LFC Live - Russell Martin to axe Thelo Aasgaard as 3 return: Rangers predicted XI to face Club Brugge

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(Credit: Hasan Karim, Imago)

Ciaran Morrison

Tue 26 August 2025 16:00, UK

Rangers face a mammoth task against Club Brugge if they are to come from two goals down to qualify for the league stages of the Champions League.

Russel Martin is under pressure at Rangers, and a shocking defensive display against Club Brugge in the first leg at Ibrox has left the light blues with a mountain to climb in Belgium.

Rangers drew 1-1 at St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership in preparation for this clash, and Martin does not have a full squad to choose from after that match.

Russell Martin is under pressure already at Rangers.

Rangers will therefore head to Club Brugge without the 22-year-old as he looks certain to leave the Glasgow club before the transfer window shuts.

Appearances49Goals16Assists3Hamza Igamane’s record at Rangers in all competitions.

Fellow striker Cyriel Dessers may also not feature due to a knee injury which he sustained at Viktoria Plzen in the last qualifying round.

James Tavernier has fallen out of favour lately under Martin and is pushing for a recall, whilst Nasser Djiga could replace Emmanuel Fernandez in the back four after missing the trip to Paisley through suspension.

Rangers predicted XI to face Club Brugge in the Champions League.

Football Insider Verdict

If Rangers have a chance of progressing past Club Brugge, then Martin’s men need to put in their best performance of the season.

So far, Martin has yet to get a perfect performance out of his side, with defensive issues and goalscoring concerns plaguing their progress.

Igamane looks to have played his last match for Rangers, and with Dessers’ injury, the pressure will be on Danilo to convert the chances that come his way.

However, if Rangers defend how they did in the first leg then the contest will be over quickly, and with the Glasgow derby against Celtic looming, this could be a defining week for Martin.

Progressing to the league stages of the Champions League will be financially excellent for Rangers, but question marks would arise about if the quality of the squad could compete against Europe’s best.