The Light Blues know a clean sheet next Thursday afternoon will see them secure group stage football for the first time in eight years, but the tie is still very much alive against a well-organised Ufa outfit.
In front of yet another packed and fervent Ibrox Stadium, Gers were naturally keen to make a bright start, and they did just that, and were almost rewarded with the opening goal inside two minutes.
A James Tavernier free-kick out on the right wing caused havoc for Ufa, with them eventually forcing the ball clear to the lurking Daniel Candeias on the edge of the area. The Portuguese hit a first-time, looping shot, which goalkeeper Alexander Belenov did well to tip over the top of the bar.
The goalkeeper was then called upon a further twice in the opening minutes to deny Alfredo Morelos, who firstly tested him with a header and then, after latching onto a superb through-ball from Connor Goldson, fired for goal with Belenov getting down well to his left.
Right from the those early minutes, it was clear Ufa had come to Ibrox to frustrate the Light Blues and try to hit them on the counter attack, and despite those early scares, their game plan appeared to be working in a defensive sense at least.
Morelos came close again just past the half-hour mark, heading another Tavernier free-kick over the bar before with four minutes to go before the interval, Steven Gerrard’s side hit the front.
Ryan Kent’s superb corner was won in the six-yard box by Morelos, and while his effort was saved by Belenov, he couldn’t hold the ball and it fell for Connor Goldson to poke over the bar to ignite Ibrox.
It was just what was required, but from the restart, Ufa finally showed some attacking intent, with Allan McGregor making a stunning, point-blank save from Azamet Zaseev after he found himself free at the back post from a cross, before the ball then reached Ivan Paurevic who turned an effort over the bar.
The second half began in very much the same manner as much of the first, with Ufa sitting in, Gers having a lot of the ball, but chances being very much at a premium.
But then, on 55 minutes, the game came back to life, with three chances for Gers in quick succession. Firstly, Connor Goldson was allowed the run almost the full length of the pitch before he played a one-two with Scott Arfield on the edge of the box. The ball spun up, and Goldson charged in, causing a major problem for Belenov before he managed to clear.
Morelos then created an opportunity for himself, taking a pass from Tavernier on the edge of the box before spinning Jamal Tabidze and sending a first-time shot just wide of the target.
The pressure was mounting all the time, and the more the team came forward, the louder Ibrox became, willing their team on to a potentially crucial second goal.
Looking to capitalise on their dominance, Gerrard introduced Kyle Lafferty on the 69th minute in place of Candeias, and he was given a rapturous welcome back to Ibrox from the supporters.
Ufa, however, held out, to ensure the tie is very much alive ahead of next week’s second leg in Russia.
RANGERS: McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Katic, Flanagan; Jack, Ejaria, Arfield; Candeias (Lafferty, 69), Kent (Middleton 77), Morelos.
SUBS NOT USED: Foderingham, Wallace, Sadiq, Halliday, McCrorie,.
FC UFA: Belenov, Alikin, Jokic, Salatic, Zaseev (Vanek, 86), Zhivoglyadov, Paurevic, Nedelcearu, Igboun, Tabidze, Oblyakov (Carp, 83)
SUBS NOT USED: Sheliya, Sysuev, Tumasyan, Sukhov, Krotov.
REFEREE: Daniel Stefanski (POL)
ATTENDANCE: 49, 338