Champions League highlights: Club Brugge 6-0 Rangers (agg 9-1)

At a glance

  • Rangers make dreadful start as Tresoldi scores early before Aarons sees red three minutes later

  • Vanaken header followed by three-goal flurry at end of first half sends Rangers into break 5-0 down

  • Outstanding Tzolis nets sixth just after break, equalling Rangers' worst ever European defeat

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Russell Martin's hapless 10-man Rangers crashed out of the Champions League play-offs in humiliating fashion as a record-equalling six-goal European loss at relentless Club Brugge inflicted a 9-1 aggregate defeat.

Before the match, head coach Martin insisted everyone at Rangers was "calm" amid a troubling start to the season, but many fans will be anything but with Celtic set to visit Govan on Sunday.

A calamitous opening eight minutes in Belgium epitomised Martin's alarming introduction as boss, with Rangers on the way to a five-goal deficit by half-time.

His team failed to deal with another cross as Nicolo Tresoldi's diving header burst the net, and Max Aarons was sent off three minutes later for inexplicably dragging down Christos Tzolis after a simple punt sliced through the defence.

Captain Hans Vanaken was then able to power home a header from a corner before the clinical hosts smashed in three goals in six minutes in a savage first-half finale.

Joaquin Seys finished on the rebound and caressed in a sublime volley, with Aleksandar Stankovic nodding in a free header just before the half-time whistle.

Among Brugge's 19 first-half shots, Tzolis and Vanaken crashed stunning efforts off the crossbar and goalkeeper Jack Butland was called into action on multiple occasions.

Martin reshuffled his team into a 5-4-0 shape at the break, but that did not prevent the sensational Tzolis squeezing through the backline and clipping in a sixth just five minutes after the interval.

Thankfully for Martin and his players, Brugge eased off somewhat in the remainder of the contest, but that will do little to quell the fury among the Rangers support, who have watched their team win just three times in 10 games this term.

The harrowing margin of defeat equals Rangers' 6-0 loss to Real Madrid in 1963 and the 7-1 defeat to Liverpool in 2022.

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Red card does not justify capitulation - analysis

There have been reasons to sympathise with Martin in the infancy of his Ibrox reign and Aarons' red card can be added to that.

But that does not justify the manner of this defeat.

Four months ago, Rangers were playing in the last eight of the Europa League.

Under Philippe Clement last season, Rangers beat Malmo and Nice away. They drew at home to eventual winners Tottenham and were seconds away from a point at finalists Manchester United.

During Barry Ferguson's interim spell, his team dumped out Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce in the last 16 before running Athletic Bilbao close in the quarters.

The Europa League is where Rangers will play their European football this term, but the thought of them getting anywhere near that stage in this state is fantasy.

City rivals Celtic had their own European disappointment this week, but Brendan Rodgers' side will be eyeing a trip to Govan as an opportunity to forget their embarrassing night in Almaty.

As for Martin, he will be aiming to use the fixture to ignite his Rangers tenure, but another poor showing will turn Ibrox toxic.

What they said

'We have to feel the pain' - dejected Martin on Rangers humiliation

What is next for Rangers?

Rangers will discover their Europa League opponents on Friday, with the draw getting under way at 12:00 BST in Monaco.

Martin's side return to action on Sunday when they host Celtic at Ibrox (12:00).

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Player of the match

C. Tzolis
7.96
8 C. Tzolis
7.96
20 H. Vanaken
7.87
7 N. Tresoldi
7.72
25 A. Stanković
7.68
9 Carlos Forbs
7.57
15 R. Onyedika
7.49
64 K. Sabbe
7.46
58 J. Spileers
7.21
67 M. Diakhon
7.18
65 J. Seys
7.15
19 G. Nilsson
7.11
62 L. Audoor
7.07
44 B. Mechele
7.02
87 K. Furo
7.00
41 H. Siquet
7.00
22 S. Mignolet
6.73
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