<figure id="attachment_3138862" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3138862" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3138862" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/b43ef5a8-club-brugge-1.jpg" alt="Club Brugge" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3138862" class="wp-caption-text">Club Brugge&#8217;s centre-back Brandon Mechele (No 44) celebrates scoring the third goal against Rangers at Ibrox stadium. (Club Brugge pic)</figcaption></figure>
PARIS: Rangers look set to miss out on the Champions League after suffering a 3-1 home loss to Club Brugge in the first leg of their play-off tie on Tuesday.
The Scottish side made a disastrous start as a defensive mix-up allowed Romeo Vermant to run through and loft the ball over goalkeeper Jack Butland from 30 yards.
Defender Jorne Spileers swept in a corner as Brugge doubled their lead inside seven minutes at Ibrox.
The bitter mood inside the ground soured further when centre-back Brandon Mechele blasted in a third from just outside the area on 20 minutes.
Danilo pulled a goal back at the start of the second half but Rangers have a huge task on their hands going into next week&#8217;s return leg in Belgium.
&#8220;We want to qualify for the Champions League and we&#8217;ll do everything we can next week,&#8221; Rangers boss Russell Martin told Amazon Prime.
&#8220;That (Danilo) goal changes everything. We have the privilege of hunting and chasing. We go in as underdogs, I&#8217;ll enjoy that and I think the players will as well.&#8221;
Qarabag of Azerbaijan won 3-1 against Ferencvaros in Hungary to take a big step towards the league phase.
Cypriot side Pafos, who made their European debut in last season&#8217;s Uefa Conference League, were 2-1 winners at Red Star Belgrade.
Rangers&#8217; arch-rivals Celtic host Kairat Almaty on Wednesday, while Benfica visit Jose Mourinho&#8217;s Fenerbahce. Basel are at home to Copenhagen as Norwegians Bodo/Glimt take on Sturm Graz of Austria.

MatchPoint Times

Rangers face Champions League exit after Brugge misery

The Scottish side made a disastrous start in the first leg of their play-off tie after suffering a 3-1 home loss.

US budget deficit to be US$1tril higher over next decade, says watchdog

Polis Mesir tembak mati 8 penyeludup dadah