Old Firm derby will be 'phycological' battle - Petrov
Former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov anticipates Sunday's Old Firm derby to be more of a "phycological" battle at Ibrox.
We asked for your views on Rangers facing Roma, Braga, Ludogorets and Genk at home, and Porto, Ferencvaros, Sturm Graz and Brann away in the Europa League.
Here's what some of you said:
Michael: Pretty decent draw, to be honest. Oh wait, Russell Martin is still our manager - we'll be lucky to get a win.
Kevin: Won't matter who we play, under Martin's reign we will lose all eight games. Teams like Roma and Porto will be quaking in their boots thinking about playing us!
David: Decent draw that would normally present a good chance of progressing, but the way we are playing and defending we have literally no chance.
Fraser: Unless there's a significant turnaround and improvement in how Rangers are playing as a team then I suspect we won't fare too well in Europe this year, just like the highly embarrassing Brugge game showed.
It would be better to focus on the domestic competitions and hope we can do something there, but don't hold out much hope there either as things currently stand.
Brian: After the humiliation against Brugge I have no interest in this European campaign, so long as this embarrassment of a manager remains at our club he'll drag us to an all time low.
Sally: The only thing Rangers can be guaranteed is the money, which will be welcome. Unless there is a major performance improvement it could become very embarrassing.
Image source, SNSCould the Scottish Premiership title be decided before August is out?
BBC Sport pundit Pat Nevin is suggesting that could be the case if champions Celtic beat Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.
Celtic are the only side with a 100% win record in the league, while new Rangers head coach Russell Martin has opened with three draws.
Both teams will be smarting from Champions League qualifying exits, with former Scotland winger Nevin calling defeats to Kairat and Club Brugge "totally, dreadfully, awfully disastrous".
Previewing the big game at the weekend for BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: "It will be the usual. They will be flying at each other. The atmosphere will be phenomenal.
"And and it might even be a good game because they are probably better matched than they have been for a wee while.
"For Rangers, there is gigantic pressure. Certainly for Martin it's huge.
"Rangers have three points out of nine. To have three points out of 12, you almost think the league is over four games in.
"Maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but it's a horrible thought, so Rangers will, or should, come out fighting."
On Rangers' heavy aggregate loss to Club Brugge, Nevin said "nine was probably kind", but he was equally scathing of Celtic's efforts against Kazakh opposition.
"Celtic fans and the manager will be absolutely devasted to miss out on the Champions League," he said.
"To go almost three hours against Kairat and not score is unthinkable.
"But they are lacking a lot of creativity in comparison with last season."
Image source, SNSRangers boss Russell Martin refused to confirm if midfielder Nicolas Raskin was in his squad following reports that the midfielder was left out of first-team training.
Celtic are set to hand a debut to Belgian winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Uruguayan left-back Marcelo Saracchi could potentially be involved if he is registered in time.
Anthony Ralston is expected to shake off a knock while Auston Trusty (foot), Alistair Johnston (hamstring) and Jota (knee) miss out. And there have been talks with Swansea over a potential move for Adam Idah.
Nicolas Raskin's Rangers future is further in doubt and, after showdown talks with head coach Russell Martin, the 24-year-old will not feature in the squad for Sunday's Old Firm derby against Celtic, despite the midfielder being fit and ready to play having been named in the Belgium squad. (Daily Record), external
Burnley, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all keen on Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin, with the Belgium international having made no secret of his desire to explore opportunities elsewhere. (TeamTalk), external
Senior players in the Rangers dressing room have backed Russell Martin's decision not to include Nicolas Raskin in the squad for Sunday's derby because of the Belgian's conduct behind the scenes. (Scottish Sun), external
Rangers are close to agreeing a deal for 27-year-old Canada centre-half Derek Cornelius from Marseille. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external
A medical in Paris has been booked for Derek Cornelius, with the Canada defender close to a switch from Marseille to Rangers. (Andy Newport on X), external
Bojan Miovski has signed a four-year contract with Rangers, having completed a medical in Paris after an initial fee of £3m was agreed with Girona for the 26-year-old Macedonia striker for whom former club Aberdeen also explored a deal. (Filip Mishov on X), external
Bojan Miovski's transfer to Rangers on a five-year contract includes a 20% sell-on for Girona on top of the £3.4m initial fee. (Mark Hendry on X), external
Girona striker Bojan Miovski is due to travel to Glasgow on Saturday to finalise his £4.2m move to Rangers. (Anthony Joseph on X), external
Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.
