Barcelona held by gallant Rangers

GLASGOW, Scotland -- Rangers captain Barry Ferguson hailed the club's "great achievement" as they held Barcelona 0-0 at Ibrox to move a step closer to the knock-out stages of the Champions League.

The Ibrox giants kept Barcelona out to preserve their unbeaten run in Group E, following victories over Stuttgart and Lyon.

The Catalan side dominated much of the game, before Rangers threatened to sneak a famous win in the closing 20 minutes.

Ferguson said: "Let's not kid ourselves. Barcelona are one of the best teams on the planet. To go on the same park as them and get a point is a great achievement for us."

He added: "It was a joy to play against them and I thought our guys worked ever so hard to earn a point so we're absolutely delighted with it.

"We knew before the game that they would have a lot of possession. It was just up to us to make sure they didn't score any goals and we've done that. We're delighted. We've had a great start to the group."

Rangers manager Walter Smith felt his side had exceeded everyone's expectations -- even his own -- with their run of European results.

"We're delighted both with the performance and the result which was a great one for us considering it was always going to be an extremely difficult match for us.

"For us to contemplate having seven points after three games in the Champions League, it's a big, big thing for us. We honestly didn't think we would get there."

Barcelona and Rangers both have seven points, giving them a four-point lead over Lyon who got off the mark with a 2-0 victory in Stuttgart.

Smith expects a challenge from the French champions for a place in the top two saying: "Winning away from home they will fancy their chances of winning at home, and that would bring them close to us again.

"We have an extremely difficult game in Barcelona so it's all to do, but for us gaining the point tonight was fantastic. I've got nothing but praise for the way our team have done at the start of the season.

Barcelona arrived at Ibrox determined to take all three points and the home side were forced into last-gasp defending when Carlos Cuellar hooked a Messi effort off the line.

Rangers were then under pressure again when Ronaldinho was hacked down by Alan Hutton 25 yards out. The Brazilian took the free-kick himself but was denied by the woodwork when the effort crashed off the crossbar and over.

Ronaldinho then turned provider, picking out Puyol with a long ball on the right flank, but the Barca skipper was denied the opener when his header was tipped over by Allan McGregor.

Barcelona surged forward in numbers in the second half search of the opener and were displaying some wonderful passing football and Henry should have opened the scoring when he connected with a Xavi corner, but somehow managed to nod over from close range. E-mail to a friend