Club Brugge Poised for Champions League Return After Dominant First-Leg Win
Bruges, Belgium — August 26, 2025
Club Brugge stand on the threshold of Champions League qualification following a resounding 3–1 victory over Rangers in the first leg of their playoff tie at Ibrox. With the second leg set to unfold tonight at the Jan Breydel Stadion, anticipation is mounting across Belgium, where local media have dubbed the clash a “must-not-fail” moment for the Blauw-Zwart.
The opening leg saw Brugge explode out of the gates, silencing the Glasgow crowd with three goals inside the first 20 minutes. Romeo Vermant opened the scoring with a deft chip from distance, followed by a thunderous strike from veteran defender Brandon Mechele. A third, slotted home by Hugo Vetlesen after a sweeping counterattack, left Rangers reeling. Although Danilo clawed one back for the hosts, a disallowed goal from Djeidi Gassama kept Brugge’s cushion intact.
Tonight’s return fixture promises high drama. Brugge manager Ronny Deila has urged his squad to maintain focus, warning against complacency despite their commanding lead. “We’ve put ourselves in a strong position,” Deila said at Monday’s press conference. “But Rangers are dangerous when underestimated. We need intensity from the first whistle.”
Brugge are expected to field a familiar lineup, anchored by Simon Mignolet in goal and a midfield orchestrated by captain Hans Vanaken. Vermant, whose breakout performance in Glasgow drew praise across Europe, is tipped to start again alongside Andreas Skov Olsen and Igor Thiago.
For Rangers, the pressure is immense. Manager Russell Martin faces growing scrutiny after a rocky start to his tenure, and failure to overturn the deficit could deepen the crisis at Ibrox. “We’ve got to believe,” Martin said. “It’s a mountain, but we’ve climbed before.”
Should Brugge hold their advantage, they will secure a coveted spot in the Champions League group stage—an achievement that would mark their return to Europe’s elite after a two-year absence. For the fans packing the Jan Breydel tonight, the message is clear: finish the job.
