Club Brugge vs Rangers preview: Team news, likely lineup, prediction
Rangers have an uphill battle to overcome a 3-1 deficit in their Champions League playoff second leg against Club Brugge.
The Gers were unable to make the most of their home advantage in the first leg at Ibrox, as they found themselves three goals down within the opening 20 minutes.
Danilo managed to pull one back for Rangers, giving them some sort of lifeline as they make the trip to Belgium.
Following Russell Martin’s terrible start at Rangers, getting knocked out of the Champions League would be another huge blow this early into his tenure as manager.
With the second leg taking place in Belgium on Wednesday, Ibrox News previews the vital European clash.
Form Guide (all competitions)
Club Brugge: WWWWW
Rangers: DLWLD
Team news
Findlay Curtis is expected to start after scoring the equaliser against St Mirren over the weekend.
- Curtis, 18, scored in Rangers’ 2-0 win over Panathinaikos at Ibrox in July
- Despite this, the teenager has only started one game since then
Danilo could come in and lead the line after Martin opted to deploy Thelo Aasgaard up top unsuccessfully in the last game.
Mohammed Diomande may be given the nod in favour of Joe Rothwell, with the former Leeds United man receiving criticism for his recent performances.
In the backline, James Tavernier and Nasser Djiga are predicted to come in and replace Max Aarons and Emmanuel Fernandez, respectively.
Hamza Igamane sat out Rangers training on the eve of the game amid ongoing speculation over his future.
Predicted lineup
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Djiga, Souttar, Meghoma, Diomande, Raskin, Curtis, Cameron, Gassama, Danilo
Prediction: Club Brugge 2-1 Rangers (5-2 on aggregate)
Knowing they have to overturn a two-goal deficit, Rangers will have to start the game at the Jan Breydel Stadium quickly.
Rangers have only kept two clean sheets in nine competitive matches under Martin, so it is hard to envisage them keeping one away from home against a side in such good form.
With the score level at 1-1, as Martin’s side opens up even further to desperately chase the game, Club Brugge will be able to hit Gers on the counterattack and ultimately take the win.
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