Gutsy Gers edge through

His Werder Bremen counterpart Tim Wiese was the German team's culprit in the tie, and his two monumental mistakes at Ibrox last week proved decisive over the 180 minutes.

The visitors to the Weserstadion had to withstand a major onslaught from the hosts who scored the only goal of the night in 58th minute thanks to a moment of magic from Diego.

Werder hit the crossbar through Boubacar Sanogo five minutes from time, but it was the fingertips of goalkeeper McGregor which prevented the close-range shot finding the net as he touched it against the woodwork.

Bremen came close Within two minutes, with Daniel Jensen pulling the trigger from the right corner of the box and his low shot flying inches past the left post before Markus Rosenberg failed to control a header from Per Mertesacker deep inside the danger area.

Rosenberg then forced McGregor into a fine save with his shot from 16 yards out on the right and unmarked Tim Borowski volleyed over from close range.

Bremen launched one furious assault after another, with McGregor stopping two more fierce shots from Jensen in the 50th and 55th minutes.

Brazilian Diego finally put the home side in front when he made space for himself with some superb skill on the edge of the box and then beat McGregor with a low left-footed shot across the goalkeeper and into the right corner.

The chance to take the game to extra-time fell to substitute Sanogo who from six yards should have buried the ball past McGregor. The goalkeeper looked to have no chance but covered yards of ground to turn the ball onto the bar.

Rangers would never allow Bremen to get close again as they survived a dramatic final minute to book their ticket to the quarter-finals.