Club Brugge — Rangers : Match Preview and Prediction for August 27,2025

First Leg Dominance

Last season’s Belgian vice-champion and a team that reached the Champions League Round of 16, Club Brugge, laid a strong claim for a spot in this year’s Champions League with a commanding 3-1 victory over Rangers in the first leg. The Belgian side, often referred to as “the Blue-Blacks,” had already established a dominant 3-0 lead by halftime, only to concede a single goal to the Scottish visitors after the break.

Team Maturity and Key Absences

Club Brugge showcased a remarkably mature performance, seemingly unaffected by the departures of key central midfielders Talbi and Yashari. Newcomers Stankovic and Forbes have seamlessly stepped into their roles, with Tresoldi providing additional depth. Rangers, on the other hand, committed numerous errors and notably lacked the clinical edge of the injured Dessers upfront. This impressive form extends Club Brugge’s winning streak to five consecutive matches, including their Champions League qualifiers, heading into the crucial return leg at Jan Breydel Stadium. However, the hosts face some uncertainty with Vermaan (the architect of their first goal at Ibrox) and Onyedika both listed as doubtful for the upcoming clash against the Scottish giants.

Struggles and Coaching Change

In recent years, Rangers have firmly established themselves as Scotland’s perennial second-best team, consistently conceding the Scottish Premiership title to rivals Celtic. While it remains to be seen if this season will bring a change to that trend, it’s worth noting that the Scottish vice-champions underwent a coaching change in the offseason. Former player Russell Martin has not had the smoothest start to his managerial tenure in this new role.

Disappointing Start to the Season

Following their defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League qualifier, Rangers failed to uplift their supporters in the Scottish Premiership. Unlike their Belgian counterparts, Rangers were not afforded a rest last weekend, playing a rotated squad away against the modest St. Mirren, where they could only manage a disappointing 1-1 draw. Unfortunately for the Gers, their season has not commenced as desired, with three draws from their opening three SPL fixtures. For the return leg against Club Brugge, the visitors will be without Sterling, while Dessers remains a doubt, further complicating their challenge.