Club Brugge Thrash Rangers in Champions League Playoff

Rangers crushed by Club Brugge in 6-0 defeat

Rangers suffers a humiliating 9-1 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League playoff. Read more about the match.

The intensity of the attack subsided slightly after halftime, but the damage had already been done...

Rangers endured a humiliating 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Club Brugge in the Champions League playoff return leg, culminating in a staggering 9-1 aggregate defeat. The Scottish side's dismal campaign continued, with the Belgian club capitalizing on Rangers' defensive frailties to secure a convincing victory.

Despite a glimmer of hope following a second-half goal in the first leg, Rangers' chances were swiftly extinguished just five minutes into the match. Club Brugge's dominant performance highlighted the significant gap between the two teams, leaving Rangers to ponder a dismal European campaign. The Ibrox side's struggles will likely lead to intense scrutiny and potential changes within the club.

Nicolo Tresoldi scored a stunning diving header, burying Joaquin Seys' cross beyond Jack Butland and giving the home team an early advantage. The visitors' fortunes took a turn for the worse when Max Aarons was sent off for bringing down Christos Tzolis, leaving his team a man down just three minutes later. This red card proved to be a turning point, as Russell Martin's side struggled to cope with the numerical disadvantage.

The Rangers defense showed resilience despite being down a man, with Jack Butland making several crucial saves to deny the opposition. Christos Tzolis had a promising opportunity, hitting the bar, but Butland was equal to the task, keeping his team in the match for a while longer. Despite the efforts, the Rangers ultimately found it challenging to withstand the pressure.

Jack Butland made an incredible flying save to deny Aleksandar Stanković just after the half-hour mark. However, he couldn't repeat the feat from the ensuing corner kick. Christos Tzolis delivered a precise cross, and Hans Vanaken headed the ball home, doubling the home team's lead to 2-0 on the night.

The Blauw-Zwart were oozing confidence and Vanaken lashed a Marco van Basten-style volley against the bar shortly after, but the floodgates opened just before the break with three goals in quick succession.

First, Seys slid home a rebound after Butland had made yet another save to deny him initially, before the 20-year-old side-footed home on the volley at the back post as the Scottish side’s defence went missing once more.

Full-Time: Club Brugge 6-0 Rangers (Agg 9-1) pic.twitter.com/Hdo39jAXOZ

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 27, 2025

The home team's dominance continued into stoppage time, with Aleksandar Stanković scoring a fifth goal after being given freedom in the penalty area to head home Hans Vanaken's cross. This goal added to the visitors' humiliation, highlighting the one-sided nature of the match.

Rangers manager Russell Martin attempted to turn the tide by making three substitutions at halftime, but the changes had little impact. The home team continued to effortlessly breach the Rangers defense, with Nicolo Tresoldi and Christos Tzolis combining beautifully to set up Tzolis' sixth goal, which ricocheted off the inside of the post just five minutes into the second half. This goal further emphasized Club Brugge's superiority and Rangers' struggles.

The intensity of the attack subsided slightly after halftime, but the damage had already been done. This humiliating defeat marked one of the darkest days in Rangers' storied history, putting manager Russell Martin's job at risk. Given his relatively new appointment in June, Martin's position appears precarious, with his future hanging in the balance.

Rangers' consolation will be participating in the Europa League, where they'll face bitter rivals Celtic in a highly anticipated matchup. However, the more pressing concern for the team is whether Martin will still be at the helm when that fixture takes place, given the immense pressure he's under following this disastrous performance.