Rangers edge closer to Champions League play-off

Rangers push toward the Champions League group stage as they navigate a rebuilding phase under manager Russell Martin.

Rangers near Champions League play-off under Russell Martin

Rangers are two games away from the Champions League group stage after beating Viktoria Plzen on aggregate. The club is in a period of transition under new manager Russell Martin, with a squad still being rebuilt. They lost 2-1 in the second leg but advanced on balance thanks to earlier work and the visitors’ wasteful finishing, aided by goalkeeper Jack Butland’s sharper moments in goal.

Looking ahead, the next hurdle is a playoff against Club Brugge to reach the group stage. Martin said after the Plzen tie that there is still much to improve, but the team is through. He also noted the need to defend better and to be more careful with the ball, acknowledging both the high and the low moments of the tie.

Rangers have shown resilience and a touch of luck in these qualifiers, a combination that keeps the club in European competition while the rebuild continues. The real test will be whether the team can translate these results into steady on-pitch progress rather than narrow escapes. The playoff against Brugge will reveal whether the early momentum can become sustained momentum, and whether Martin can balance risk and structure as the squad grows. A successful run would validate the club’s strategic patience; a stumble could sharpen the debate about timing and resources in this rebuilding phase.

Highlights

The outcome against Brugge will show if this early rebuild can translate into lasting European momentum.