Motherwell salvages a draw against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership 2025-26, as Emmanuel Longelo scores a late equalizer for The Well
Rangers kicked off their 2025-26 Scottish Premiership campaign with a draw against Motherwell at Fir Park. The match marked the first Premiership game for Russell Martin as manager of Rangers.
James Tavernier scored for Rangers after 14 minutes, but Emmanuel Longelo secured a late draw for Motherwell three minutes from time. The last time Rangers lost to Motherwell in a league match was in December 2002, making this result an impressive continuation of their unbeaten streak against the team.
Rangers have been unbeaten in their last 31 away league visits to Motherwell, with the longest unbeaten run in their history being at Greenock Morton. However, the match was not without its tense moments, as Motherwell pressed hard in the second half.
Tom Sparrow had a poked shot kept out by Jack Butland in second-half stoppage time, while Apostolos Stamatelopoulos hit the crossbar for Motherwell. Danilo and Djeidi Gassama put in solid displays for Motherwell, with Elijah Just providing great composure for a Motherwell goal in the first half.
In terms of expected goals (xG), Motherwell finished the match with a higher rating, with 2.21 to Rangers' 0.7. This suggests that Motherwell had the better chances throughout the game, but were unable to capitalise on them all.
Despite the draw, Rangers can take heart from their strong away performances against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership. As of early August 2025, Rangers' away league record at Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership stands at 19 matches played, with 8 wins, 7 draws, and 4 losses. In recent form, Rangers have been unbeaten in their last 10 trips to Motherwell for league matches, with 8 wins and 2 draws over the past 10 H2H encounters at Fir Park.
Overall, the match was a close and competitive affair, with both teams showing their determination to start the season strongly. Rangers will now switch their attention back to Champions League qualifying, hosting Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday, while Motherwell will travel to St. Mirren for their next league match.
- The strong away performances in sports, such as the one against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, contribute significantly to Rangers' overall health and success in European leagues.
- Football enthusiasts might find the recent trend of Rangers remaining unbeaten in their last 10 travels to Motherwell for league matches in Europe intriguing.
- The next challenge for Motherwell is a league match against St. Mirren, while Rangers gear up for a Champions League qualifying game, showcasing the interplay of sports, travel, and competition in European leagues.
