Rangers trail Brugge 3-1 after first-leg loss at Ibrox

Rangers were left with a mountain to climb after a 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge in the first leg of the Champions League playoff at Ibrox, a result that leaves their European path hanging by a thread ahead of the return in Belgium. A disastrous opening 20 minutes saw Brugge race into a three-goal lead, and while Danilo’s second-half strike offered a glimmer of hope, Rangers must overturn a two-goal deficit next week if they are to reach the group stage. The disappointment on the night was compounded by domestic tensions as Rangers’ early-season form remains winless in the Premiership, with supporters vocally demanding improvement.

The visitors struck early and decisively, with Romeo Vermant, Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele all finding the net inside the opening 20 minutes. The home crowd’s frustration was evident, rising to boos as the clock ticked. Rangers steadied the ship in the second half, and a finish from Danilo after a sharp build-up gave the team a lifeline. Yet the deficit remained two goals and the task now is to eliminate Brugge on their patch while maintaining concentration at the back, a task that has looked precarious in the early stages of Russell Martin’s tenure.