A last-minute goal by Michael Tarnat robbed Rangers of a famous and deserved Champions League victory at Ibrox last night.

Statistically, Bayern commands respect, even awe. The German players in their squad have between them won over 400 caps and they were backed by others all out of the absolute top flight.

There was no danger that they would still be pining after last season's final. The sight of Samuel Kurrour strutting his stuff was in vast contrast to the sight of the same man weeping his eyes out in the Nou Camp. But with Rangers knowing that a win was vital it was clear that mind games would have to be applied by manager Dick Advocaat.

That was probably based on the conclusion that Bayern's central defence contained a 20-year-old goalkeeper Stefan Wessels who had never player a senior professional game. He must have judged that Lothar Matthaus, old enough to be his father, might have little petrol in the tank. And the third man Thomas Linke was hardly a sprinter either.

As it turned out, Wessels' made some fine saves and Matthaus's experience helped out. But there was no doubt that Rangers had passed some kind of confidence barrier and believed in themselves.

Oddly, when the Scottish champions did take the lead, it came in a different way. Sergio Porrini took a throw-on on the right, Michael Mols touched it on and Claudio Reyna worked the ball laterally across the edge of the penalty area. That piece of perseverance was rewarded when the sight of Jorge Albertz opened up on the left wing. He produced one of his trademark shots, a searing left footer with which Wessels could get nowhere near.

However, Bayern drew level a minute from time when Michael Tarnat's shot took a deflection off the wall after Scholl had touched a short free kick to Effenberg. Jonatan Johansson almost put Rangers back in front on the stroke of full time, only to drag his shot wide of the target.

Rangers: Charbonnier; Pomini, Moore, Amoruso, Numan; Reyna, Ferguson, Van Bronckhorst, Albertz; Mols, Johansson.

Bayern Munich: Wessels; Linke, Matthaus, Kuffour; Jeremies, Tarnat, Lizarazu; Effenberg; Scholl, Elber, Salihamidzik.

Referee: R Wojcik (Poland).