Rangers crash out

A draw would have been enough to see Walter Smith's men through to the last 16 and hopes were high following an emphatic 3-0 victory over Alain Perrin's men in their own backyard earlier in the competition.

But Sidney Govou's opener and a late double from Karim Benzema secured the win the French champions needed to join Group E winners Barcelona in the knockout stages, while it was a night to forget for Rangers striker Jean-Claude Darcheville who missed a sitter before his last-minute red card.

Rangers may still have the UEFA Cup to look forward but that competition will seem like scant consolation.

The French champions should have snatched the advantage in the opening minutes by capitalising on sloppy defending within the Rangers ranks. Govou nipped in front of Alan Hutton to collect a perfect pass from Juninho but Ibrox breathed a collective sigh of relief when he rifled into the side-netting.

Unfortunately for the Glasgow giants, Allan McGregor was left plucking the ball out of the net with 16 minutes gone. Juninho started the move and Benzema - looking every inch the star of the future he is tipped to be - drove at goal. McGregor's attempts to clear the danger failed hopelessly as he parried straight to the feet of Govou who rifled home.

With 20 minutes to go Benzema should have ensured his team's progress when he rounded McGregor, pulled the trigger, and was shocked to see Steven Whittaker on the line to make the clearance before the Rangers goalkeeper recovered to smother a second attempt from the France international.

Then came the moment that will no doubt haunt Darcheville for the remainder of his career. A superb ball from Barry Ferguson teed up the shot three yards from goal but the Gers striker somehow hit the ball against the crossbar when it looked so much easier to score.

With six minutes to go the stuffing was knocked out of Rangers. A free-kick lobbed into the box was pounced upon by Benzema who slotted between the legs of McGregor from 15 yards, before helping himself to his second of the night three minutes later with a shot from the edge of the box.

Rangers' misery was compounded when Darcheville was shown a straight red at the death for stamping on Kim Kallstrom.