Rangers vs Brugge preview

Rangers host Club Brugge in the first leg of a Champions League playoff, with lineup decisions and high pressure for manager Russell Martin.

Rangers face Brugge in key Champions League playoff at Ibrox

Rangers return to European action at Ibrox on Tuesday night as they host Club Brugge in the first leg of the Champions League playoff. They reached this stage by beating Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen across two legs, and manager Russell Martin will want his side to use home advantage to take control. After their weekend win over Alloa, changes to the lineup are on the cards, with Oliver Antman and Djeidi Gassama likely to provide width. Cyril Dessers is described as touch and go by Martin, so Danilo is expected to lead the line, while Nico Raskin is anticipated to start in midfield. The predicted XI shows Butland in goal with a solid back line and a midfield shape designed to protect a possible advantage.

The tie carries real weight for Rangers. A positive first leg at Ibrox would give them a cushion heading into the second leg in Brugge, but losing at home would put them under serious pressure in the return match. Joe Rothwell has been a regular option for Martin, yet after 68 minutes at the weekend and an own goal, he could be on the bench for Europe. The experiment at left back with James Tavernier could continue on a big stage. If Dessers is not ready, the attack will lean on Danilo and the supporting cast to convert chances and maintain a foothold for the showdown in Belgium.

This playoff is a test of Martin's strategy under growing pressure. He is juggling a squad in transition while aiming to protect Ibrox as a fortress and deliver a strong start in Europe. The use of Antman and Gassama to supply width suggests an intent to balance youth with experience, and Dessers’ fitness adds a variable that could shape the night’s attacking approach. The game is as much about tempo and discipline as it is about technique, and a tight opening could set the tone for the tie.

Beyond tactics, the matchup raises questions about Rangers’ broader European plan. Progress would buy time for the project and reassure supporters, while failure could intensify scrutiny of Martin’s decisions and preparations. For Scottish football, this playoff underscores how a single result can shift momentum and focus amid a crowded calendar and a league often chasing the continent’s attention.

Highlights

The result will set the tone for Rangers’ European campaign and the season ahead.