Club Brugge vs Rangers predictions and betting tips – Martin’s men need miracle

Club Brugge beat Rangers 3-1 in the first leg of this Champions League play-off, leaving Russell Martin’s men with a mountain to climb. Rangers must deliver a huge performance if they are to progress to the league phase.

Things are not going well for Martin at Ibrox and this will probably be another disappointing night – unless Rangers can dig deep to turn the situation around…

• Rangers unlikely to prevail – 16/5 with Ladbrokes
• Goals at both ends the way to go – 8/11 with Betfred 
• Palace target Tzolis key for Brugge – 13/10 with Midnite

Club Brugge vs Rangers odds

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Club Brugge vs Rangers predictions

The honeymoon period for Russell Martin at Rangers is well and truly over.

Martin took charge at Ibrox in the summer after the club opted against handing Barry Ferguson the reins on a permanent basis.

He was tasked with restoring Rangers to their former glories, although everyone at the club appreciated that it would not be a quick fix.

Even so, it has been a worrying start for Martin, on whom the jury was already out after his part in Southampton’s relegation last season.

Rangers are still waiting for their first win of the Premiership season. Each of their three games so far has been a 1-1 draw, first against Motherwell, then Dundee, then St Mirren.

That leaves Martin’s team six points adrift of Celtic already. If Rangers were to lose the Old Firm derby this weekend, the title race might be over as a contest already.

There had been more to cheer about in Europe, at least until last week. Rangers beat Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen in the second and third qualifying rounds of the Champions League respectively, putting them 180 minutes away from the league phase.

Then things went wrong. A 3-1 home loss to Club Brugge in the first leg of this play-off has left Rangers on the brink of elimination. 

A place in the league phase of the Europa League is the consolation prize for the losers of this tie, so defeat would not be a complete disaster for Rangers.

Yet there is no doubt that Rangers are in a difficult place right now. Three draws in their first three games represents the club’s worst ever start to a league season since 1989/90 (when, in fairness, Rangers recovered from a poor opening to win the title).

Martin could do with a similar upturn in fortunes. A comeback win on Wednesday would help his cause immensely, as would victory in the derby this weekend.

Rangers need to tighten up defensively first, having given away numerous sloppy goals over the last few weeks. They must also develop more of a cutting edge. Rangers have been dominating possession in the Premiership without creating enough clear-cut chances.

“It’s not the end of the world,” Martin said after the draw with St Mirren. Rangers fans may disagree if they witness defeats by Club Brugge and Celtic this week.

Club Brugge vs Rangers betting tips

Rangers have it all to do when they travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge on Wednesday.

Rangers unlikely to prevail

Trailing by two goals ahead of the away leg, it looks like the damage has already been done for Rangers. It would take a monumental effort for them to go through at Club Brugge’s expense from here.

Brugge are a good side with more Champions League pedigree than Rangers over the last few campaigns.

The Belgian outfit capitalised on their opponents’s mistakes in the first leg, ruthlessly exploiting the opportunities that fell their way.

Rangers need a big performance on Wednesday, and while they will struggle to overturn a two-goal deficit, their fans will hope for a spirited showing at the very least. 

Given a draw would suit Brugge, this bet looks like decent value.

Go for a draw at 16/5 with Ladbrokes

Goals at both ends the way to go

If Rangers were to score early to make it 3-2 to Club Brugge on aggregate, they might have a chance of progressing to the league phase.

Much is understandably made of the atmosphere at Ibrox, but Rangers actually fared better on the road than at home in Europe last season.

They found the back of the net in all but one of six Europa League matches on their travels, and we reckon Martin’s side will do the same here.

Keeping Club Brugge out will be difficult, though, not least because Rangers have conceded in seven of their nine encounters up to now.

Select both teams to score at 8/11 with Betfred

Palace target Tzolis key for Brugge

Christos Tzolis signed a new contract at Club Brugge last month, but he could still leave the club before the transfer window closes.

Crystal Palace have made Tzolis one of their top targets to replace Ebere Eze, who recently joined Arsenal.

Brugge are desperate to keep hold of the Greece international – and it is not hard to see why. Tzolis is a massive player for Nicky Hayen’s team.

The 23-year-old scored 20 goals in all competitions last term and he has already beaten opposition goalkeepers three times in 2025/26.

Tzolis is our pick to make the net ripple when Club Brugge host Rangers.

Choose Christos Tzolis to score any time at 13/10 with Midnite

Club Brugge vs Rangers predicted lineups

• Club Brugge expected lineup: Mignolet; Sabbe, Mechele, Spileers, Meijer; Reis, Onyedika; Forbs, Vanaken, Tzolis; Vermant.
• Rangers expected lineup: Butland; Tavernier, Djiga, Souttar, Meghoma; Diomande, Rothwell, Raskin; Antman, Danilo, Gassama.

Where to watch Club Brugge vs Rangers

• Location: Jan Breydel Stadium, Brugge, Belgium.
• Date and time: Wednesday 27th August, 8pm.
• How to watch: TNT Sports 1.

More Champions League predictions

We have plenty more Champions League predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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