'Can you name a few things that have actually improved here?'
Russell Martin insists he still has the support of the owners at Rangers following talks with chairman Andrew Cavenagh as the Old Firm derby looms on Sunday.
The former Southampton boss is under huge pressure at Ibrox after winning just three of his opening 10 games.
Rangers are attempting to bounce back from the humiliating 6-0 Champions League loss to Club Brugge when they host Celtic this weekend.
"I spoke to Andrew, just honest conversation, it has been from day one, nothing's changed and I didn't get any different feeling from them," said Martin.
"They've been great and really supportive and he'll be at training tomorrow as well, which was planned already.
"So I look forward to seeing him. We've had a lot of conversations here. As a group, individually, players, staff, good conversations, but now it's just time for action.
"So we can talk as much as we want, train as well as we want, but now we have to make sure we deliver a performance on Sunday."
Rangers have started the Premiership with three draws to trail leaders Celtic by six points.
"I think this game was always going to be important for anyone," Martin added.
"It's our fourth league game, the manner of defeat (in Belgium) makes everything feel terrible.
"We've qualified for the Europa League and we've got a chance to put things right on Sunday. All focus is on that after Wednesday night. It's about responding properly.
"I think the only way you get fans back on side is by winning football matches, simple as that, and there's no bigger game than this one.
"It's one of the biggest games in the world in terms of the interest and everyone involved, and that's the brilliant thing about football that after the disappointment in midweek you have the opportunity to put things right."
Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSRangers head coach Russell Martin has been speaking to the media before this weekend's first derby of the season against Celtic.
Here are the key points from his press conference:
Martin says it is "time for action" as Rangers look to bounce back from their Champions League humiliation amid growing pressure on the head coach.
He says everything will feel "very, very different" if Rangers can win and go three points behind Celtic heading into the international break.
The club are "looking to strengthen the squad and we will do" says Martin on late-window incomings.
He was coy on Nicolas Raskin being in or out of the squad for Sunday's fixture, but does confirm the Belgium midfielder trained today.
On Raskin's father's, who publicly criticised the head coach, he says: "Everyone's entitled to their opinion. Can't allow it to enter our realm," and adds there has been "no breakdown in any relationship if that relationship is open and honest".
Martin has spoken to "very supportive" chairman Andrew Cavenagh and says nothing has changed in regards to his position.
Cavenagh will attend training tomorrow in a planned visit and Martin "looks forward to seeing him".
Martin admits the current climate around the club is the most intense he's ever experienced - "noise is the loudest I've ever heard it as player or manager" - but reiterates his message that they "can't be swayed by outside noise", going on to say he is "enjoying" the job and admits that might surprise some.
"This job is not for the timid" - Martin says he could have gone to a club that was "easier in terms of the demands".
The current squad are "still developing" with Martin saying he has spoken to Rangers legends, who had to endure "really tough starts", to gain an insight of the "unique challenge" of playing for the club.
Martin says perspective is key when going through such a poor run: "When you grow up and have to experience many, many tough things you realise a bit of perspective and gratitude that means this is football, it means so much to everyone, but there are a lot of tougher things to endure."
Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland
Rangers used only 35 words to announce the departure of Hamza Igamane. The brevity of the statement sums up how the striker's Ibrox stint soured.
The 22-year-old Moroccan, who arrived for around £1.7m last summer from AS FAR in his homeland, took time to settle but caught fire in Europe, much like Rangers did last season.
