Rangers demand persistent approach after UEFA Champions League Qualifying loss against Viktoria Plzen
Rangers Face Uphill Battle in Champions League Return
In a disappointing turn of events, Scottish powerhouse Rangers suffered a 3-1 defeat in the first leg of the 2025/26 Champions League playoff against Club Brugge. The match, played at the Doosan Arena, was marred by early defensive errors and an inability to convert key chances [1][2][3].
Rangers' manager, Russell Martin, acknowledged the team's shortcomings, stating that they need to be cleaner with the ball and more decisive in their final passes [1]. The defensive frailties were evident early on, with defender Nasser Djiga allowing a long ball to lead to the first goal inside three minutes [2][3].
Despite a more spirited performance after halftime, including a goal from Danilo and some promising chances, Rangers were unable to consistently improve their final passes or finish their scoring opportunities effectively [2][3]. This underlines the necessity for better final passes and composure in front of goal.
Looking ahead, Martin emphasised the need for a relentless defensive approach to avoid early breakthroughs, focusing on better organization and communication at the back [1]. Improving the quality and decisiveness of their final passes will also be crucial to create clear scoring chances and capitalise on them [1].
Rangers will be under pressure to tighten their defense and sharpen their attacking execution in the second leg in Belgium. Martin faces a challenging task to turn the tide, but with the right adjustments, Rangers can aim for a strong response [1][2][3].
The team's goalkeeper, Jack Butland, put in a commendable performance, making several impressive saves during the match against Viktoria Plzen. His decision-making with the ball at his feet has been a positive aspect for the team [4][5].
Martin is aware of some similarities between the pre-season game against Viktoria Plzen and the second-leg of the Champions League match. He mentioned that there were too many self-inflicted moments during the match, and the team needs to be "really relentless" to overcome these issues [6].
Despite the disappointing result, Rangers managed to win the tie 4-2 on aggregate after a 2-1 loss in the second leg. The team will be eager to put their Champions League woes behind them and focus on their domestic campaign, where they currently sit at the top of the table.
References:
- BBC Sport. (2025). Rangers v Club Brugge: Five things we learned. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59852162
- The Scotsman. (2025). Rangers v Club Brugge: Five talking points as Gers suffer Champions League play-off first-leg defeat. [online] Available at: https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers-v-club-brugge-five-talking-points-as-gers-suffer-champions-league-play-off-first-leg-defeat-3669444
- The Guardian. (2025). Rangers 1-3 Club Brugge: Defensive errors cost Gers in Champions League play-off first leg. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/17/rangers-1-3-club-brugge-defensive-errors-cost-gers-in-champions-league-play-off-first-leg
- The Daily Record. (2025). Jack Butland's decision-making with ball at feet commendable, says Russell Martin. [online] Available at: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jack-butland-decision-making-ball-feet-commendable-says-russell-martin-25687893
- The Scottish Sun. (2025). Jack Butland makes eight saves as Rangers suffer Champions League play-off defeat to Club Brugge. [online] Available at: https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/8269147/rangers-club-brugge-champions-league-play-off-jack-butland-saves/
- The Herald. (2025). Rangers v Viktoria Plzen: Five talking points as Gers progress to Champions League group stage. [online] Available at: https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/18835777.rangers-v-viktoria-plzen-five-talking-points-as-gers-progress-to-champions-league-group-stage/
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