Cyriel Dessers believes Rangers’ 1-1 Europa League draw against Olympiacos on Thursday should give them strength for Sunday’s visit of Hearts.

The Nigeria striker passed up a couple of chances to take the lead before the interval in the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium before the Greek side, current Conference League champions, opened the scoring in the 56th minute through Moroccan forward Ayoub El Kaabi.

However, Dessers levelled eight minutes later with a composed finish to move Philippe Clement’s side on to seven points, with the chance to qualify for the knockout stages still alive as they turn their attention to the William Hill Premiership game against the Jambos at Ibrox.

Dessers said: “It is a really good feeling and that should give us strength as well for the game on Sunday first and foremost, but also for the next games in the Europa League and in the league.

“We have got some big months coming up and we are all excited, we cannot wait for these games.

“I think it was a decent result. If you look at our performance as a team, I think we can be happy about that.

“Olympiacos is a very good team, a lot of quality. It was a special atmosphere, so not easy to go there and take a point so I think we can be happy with that.”

Dessers revealed his positive mentality when assessing the chances he missed before he got the crucial leveller, taking a Vaclav Cerny pass and finishing with confidence.

He said: “This is life as a striker. I was watching the Champions League this week, and I see unbelievable strikers miss chances.

“So who am I, as Cyriel Dessers, not to miss chances? Obviously, you’re always going to miss more than you score.

“That’s the life of a striker. You know that there will always be a perception about that, but that’s life.

“If I would score three chances every game then I will probably not be at Rangers either.

“You just have to keep going, never give up as a team, as an individual, and you just need to be ready for the next one. And then that’s what I did on Thursday and that’s what we did as a team as well.

“Even after the setback, we came back, and we can be very proud with our performance here

“I’m very happy with my performance. I think I played a good game. I gave the two centre-backs a lot of difficulties.

“Obviously, you want to score one of the first two chances. On the first one, the finish could have been better. The second one, I think I do well. I think the goalkeeper makes a good save.

“You need to stay in the game. Need to stay focused and hopefully make the next one and that’s what I did. So I’m happy with that.”

Victor Osimhen scored twice as Galatasaray inflicted a first Europa League defeat of the season on Tottenham with a 3-2 victory in Istanbul, while Fenerbahçe suffered a 3-1 loss against AZ Alkmaar on Nov. 7.

The Turkish champions have 10 points from four games and have all but secured qualification for at least the knockout play-off round, while Spurs sit in seventh place after losing their 100-percent record.

Galatasaray took an early lead when Yunus Akgün smashed a sensational long-range volley into the top corner in the sixth minute.

Spurs’ teenage striker Will Lankshear equalized, but Galatasaray took control before halftime as Osimhen scored twice in the space of eight minutes.

The Nigerian star fired them back in front just after the half-hour mark before cleverly volleying Dries Mertens’ cross past Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Osimhen has now scored six goals in eight appearances for Galatasaray since joining on loan from Napoli, and his performance against Tottenham was highly praised worldwide.

The home side passed up several opportunities to put the game out of sight for their opponents, but Spurs’ hopes of a comeback were hit when Lankshear was sent off for two yellow-card offenses in quick succession in the second half.

Dominic Solanke pulled one back in the 69th minute, shortly after being brought on by Postecoglou, but Galatasaray held on with relative comfort.

Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk achieved a personal milestone, becoming the Turkish manager with the most wins in the tournament after recording his ninth victory in 16 UEFA Europa League appearances.

AZ Alkmaar beats Fenerbahçe 3-1

In Alkmaar, Fenerbahçe fell to a 3-1 defeat against AZ.

Neither team was able to produce a goal in the first half, but Alkmaar’s Ro-Zangelo Daal scored the opener with a close-range finish in the 59th minute at AFAS Stadion.

After three minutes, Fenerbahce was awarded a penalty after Mees de Wit fouled Edin Dzeko in the box.

However, goalkeeper Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro saved Youssef En-Nesyri’s penalty attempt, keeping the score unchanged.

Fenerbahce leveled the game in the 70th minute when En-Nesyri netted with a header, bringing the match to a 1-1 draw.

AZ Alkmaar took the lead again with Kees Smit in the 75th minute, and Denso Kasius made it 3-1 in the 87th minute.

Fenerbahce is 21st with five points, and AZ Alkmaar is 17th with six points.

According to reports, new Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has already decided that one of Erik ten Hag’s signings is ‘not in his plans’.

Ten Hag won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup during his time at Man Utd, but his struggles in the Premier League and Europe weighed him down before he was sacked at the end of last month.

The Dutchman had a major say in transfers and the Premier League giants made some poor signings while he was in charge.

Most of his recruits have struggled at Man Utd and Gary Neville reckons Ten Hag made “two of the worst signings” in their history.

However, Andre Onana – who initially struggled following his move from Inter Milan – has come good for Man Utd and has been one of their most consistent performers over the past year.

The Cameroon international – who previously played under Ten Hag at Ajax – was bought for around £43m when Man Utd were in the market for a goalkeeper to replace David De Gea during the 2023 summer transfer window.

Ten Hag left Man Utd after his side only won three of their opening nine Premier League games, so Amorim could push co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his recruitment team to make signings once the winter transfer window opens.

A report claims Man Utd’s priority is on signing a striker and centre-midfielder but they could also do with bringing in a new left-back.

This could make for a hectic January window and despite his positive form, Onana’s future is reportedly at risk as Amorim ‘doesn’t want him’ and is prepared to say ‘goodbye’.

It is claimed that Amorim has ‘not hesitated to point out that several aspects of the squad must change’ and Onana is the ‘first player who does not enter into his plans’.

Amorim is right if he’s recognised that Man Utd’s ‘squad must change’, but he should have more pressing concerns about other positions.

Given he’s been one of Man Utd’s standout performers, it’s hard to see a scenario where Onana is replaced in 2025, but the report claims his ‘future is up in the air’ as Amorim is ‘unconvinced’.

‘Andre Onana’s future now seems to be in doubt. With Amorim taking over, the possibility of an exit for the Cameroonian goalkeeper is becoming an increasingly likely option.

‘There are rumours that several clubs in the Premier League and other European leagues, including teams from La Liga and Serie A, could be interested in signing the goalkeeper.

‘Onana will have to make a decision soon, since with the arrival of Amorim at Old Trafford, his stay at Manchester United seems increasingly distant.’