Rangers eliminated from Europa League after 1-1 draw with Jagiellonia at Ibrox
Rangers were knocked out of the Europa League qualifiers after drawing 1-1 with Jagiellonia Bialystok at Ibrox on 13 August 2026, leaving them 3-2 down on aggregate and extending Derek McInnes’s winless start. The result ends Rangers’ involvement in the Europa League qualifying rounds and sends them into the Conference League playoff stage.
Rangers had lost the first leg 2-1 in Poland last week and looked to have hope restored when captain Lawrence Shankland converted a penalty on 19 minutes to level the tie on aggregate. The visitors equalised through Nik Prelec in the 65th minute, and despite changes in formation and personnel the home side failed to regain control. Fans expressed their frustration with boos at full time, while McInnes has now failed to register a win in four competitive matches since moving from Hearts in the summer. Rangers will face Jablonec, from Czechia, in the Conference League playoff round.
Shankland’s early penalty briefly levelled the tie but did not alter the match momentum; Prelec’s 65th-minute strike was described as deserved by the report, and Rangers could not establish a foothold thereafter. Tactical adjustments and substitutions were unable to alter the course of the second leg, leaving Ibrox disappointed at the final whistle.
Hearts drew 1-1 with Benfica but were also eliminated from the Europa League after a 7-2 aggregate defeat following a 6-1 first-leg loss. Tomas Magnusson gave Hearts hope with a 77th-minute opener, only for Dodi Lukébakio to equalise less than a minute later, sealing Benfica’s aggregate progression. Wouter Vrancken’s side received praise for an encouraging display against a team who made seven changes from the first leg, and Hearts progress instead to the Conference League playoffs where they will face Rapid Vienna of Austria.
Hibernian closed out a 2-1 aggregate victory over Shkendija after a goalless second leg at the Todor Proeski National Arena played in searing heat. David Gray said his players had their heads in ice buckets and lauded them for “an incredible achievement” after sealing progression to the Conference League playoff round. “I’m delighted for the players,” manager Gray told BBC Sport. “It’s a brilliant time to get your first clean sheet of the season. “I just said to the players, don’t underestimate how big an achievement that is against a really good side who made it to the knockout stages of the competition last season. “Added to that, the conditions, the heat, we had to deal with all these things. I don’t think it was a brilliant game, but we put our bodies on the line and the attitude was there.
As a result of these ties, Rangers, Hearts and Hibernian will each enter the Conference League playoff round, set to meet Jablonec, Rapid Vienna and Gent respectively.