A deserved lead for Brann at the interval through Emil Kornvig's close-range finish late in the half.
Had Youssef Chermiti shown some sharpness in front of goal, the visitors could be a couple ahead.
A tough first half-time team talk for Danny Rohl.
Image source, SNSAEK Athens 3-0 Aberdeen
Once again Aberdeen are exposed at the back and Franzdy Pierrot, who got in behind Jack Milne, slots the ball beyond Dimitar Mitov, but his effort edges wide of the far post.
Moments later Alfie Dorrington puts himself in the way of Niclas Eliasson's shot and sends it behind for an AEK corner.
Brann 1-0 Rangers
A couple of minutes added in Brann.
Rangers will be desperate to keep the deficit at just one goal before the interval.
AEK Athens 3-0 Aberdeen
Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen captain on BBC Sportsound
I can't overemphasise how good AEK have been and how bad Aberdeen have been.
They're 3-0 down and it could easily be six, or double.
Aberdeen have just been spectators. It's been the worst possible 45 minutes.
AEK Athens 3-0 Aberdeen
Into five minutes of stoppage time in Athens.
Aberdeen will be desperate to hear that whistle.
Brann 1-0 Rangers
Steven Thompson
Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound
Fortuitous, but Rangers defensively looking really, really dodgy.
One pass wipes them out.
Image source, SNS
Emil Kornvig
A deserved lead for the hosts.
Bard Finne is found by a well-timed, raking pass, but he hesitates as he enters the area and his shot is blocked.
It falls fortuitously, though, for Emil Kornvig, who thumps it into the empty net from inside the six-yard box.
There was a hint of offside from Finne in the build-up, but it's cleared and the hosts are ahead.
Brann 0-0 Rangers
Steven Thompson
Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound
Gassama's just been booked because an opposition player's pretended he's been hit in the face.
That's a disgrace.
AEK Athens 3-0 Aberdeen
Another chances goes begging for AEK Athens.
The free-kick loops into the Aberdeen box where Domagoj Vida gets away from the Aberdeen defence and sends a header crashing off Dimitar Mitov's near post.
AEK Athens 3-0 Aberdeen
Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen captain on BBC Sportsound
They're having fun, AEK.
You're talking about top quality. There was a bit of apprehension at the start of the game, but they've now got the three goals and are trying to the entertain their fans.
Aberdeen are really struggling and I worry for them. It could be an embarrassing result.
Join the debate at the top of this page
Result is all that matters for Rohl tonight. Rangers fans tired of talking about styles, progress and intensity. It's time to win football games. Simple.
David
Brann 0-0 Rangers
Vetle Dragsnes has a go from at least 30 yards out, connecting sweetly with a bouncing ball.
It flies just a foot wide of the post, with Jack Butland scrambling to make sure he had it covered.
That would have been sensational.
Brann 0-0 Rangers
Remember the grief Cyriel Dessers used to get?
That was all a bit silly.
Brann 0-0 Rangers
A huge chance for Youssef Chermiti.
Joe Rothwell clips in the perfect ball, dropping in between the Brann defender and goalkeeper, but the ex-Everton forward fluffs his header and glances it into the keeper's arms.
Moments later, he fails to meet a well-drilled ball across the goal from Oliver Antman.
He would have some serious credit in the bank with the unconvinced fans had he converted either.
Image source, SNSAEK Athens 3-0 Aberdeen
Yikes. Dimitar Mitov does well to keep out a fourth from AEK Athens.
He gets low to keep out Frantzdy Pierrot's header from close range.
AEK Athens 3-0 Aberdeen
Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen captain on BBC Sportsound
First of all I don't know what Mitov is doing passing the ball to Jack Milne when there's two AEK players on top of him. He then tries a backheel to recover the situation rather than clearing the ball and gives it away.
That goal in particular we're not talking about magnificent play from AEK, it's self-inflicted.
AEK Athens 3-0 Aberdeen
Well Jimmy Thelin is turning to his bench already. Winger Topi Keskinen, who doesn't look overly pleased as he trudges off the pitch, makes way for centre-back Alfie Dorrington.
Damage limitation.
Brann 0-0 Rangers
Great play from James Tavernier as he chops inside and fizzes it into Thelo Aasgaard's feet, catching Brann off guard as they expect his usual whipped delivery.
The Norway forward takes a big swipe at fresh air, though, as the ball bobbles under his feet on the penalty spot.
That was a chance.
Image source, SNSBrann 0-0 Rangers
Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland in Bergen
Danny Rohl wanted speed and intensity from his players, I'm not sure he's seeing either from his side so far.
Brann look very comfortable in possession and have threatened more than the Rangers new head coach will be happy with.
Image source, SNSBrann 0-0 Rangers
Steven Thompson
Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound
You're not just going to transform a team that's been underperforming.
But it's been a fairly disjointed performance from Rangers so far.
The only positive for them is that it remains 0-0.
Rangers players look on dejected as Brann's Jacob Sorensen scores to make it 2-0
At a glance
Chermiti misses early chance before Kornvig thumps in opener
Brann double lead after half-time through Sorensen
Late strike from Holm leaves Rangers bottom of Europa League table
Danny Rohl's first game as Rangers head coach ended in defeat as clinical Brann cruised past the meek Scots to leave them bottom of the Europa League table.
Strikes either side of half time by Emil Kornvig and Jacob Sorensen punished a Rangers team that missed chances of their own, before a late strike from the impressive Noah Holm piled more misery on the beleaguered visitors in Bergen.
