Stuttgart midfielders Sebastian Rudy and Zdravko Kuzmanovic netted in either half to send Rangers crashing out of the Champions League with one game remaining at Ibrox.

Walter Smith’s troops were on the back foot as early as the 16th minute when former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb’s cross fell kindly for Rudy who powered home from close range.

Stuttgart thought they had doubled the advantage when Kuzmanovic curled home a free-kick off the post only for Matthieu Delpierre to be deemed offside as the kick was taken.

However it wasn’t long before the German side were two up – Rudy turning provider and crossing Kuzmanovic to power a header home after the break.

Rangers keeper Allan McGregor had barely settled before Stuttgart began peppering his goal courtesy of Brazilian-born striker Cacau.

However he had no answer for Rudy’s first-half strike before Kris Boyd threatened to get Rangers back in contention with a 20-yard strike shortly after being booked for an elbow.

Boyd went close again before the break but was made to pay for his shyness in front of goal when Kuzmanovic headed home in the 59th minute.

Rangers had McGregor to thank for keeping the score line respectable in the closing stages as he denied Cacau again, saw Pavel Pogrebniak hit the post and also thwarted Julian Schieber and Thomas Hitzlsperger.