Rangers are only behind Manchester City and Ajax in a ranking of Europe's pass masters, a new study has shown.

Swiss experts at the CIES Football Observatory have compared the 35 top leagues across the continents to find the most dominant sides in possession. 

They have analysed which clubs have made the most successful passes in the opposition’s third of the field and cross-referenced that with the number of passes they have allowed in their own defensive third. 

Rangers star Glen Kamara partied all night with Finland teammates after historic Euro 2020 qualification

And the data shows that Steven Gerrard’s Rangers are flying high in third position. 

The Gers have averaged 179 successful passes in their Premiership fixtures this term, while they have allowed just 59 in their own danger zone. 

However, the accolade is no guarantee of results, with English champions Manchester City - currently trailing Liverpool, Leicester and Chelsea - in the race for the title topping the list with 210 passes made compared to 59 allowed. Ajax (220 / 64) are in second spot. 

Celtic also rank highly in seventh spot, with Neil Lennon’s charges finding a teammate 161 times in the final third and allowing just 64 from the opposition. They are one place ahead of German giants Bayern Munich. 

The stats make grim reading for Hamilton, who are remarkably rock-bottom of the table which covers the whole of Europe. 

Accies average just 63 passes in the attacking third, while they allow 163.