Rohl was appointed as the Scottish Premiership strugglers' head coach just three days ago, so little in the way of tangible change was expected so soon, and the Ibrox struggles this season continued to plague them in Norway.
'Red flags for Rohl as Rangers routed in first game'
Tavernier 'raging' at 'disgraceful' Rangers defeat
Rangers 'didn't screw up' head coach appointment
There were early signs of hope as Rangers started with intensity and a clear plan off the ball, before the much-maligned Youssef Chermiti failed to connect well with a clipped Joe Rothwell pass.
A string of Jack Butland saves kept his side in the game as they reverted to type, with a Bard Finne shot falling fortuitously for Kornvig to thump into an empty net from inside the six-yard box.
Rangers laboured to keep the deficit to one at the interval, but the hosts soon doubled their lead after the restart.
Finne's free-kick was glanced in by the unmarked Sorensen, who faced no challenge at all inside the congested area as he leapt to make it more comfortable for the home side.
Rangers huffed and puffed but failed to show any signs of attacking efficiency in the final third as Brann's comfort levels only increased.
The game was put beyond any doubt when Holm, who had been particularly impressive in the second half, rifled in a late third for the efficient hosts.
None of the blame for this can be aimed in Rohl's direction.
The 36-year-old German had barely any time on the training pitch to set his side up, get a look at the players, learn their names, analyse Brann - and all of that before finding the paper for the printer and getting connected to the Wi-Fi.
Rangers' issues run deep, the damage has been done this season, and many of the defensive deficiencies will take time to undo, never mind to be changed positively.
In the opening 10 or 15 minutes, there were glimmers of hope.
Before they fell into bad habits, they set up in a rigid 4-4-2 when out of possession, but they're hardly going to know the intricacies of pressing triggers at this stage.
Nico Raskin appeared to be dropping into a back three at times to act as the player tasked with progressing the ball - a key role for any side and a role the Belgian could excel in, given his ability.
They have now also conceded 10 goals from set-pieces across all competitions this season - excluding penalties - the most of any Premiership side.
All of these things that Rohl will work away at, should they coalesce, will help to improve a Rangers side that are completely lacking in confidence.
The next five games will go a long way to defining what they can salvage from this season.
Tavernier doesn't hold back after Brann defeat
Rangers head coach Danny Rohl: "We have to say the opponent was better, they deserved the win, they were more aggressive, they won more second balls.
"And I think today I saw a lot of where we are at the moment, what the reality is, but also it was very clear we have not so much time to change something, but I want to see again a step forward on Sunday and it means we have to win this game.
"I think there are reasons why we didn't win so many games in the past, I think you saw this today again. My job is to find a solution as soon as possible with this group."
Former Rangers forward Steven Thompson: "Rangers were toothless all night in attack. They've managed to create very little of note. Gifting goals to the opposition."
Brann have won back-to-back matches in major European competition without conceding for the first time since September 1977 in the Cup Winners' Cup.
Rangers have failed to win their last six Europa League games (D1 L5), their longest winless run in the competition. Meanwhile, they've also lost four successive matches in the competition for the very first time.
Rangers have suffered their heaviest ever away defeat in the Europa League, and their joint-heaviest overall in the competition (alongside a 1-4 home loss vs Lyon in October 2024).
Rangers host Kilmarnock on Sunday, 26 October (15:00 GMT) in the Scottish Premiership, before travelling to face Hibernian on Wednesday, 29 October (19:45).
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Midtjylland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
|
2 Sporting Braga | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| |
4 Dinamo Zagreb | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
|
5 Viktoria Plzeň | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
|
6 Freiburg | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
|
7 Ferencváros | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
|
8 Brann | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
|
9 Celta Vigo | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
|
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| |
12 Go Ahead Eagles | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
|
13 Young Boys | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
|
14 Fenerbahçe | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
|
15 Porto | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
|
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| |
18 Bologna | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
|
19 Genk | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
|
20 PAOK | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 |
|
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 4 |
| |
22 Panathinaikos | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
|
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| |
24 Basel | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
|
25 Feyenoord | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
|
26 Ludogorets Razgrad | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 3 |
|
27 Sturm Graz | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
|
28 FCSB | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
|
29 Stuttgart | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
|
30 Red Star Belgrade | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 1 |
|
31 Malmö FF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 1 |
|
32 Maccabi Tel Aviv | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 1 |
|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 0 |
| |
34 Red Bull Salzburg | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 0 |
|
35 Utrecht | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
|
Manager: Freyr Alexandersson
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Danny Röhl
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Freyr Alexandersson
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Danny Röhl
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
UEFA Europa League
All competitions
Brann and Rangers will meet for the first time – the Norwegian side’s only previous meetings with a Scottish side was in the 2024-25 UEFA Conference League qualifying phase, knocking out St. Mirren on aggregate (4-2 – 1-1 away, 3-1 home).
This will be Rangers’ fifth meeting with a Norwegian side in all European competitions – they are yet to lose (W3 D1), or concede a single goal, with this their most recent game since September 2006, a 2-0 win over Molde in the UEFA Cup.
Brann have won five of their last seven home European matches (including qualifiers, L2), winning 1-0 against FC Utrecht on MD2 in their first home major European match for 17 years.
Including qualifiers, Rangers have lost each of their last five European matches, conceding 14 goals. Their only longer losing run in Europe was between September and November 2022 when they lost six UEFA Champions League games in a row.
Djeidi Gassama has scored Rangers’ only goal in the UEFA Europa League this season and he’s also made 21 ball carries ending in the opposition penalty area, five more than any other player in 2025-26.
