After a decent run in the previous year's UEFA Cup, Rangers fans may have been optimistic about the team's chances going into the new season. And then when they drew Czech side Viktoria Zizkov in the first round, with most pundits predicting a walkover for the Gers. Unfortunately, the tie proved to be less straightforward than it seemed. Zizkov took the lead with their first attack when skipper Ales Pikl rose above Craig Moore to bullet home a header from a free-kick. Barry Ferguson had a chance to level the score with a penalty kick, but hit it tamely into the arms of the keeper. Ludek Strancey added a second for the buoyant Czechs when he fired in a powerful effort from just inside the box. Rangers would go on to win the second leg 3-1 with two goals from Ronald DeBoer, but it wasn't enough as they limped out of the competition.
