Rangers went down 3-2 away to Stuttgart on Tuesday night, but now know they only need a point in their final game at home to Lyon to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.

DaMarcus Beasley started the game on the right wing, but was substituted four minutes after the break following a collision with Stuttgart goalkeeper Rafael Schäfer.

The American had a golden chance to open the scoring in the seventh minute when a deflected Barry Ferguson shot fell at his feet, but he delayed and scuffed his shot at Schäfer.

Jean-Claude Darcheville then hit the side-netting as Rangers continued their strong start, but Stuttgart fought back and kept 'Gers goalie Allan McGregor busy, especially when Brazilian striker Cacau broke through one-on-one in the 19th minute.

Charlie Adam gave the visitors a precious lead, however, in the 27th with his first touch since coming on for Lee McCulloch a minute earlier.

Beasley's corner was flicked on by Carlos Cuellar, leaving the 22-year old an easy chance to sweep the ball into the net and put the Scots in the driving seat.

Stuttgart equalized in first half injury time when Mexico international Pavel Pardo drove in a low shot from distance and Cacau's backheel flick neatly diverted the ball past McGregor.

Pardo proved Rangers' nemesis again in the 63rd minute when another spear from outside the box found the net to put Die Schwaben up 2-1.

Their lead lasted until there was 20 minutes to go, when Schäfer gifted a goal to the Glaswegians. His weak roll-out was seized upon by Steven Naismith, and when the Stuttgart custodian stretched to cut out his cross, he only managed to palm it into the path of Barry Ferguson, who had an easy tap-in to make it 2-2.

Both teams pressed for winner following Ferguson's leveler, but it was Stuttgart who had the last laugh five minutes from time.

Swiss defender Ludovic Magnin, who recently crossed swords with the US National Team in Basel, sent over a cross from the left and Romanian Ciprian Marica netted with a deft flick over the despairing McGregor.

Following Lyon's 2-2 finish with Barcelona, a point at home to L'OL on December 12th at Ibrox will take Rangers through to the next round.

Scoring
RAN - Charlie Adam 2 (Carlos Cuellar) 27'
STU - Cacau 1 (Pavel Pardo) 45'
STU - Pavel Pardo 1 62'
RAN - Barry Ferguson 1 70'
STU - Ciprian Marica 1 (Ludovic Magnin) 85'

Line-ups
STU - Raphael Schäfer; Andreas Beck, Fernando Meira, Matthieu Delpierre, Ludovic Magnin, Roberto Hilbert (Ewerthon 83'), Pável Pardo, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Sami Khedira (Antonio Da Silva 46'), Ciprian Marica, Cacau (Vardar Tasci 87')

RAN - Allan McGregor; Alan Hutton, Carlos Cuellar, David Weir, Saša Papac, Brahim Hemdani, DaMarcus Beasley (Steven Naismith 49'), Barry Ferguson, Kevin Thomson, Lee McCulloch (Charlie Adam 26'), Jean-Claude Darcheville (Daniel Cousin 82')