Rangers European campaign, which never truly ignited, ended with a whimper at the Estádio do Dragão as they fell 3–1 to a Porto side in formidable form across all competitions this season.
The Portuguese league leaders have lost just twice in all tournaments: A UEFA Europa League defeat to Nottingham Forest and a Taça da Liga shock against Vitória de Guimarães, and have won 18 of their 19 league matches, drawing the other.
Already assured of at least a playoff place but seeking automatic progression to the last 16, the Dragons named a full-strength side, while Danny Rohl shifted to a back five and handed Findlay Curtis a start ahead of his expected loan move to Kilmarnock.
Rangers began brightly and took the lead after just six minutes. Club captain James Tavernier, equalling Allan McGregor’s Rangers European appearance record in what may prove to be his final continental outing for the club, won possession high up the pitch and found Curtis.
The youngster, aided by a touch of his hand that was deemed legal by VAR, clipped a cross to the back post where Djeidi Gassama, recently linked with a big-money move to Monaco, headed back across Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa to send the travelling support into raptures, despite the dead-rubber nature of the match.
Rangers continued to circulate possession confidently without seriously testing Costa again, and Porto’s quality soon told. Eighteen-year-old wonderkid Rodrigo Mora finished off a move he began by driving past Nicolas Raskin, before a mix-up between Tavernier and Jack Butland allowed Francisco Moura to tap in from close range.
Between those goals came a superb last-ditch challenge from Emmanuel Fernandez, who recovered brilliantly after Pepê escaped Tavernier. A VAR check followed, but no penalty was awarded - correctly - underlining Fernandez’s defensive quality amid reported interest from Borussia Dortmund.
However, the former Peterborough defender endured a cruel twist before the break, heading a Porto corner into his own net to effectively end the contest.
Rohl responded at half-time, switching shape and introducing the returning John Souttar for Jayden Meghoma.
Rangers started the second half with intent but created little beyond blocked efforts and intercepted deliveries. Oliver Antman returned from injury to replace Gassama, and Rohl later added Bojan Miovski alongside Yousef Chermiti, sacrificing Fernandez to go more attacking.
Raskin forced Costa into action from distance, while further changes would see Mikey Moore and Thelo Aasgaard introduced with 20 minutes remaining, Butland would make a couple of stops while Rangers attempted to create without much success, overall Porto remained comfortable until the end.
Rangers eight-match winning run ends, but domestic focus resumes immediately. Rohl’s side travel to Easter Road on Sunday aiming to reignite momentum against struggling Hibernian, stay ahead of Celtic and close the gap on league leaders Hearts with a seventh consecutive league victory.
Elsewhere Celtic defeated Utrecht, ensuring their place in the playoff round, which will leave them with an away European tie just days before the next Old Firm match at Ibrox on March 1.