Fiorentina were held to a 0-0 draw by Rangers in the first leg of their UEFA Cup semi-final clash in a game of few chances.

The Viola were undoubtedly the better side and, although they failed to take advantage of a lacklustre display from their Scottish opponents, the Gigliati will fancy their chances in the return leg in Florence after dominating possession.

The two sides had previously met on an even bigger stage in European competition after contesting the 1961 Cup-Winners Cup Final. The two-legged affair finished 4-1 to the Viola, who became the first Italian side to earn continental success and it remains their only European trophy.

Cesare Prandelli's team selection didn't contain too many surprises, as he made just two changes to the side who beat Palermo at the weekend after Tomas Ujfalusi shrugged off a knock.

Massimo Gobbi came in at left-back in place of Manuel Pasqual, while Riccardo Montolivo was preferred to Marco Donadel in the middle of the park. Rangers were forced into several changes due to injury and suspension, with skipper Barry Ferguson the most noticeable absentee.

Much of the pre-match talk centred on the Ibrox pitch, but it didn't seem to affect Fiorentina in the early stages as they passed the ball about comfortably.

Martin Jorgensen, playing at right-back, had the first opportunity of the night as he fired over from distance, with Rangers looking content to sit back and play on the break.

Adrian Mutu was clearly encouraged by his colleague as he brought Neil Alexander, deputising for Allan McGregor, into action with an effort from 25 yards which the 'keeper easily gathered.

Just moments later it looked like the opener could be on the cards when Giampaolo Pazzini seemed to find space in the box only for the outstanding Carlos Cuellar to snuff out the threat on the edge of his own six-yard box.

Rangers' best moments in the early stages were coming through lone hitman Jean-Claude Darcheville, whose second impressive run in the space of a few minutes was halted by Mario Santana illegally, earning the Argentine a yellow card.

That incident seemed to take the sting out of the game until the half-hour mark when Alexander made a stunning save from what looked like a Mutu header, but the ref pulled it back for handball. The Romanian was lucky to avoid a booking which would have ruled him out of the return leg.

Mutu was at the heart of the action once again shortly before half-time as he tried to send Pazzini through on goal, only for the Azzurrini ace to be denied by a sliding stop from the 'keeper.

The Viola seemed to start the second half with as much confidence as they displayed in the first, but Sebastien Frey - a spectator for the opening 45 minutes - had to come out smartly to prevent Nacho Novo from reaching a long ball.

The Spaniard then went for goal from virtually the half-way line after spotting the Frenchman on the edge of his box, but his effort was well over.

Novo was in the thick of it again just before minute 60 as he fired into the side-netting when he should have done better and it proved to be his final contribution as he made way shortly after for Thomas Buffel, while Darcheville was surprisingly replaced by Daniel Cousin.

Rangers continued to look flat though and the fans were livid following yet another missed pass, but they had something to cheer when Mutu's ridiculous attempt could only trouble the spectators in the top tier of the stand with 70 minutes on the clock.

They almost had the smiles wiped off their faces shortly after though, as Fiorentina's No 10 was handed a similar free-kick opportunity to the one he rifled in against PSV in the previous round.

Liverani touched the ball off and Mutu hammered it at goal, but Alexander did brilliantly to gather it at the first attempt.

Alessandro Gamberini picked up a yellow card for dissent shortly after as Rangers were awarded a dangerous free-kick which sparked mayhem in the Viola box, but still they couldn't test Frey.

The quiet Pazzini made way for Christian Vieri with 10 minutes remaining and the burly striker's first contribution was to upset Mutu before a free-kick. As the Romanian sulked, Vieri's effort was deflected over.

That proved to be the last effort of the game as both sides seemed content with the 0-0 scoreline, although Mutu was once again fortunate to escape a booking after seemingly elbowing a Rangers defender.

In the evening's other last four encounter, Luca Toni's Bayern Munich were held to a disappointing 1-1 home draw against Zenit St Petersburg. The lanky Italian hitman was suspended, but it didn't seem like the Germans were missing him as Franck Ribery handed them the lead.

The French playmaker saw his soft penalty easily kept out by the goalkeeper, but he made no mistake from the rebound. However, a second half own goal by Lucio handed the Russian outfit a share of the spoil and a crucial away goal.

Rangers: Alexander; Broadfoot, Weir, Cuellar, Papac; Novo (Buffel 59), Whittaker, Hemdani, Dailly, Davis; Darcheville (Cousin 59)

Fiorentina: Frey; Jorgensen, Ujfalusi, Gamberini, Gobbi; Kuzmanovic, Liverani, Montolivo; Santana, Pazzini (Vieri 81), Mutu

Ref: Vassaras (Gre)