Jorg Albertz may just have thrown Rangers a lifeline in the UEFA Cup last night. The giant German midfielder powered home a penalty after 49 minutes and that away goal could prove to be a vital one. Rangers were looking to restore their credibility in Europe after the 3-0 defeat by Gothenburg last month, which ruled them out of the Champions' League.

This was their first trip to foreign soil since that drubbing and this was a much more convincing performance despite the defeat.

Two goals goal by Gerald Baticle from the penalty spot condemned them to defeat and Rangers now face an uphill task in the return leg in two weeks' time.

Rangers looked comfortable in the first half with Laudrup and Durie causing the Strasbourg defence problems. Laudrup set up Rangers' first chance by knocking the ball across the face of the goal to Durie, who knocked it wide.

But Strasbourg took the lead a minute before the break when Joachim Bjorklund bundled over Baticle. The Frenchman dusted himself down and sent his penalty kick into the corner.

But it took Rangers only four minutes of the second half to draw level when Philippe Raschke floored Laudrup, who was causing the Strasbourg defence problems with his running. Albertz stepped up to drill a penalty beyond keeper Alexandre Vencel.

Rangers went behind again on the hour when Albertz was pulled up for tripping Baticle. He again stayed calm to put Strasbourg ahead with a perfect penalty.

The French side, with only one league win to their credit this season, should have gone 3-1 ahead with 15 minutes remaining when Denni Conteh picked out Nouma who had raced clear to beat the off-side trap, only to steer the ball wide of the post from three yards out.

Nouma's misery was complete in the 78th minute when he was sent off for a rash challenge on Petric.

Miller had a good chance of pulling Rangers level when he was clear in the box but his shot carried no weight.

RC Strasbourg: Vencel, Raschke, Suchoparek, Okpara, Collet (Kinet 35), Arpinon (Miceli 12), Baticle, Conteh (Rabbah 77), M'Goghi, Dacourt, Nouma. Subs Not Used: Roth, Klein, Vogel, Keller. Sent Off: Nouma (78). Booked: Raschke. Goals: Baticle 44 pen, 60 pen.

Rangers: Snelders, Porrini, Petric, Bjorklund, Vidmar (Andersen 70), Gattuso (Miller 46), McCall, Gascoigne, Albertz, Durie, Laudrup. Subs Not Used: Negri, Brown, McCoist, Johannson, Thern. Booked: McCall, Gattuso. Goals: Albertz 49 pen. Attendance: 12,450.

Referee: M Prentalante (Italy).