Rangers host Club Brugge on Tuesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League qualifying playoff.
A 4-2 aggregate win over Viktoria Plzen moved the Scottish side a step closer to the league-phase draw on August 28, although manager Russell Martin was heavily critical of his players' application after they lost the second leg 2-1.
Martin rested some of his most important stars for the weekend Scottish League Cup win over Alloa Athletic, and he will hope to have a refreshed squad for the clash at Ibrox.
This will be a huge test for Rangers, though. Club Brugge eliminated RB Salzburg in the third qualifying round, and they performed well in last season's competition proper, thrashing Atalanta in the knockout-phase playoffs to reach the Round of 16 after taking 11 points from their eight league-phase games.
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Rangers lineup vs. Club Brugge: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest
Martin will recall his strongest starting players for this first leg after fielding a much-changed lineup for the weekend win over Alloa.
Goalkeeper Jack Butland should return, along with centre-back John Souttar, while James Tavernier could start at left-back given Jefte is expected to return to his homeland and join Brazilian giants Palmeiras this week. That could mean Max Aarons starts on the opposite flank, with new loan signing Jayden Meghoma having only finalised his move from Brentford on Monday.
Nico Raskin, Mohamed Diomande and Lyall Cameron formed the midfield trio against Viktoria Plzen and will all likely start here. Danilo is expected to get the nod in attack given Cyriel Dessers' injury, although Martin is hopeful the latter will be fit enough to make the matchday squad at least.
Thelo Aasgaard and Hamza Igamane suffered no ill-effects on their return from injury against Alloa and are set to be part of the squad. Dujon Sterling (Achilles) remains a long-term absentee.
Ridvan Yilmaz, Ben Davies and Clinton Nsiala were left out of the Champions League squad and is expected to secure a Rangers exit before the end of the month
Rangers predicted starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Butland (GK) — Aarons, Djiga, Souttar, Tavernier — Diomande, Raskin, Cameron — Antman, Danilo, Gassama
Injured: Dessers (knock, doubt), Sterling (Achilles)
Suspended: None
Ineligible: Yilmaz, Nsiala, Davies
Club Brugge attacker Christos Tzolis is reportedly a target for Crystal Palace, so it remains to be seen if he will be involved on Tuesday.
New signing Mamadou Diakhon will likely be on the bench at best, having only formalised his move from Reims on Monday.
Midfielder Mical Skoras is a doubt with a knock, while defender Joel Ordonez will target the second leg as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Club Brugge predicted starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Mignolet (GK) — Seys, Spileers, Mechele, Meijer — Reis, Onyedika, Vanaken — Forbs, Vermant, Tzolis
Injured: Skoras (doubt), Ordonez (hamstring)
Suspended: None
Rangers vs. Club Brugge match details
- Date: Tuesday, August 19, 2025
- Kickoff time: 8 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 12:30 a.m. IST (Aug. 20) / 5 a.m. AEST (Aug. 20)
- Location: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (Scotland)
- Competition: UEFA Champions League (qualifying playoffs)
- Referee: Francois Letexier (FRA)
- VAR: Willy Delajod (FRA)
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