Michael Beale has hailed Rangers' Europa League heroics as "outstanding" after the club qualified for the last 16 of the competition.

Kemar Roofe’s 78th-minute winner against Real Betis sent an under-strength Light Blues into the knockout stage in Spain last night.

The Light Blues twice took the lead in the first half through Abdallah Sima and Cyriel Dessers but they were heading for the Conference League knockout stages before Roofe’s late goal inflicted a first home defeat of the season on Real Betis.

Former Ibrox boss Beale was in charge as Rangers defeated Betis at Ibrox earlier in the group, and he was hugely impressed by the performance last night.

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He took to Instagram to share the scoreline and wrote: "Outstanding from the players and staff. Well done Rangers. Fantastic performance."

Beale's replacement Philippe Clement was also delighted with his side's performance as he backed his team to have an “amazing season” if they show the same togetherness that helped them to their 3-2 win in Seville.

Clement told Rangers TV: “It’s an amazing evening. I am really proud of the boys, they way they stuck together, the way they were brave. The things I asked – to be brave, to go with our football, create chances, score good goals, and a real top team mentality.

“That’s what we need to build on over the next couple of months. If they stick together like this every three days, you always have an amazing season.”

It was Rangers’ first away victory against Spanish opposition.

Clement said: “This is a big reference and statement also, for them and the outside, that if everyone is into the story and working hard, we are a really hard team to beat, even for top-class teams like Betis, who are in really good form and played a really good game against Real Madrid last week and could have won.

“It was the first loss in their home stadium this season. And it was also a game we had to win, a lot of pressure and the players dealt really well with it.”