Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Dachbet
Knowing the importance of claiming a first-leg advantage on Tuesday night, Rangers will welcome Club Brugge to Ibrox.
Rangers
Starting with the hosts, eventually forced to settle for another silver medal finish among Scotland’s elite last season, Rangers rightfully come under a huge amount of scrutiny. Getting a new era underway over the summer as they appointed Russell Martin back in June, the former Southampton manager knows that he has a tremendous amount of expectations on their shoulders. Extending on their Champions League qualifying adventure last week as they clinched a frantic 4-2 aggregate win against Czech-based outfit Viktoria Plzen, Rangers are desperate to land an essential first-leg advantage on Tuesday night. However, opening their domestic campaign with back-to-back 1-1 stalemates against Dundee FC and Motherwell, the Scottish heavyweights have struggled to find any kind of defensive stability on either side of the summer interval.
Rangers Team News
Making 10 changes for Rangers’ League Cup tie against Alloa over the weekend, Martin will recall the likes of England international goalkeeper Jack Butland and skipper James Tavernier back on Tuesday night. However, omitted from Martin’s European squad, Oscar Cortes will miss out at Ibrox.
Making a brief cameo appearance off the bench in Glasgow last weekend, Hamza Igamane should get some more minutes under his belt. Completing a loan switch from Premier League giants Tottenham this month, Mickey Moore could keep his spot from the start.
Club Brugge
As for the visitors, although Club Brugge might have been forced to settle for their own respective Pro League silver medal finish last season, Nicky Hayen’s men haven’t shown any signs of a hangover this time around. Extending on their Champions League qualifying campaign last week as they clinched an impressive 4-2 aggregate win against Salzburg, they are enjoying what has been an extended flurry. Mustering nine points from their first four domestic appearances this year, Brugge will travel over to Glasgow in midweek smelling the chance to lay down a real marker. In fact, Hayen’s side have won their previous four matchups across all competitions by an aggregate score of 7-2. Likewise, Tuesday’s guests have also suffered just a single defeat on their travels since returning from March’s international break.
Rangers vs Club Brugge Team News
Yet to make a single appearance this season, Club Brugge are expected to travel to Glasgow on Tuesday night without Ecuador international Joel Ordonez. However, opening his European account against Salzburg last week, summer recruit and ex-Manchester City starlet Carlos Forbs should play a leading role in the final third.
Reportedly attracting plenty of Premier League interest over the past couple of months, Raphael Onyedika will feature in the middle of the park and will partner former Barcelona youngster Ludovit Reis at Ibrox.
Key Factors to Consider
- When Rangers and Club Brugge met for a summer friendly on July 6th, Tuesday’s opponents played out an action-packed 2-2 stalemate.
- Brugge have won their previous four appearances across all competitions by an aggregate score of 7-2.
- Hayen’s side have suffered just a single defeat away from the Jay Breydel Stadium since returning from March’s International break.
- Five of Rangers’ last six matchups across all competitions have finished with both teams finding the net.
- Continuing on from last season, Brugge have recorded just a clean sheet from any of their previous seven Champions League showdowns on the road.
Conclusion
While Rangers might know the importance of claiming a first-leg advantage here, Martin’s squad should be bracing themselves for a tricky challenge on Tuesday night. Showing some extended defensive issues on either side of the summer break, the Scottish giants will also meet a Brugge squad who have won their previous four appearances across all competitions by an aggregate score of 7-2. Likewise, with Rangers seeing five of their previous six matchups finish with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outcome at Ibrox.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Dachbet
