Rangers 1-3 Club Brugge result - Russell Martin's side suffer defeat in first leg of Champions League play-off

A first-half collapse from Rangers has left them with a mountain to climb in their UEFA Champions League play-off tie against Club Brugge.

Some costly defending from Russell Martin’s side saw them fall 3-0 down in the opening 20 minutes of the first leg as boos rang around Ibrox. 

The hosts improved after the interval and pegged a goal back as Danilo finished off a clever move from close range, but they were unable to reduce the deficit any further ahead of next week’s second leg in Belgium. 

Rangers went 1-0 down just three minutes into the contest as defender Nasser Djiga left a long ball for Jack Butland, who was caught in no-man’s land, allowing Romeo Vermant to lob the goalkeeper from over 30 yards out. 

It went from bad to worse just four minutes later as Jorne Spileers was given the freedom of the penalty area from a corner to steer a volley into the bottom corner.

Brandon Mechele rounded off the scoring in a miserable first half for Martin’s men as he rifled home a stunning half-volley from the edge of the box on the 20-minute mark. 

Danilo’s tap-in from a Jayden Meghoma cross came just five minutes into the second period, giving Ibrox renewed hope, but the hosts failed to muster another shot on target. 

They thought they had reduced their deficit to just one when the ever-lively Djeidi Gassama scrambled home after a skilful run from the left of the box.

But the referee was advised to check the monitor, and Simon Mignolet was judged to have had two hands on the ball when the winger prodded home. 

The full-time whistle was greeted by yet more boos from the home fans, with pressure growing on Martin, who has won just three of his eight games in charge in all competitions. 

His side will look for their first Premiership win of the season on the weekend as they travel to St. Mirren, having drawing their first two league fixtures, before travelling to Brugge for the second leg. 

Anything less than a two-goal triumph in Belgium will see them drop into the UEFA Europa League for this season.

Rangers head coach Russell Martin tells Amazon Prime: "I'm really proud of the second half. The game is not over; the tie is not over.

"The energy was completely different in the second half and I'm really proud of them for that because it wasn't easy. That's the hardest a lot of these players are going to face.

"You can't impact it from the sidelines. You put a gameplan in place to try and win the game but the decision-making changes because we're so anxious.

"We were far too open. That wasn't the gameplan. In the second half we didn't change very much but we were much more competitive and looked a threat. The players ran really hard for each other and I'm proud of them for that."

Rangers have left themselves a huge task to qualify for the UEFA Champions League and will now need to win by at least two goals in Belgium to have a chance of progression.

The defeat means Russell Martin has just won three of his eight matches in charge in all competitions as the pressure mounts on the former Southampton boss, with boos ringing around Ibrox at several points during the contest.

The Scottish side will hope to return to winning ways on the weekend as they travel to St. Mirren in the league before the second leg away at Club Brugge next Wednesday.

Anything less than a two-goal triumph will see them drop into the UEFA Europa League for this season.

Domestically, Rangers find themselves in sixth after two games, having drawn both of their opening two fixtures 1-1.

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Brugge threaten a fourth with a late counter, but Rangers survive and the score stays at 3-1 as the referee blows the full-time whistle on a difficult evening for the Scottish side.

They have it all to do next week in Belgium if they are to turn this tie around.

Rangers come forward down their right as they push one last time for a second, and a cross is hung up into the area. Mignolet makes a meal of it as he spills the delivery.

The ball looks to be dropping to Gassama, but he is denied by a desperate Brugge tackle. There are huge appeals from Rangers claiming it was a reckless challenge but nothing is given.

Gassama is still causing problems down that left and wins a corner after looking to burst past the outside of his man. The set piece is so poor from Tavernier though, bouncing before it reaches the first man.

As the ball is swung back in, Aasgaard goes into the book for going into the aerial duel with his elbow. We are now a couple of minutes into five minutes of stoppage time.

A final change now for Rangers as Rothwell is replaced by Cameron.

With the home side building momentum down their right, Onyedika goes down holding his face and Ibrox is furious as play is paused for him to receive treatment.

Eventually, Tavernier hurls a throw into the box that causes Brugge problems, but the ball is scrambled away.

Seemingly inspired by Gassama on the opposite side, Igamane looks to dance into the box from the right flank and works the room to fizz a low ball goal-bound but Mignolet parries away well.

Moments later and Moore has the room to deliver a ball from that right-hand side but it's too close to Mignolet who claims it with ease.

Rangers think they have pegged one back through some Gassama brilliance. The winger does incredibly well to hold onto the ball in the left of the box before showing great skill and speed to beat his man on the outside.

His ball across the face of goal is cut out by Mechele, but the winger is quickest to react and poke home.

The goal initially stands, but the referee is told to check the VAR monitor, and the goal is ruled out, with Mignolet judged to have his hands on the ball when Gassama stabbed home the finish.

Souttar is judged to have a hold of Tresoldi's shirt as the striker looks to roll past him, and he goes into the book.

Moments later and Rangers right-back Aarons also picks up a yellow for blocking the run of his man.

Martin makes a couple more substitutions as Tottenham loanee Moore and skipper Tavernier come on in place of Antman and Meghoma.

Meanwhile, Forbs and Sabbe make way for Vetlesen and Meije for the visitors.

Rangers earn a corner down their right, and there is a bit of pinball in the box following Rothwell's delivery but Brugge eventually manage to scramble it away.

The visitors soon break down the other end and create another chance as Tzolis' low ball from the left picks out Tresoldi, but his deft flick at the near post is stopped smartly by Butland.

It's so close to a second for Rangers! Gassama cuts in from the left and looks to curl home into the bottom right corner, but his effort whistles past the post.

Changes follow for the hosts, with Danilo and Diomande being withdrawn, and Igamane and Aasgaard coming on in their place.

With Rangers pushing to reduce their deficit, Brugge nearly get a fourth on the counter as they break down their right but Souttar is well placed to cut out the low ball across the box.

It's more lax defending from the hosts, though, as the corner comes in and Spileers is able to steer an effort goal-bound, but Butland is down well to make the save.

Rangers are pushing well now as Gassama and Meghoma combine down their left once again. The latter picks the ball up in the left of the area and looks for Danilo once more, but the striker doesn't get enough contact on his attempted flicked finish.

But it's much better from Rangers, and their fans show their appreciation. A great noise inside Ibrox now.

Rangers have started the second half on the front foot, and they make it count with a fabulously worked goal.

Gassama picks the ball up on the left and slips a ball in behind for the underlapping Meghoma. The full-back whips a low first-time ball across the face of goal, and Danilo slides in at the back post to tuck home.

Ibrox bursts into life as Rangers get themselves back in the tie.

We are back underway for the second period with the hosts kicking things off, going from left to right.

A change to report for the visitors at the break, with their first goalscorer Vermant forced off with injury and replaced by Tresoldi.

Surprisingly, Martin keeps things as they were with his side.

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