in favour of Alfred Schreuder's side. Here are three things we learned at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
READ MORE: Napoli shocked by Rangers as young guns show Gio van Bronckhorst how it's done on European away day
Class above
Napoli showed exactly why they are five for five in the group section and flying high in Serie A unbeaten.
A stunning ball around the back of Ben Davies found Giovanni Simeone who superbly fired across Allan McGregor into the back of the net after just ten minutes. He had his double five minutes later after heading home from another stunning cross from Mario Rui. Leo Ostigard added a third late on with a brilliant header from a corner to complete the Italian job.
These latest strikes take the overall group tally of goals scored by Napoli to 20 while Rangers have conceded 19..
It could have been more had it not been for a combination of Allan McGregor and the woodwork
Back to the drawing board
It was another defeat in the Champions League for Rangers in what was always going to be a tough night.
European football after Christmas is not officially over but they are going to need beat Ajax by five goals to do it due to the heavy defeat in Amsterdam on matchday one.
It's the first time the Light Blues have been at Europe's top table for many years with the main aim now to return to form domestically and reclaim the title from Celtic to ensure direct entry next season.
There is plenty on offer at home with domestic cups also up for grabs, but for last season's Europa League finalists the journey this time around on the European stage looks like it has just days remaining.
Stake a claim
Ridvan Yilmaz was handed a rare start by Giovanni van Bronckhorst in Naples and did his chances no harm to retain the spot.
Borna Barisic has been the preferred option over the £5million summer addition this campaign to date with the full Turkish international given time to settle into life at both Rangers and in Glasgow.
Fans, pundits and ex-pros have all questioned the situation over the left-back and his lack of minutes in the top team to date but after tonight's showing he could well put himself in the frame for an extended run or certainly more match time.
He looked tidy enough on the ball, showed some pace and got up and down the left side when possible to support.
He produced a stunning low ball around the Napoli backline with 66 minutes on the clock for Alfredo Morelos but he somehow failed to make any contact with the ball.
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