He scored a double and provided an assist on just his second Rangers start in the stunning 4-1 win at Nice, and eyebrows were raised across Govan. He was raw, but looked ruthless.
Including that brace in late November, he scored 12 times in just under two months; his potential had turned into reality despite the team's domestic struggles.
In that run, Igamane bagged an Easter Road hat-trick, one against Tottenham, and scored at Pittodrie among others.
An 88th-minute winner at Celtic Park in March - his Morocco debut a few followed a few days later - will be the punters' fondest memory of the dynamic striker, but the love affair would not last.
Igaamane's head was seemingly turned as the transfer window crept closer, speculation ramped up, and a big-money departure looked imminent.
The saga dragged on throughout the summer, ending unceremoniously in Paisley when Russell Martin - the third Rangers manager Igamane played under - said he had claimed to be injured and refused to come off the bench.
Unpredictable, controversial and headline grabbing. Igamane's Rangers career is now over, but at a reported fee of £10.4m his exit represents a tidy profit for a club attempting to plot a path out of early-season crisis.
Image source, GettyRangers will face European giants Roma and Porto in the league phase of the Europa League.
The Ibrox side play Roma, Braga, Ludogorets and Genk at home, with away trips to face Porto, Ferencvaros, Sturm Graz and Brann.
Fixture details will be confirmed by Uefa this weekend.
What do you make of the draw for Rangers? Can the 2022 finalists progress to the knockout stages, or do you fear the worst already?
Image source, SNSRangers are unbeaten in three league meetings with Celtic, winning two of them (D1), more than their previous 12 beforehand (W1 D3 L8).
Celtic have only won two of their past 11 away games against Rangers across all competitions (D3 L6), winning 2-1 in April 2022 and 1-0 in September 2023.
Celtic have won the first league Old Firm derby of a season in seven of the past nine campaigns, the only exceptions coming in 2020-21 (2-0 defeat) and 2021-22 (1-0 defeat).
Rangers have drawn all three of their league games so far this season; on only three occasions have they ever failed to win each of their opening four matches of a league campaign, doing so in 1964-65, 1978-79, and 1983-84. On all three instances, this included a defeat to Celtic.
Having won all three of their league games so far this season by an aggregate score of 6-0, Celtic could win their opening four matches without conceding for the fourth time, after 1906-07, 2010-11 and 2024-25.
Rangers have drawn seven of their past nine league games (W2), including their past four in a row. Only in September 1976, May 1984, and March 2015 have the Ibrox side ever drawn five successive league fixtures, while they could go five top-flight matches in a row without a win for the first time since December 2005.
Of Rangers managers to face Celtic in the league, only two of the past 12 have won their first league Old Firm derby in charge (D4 L6), Ally McCoist winning 4-2 in September 2011 and Barry Ferguson winning 3-2 in March last season.
Benjamin Nygren has the most goal involvements of any player in the Scottish Premiership this season so far (four), scoring (three) or assisting (one) 67% of Celtic's league goals in 2025-26. Nygren also leads all players in the competition for chances created (12) and expected assists (1.64), and is second for both shots (10) and non-penalty expected goals (1.58).
Girona striker Bojan Miovski looks set to complete a move to Rangers before Sunday's derby with Celtic at Ibrox, with a £2.6m fee agreed - which could rise to £4.2m after add-ons. (Daily Record), external
Rangers have made contact with Everton over a loan deal for 21-year-old Portuguese striker Youssef Chermiti. (Sky Sports), external
With Rangers looking to offload up to seven players, Spanish club Sporting Gijon have made an offer for winger Oscar Cortes. (Win Sports via Daily Record, external).
Image source, Getty ImagesAlasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator
if Russell Martin is to keep his job as Rangers head coach, he must buck a trend that goes back as far as I can remember.
Never, in my recollection, has a manager been given the time to win over a group of supporters so vociferously opposed to him being kept on. Certainly not at Rangers.
Martin was behind the eight ball from the outset, with a large proportion of fans against or at best unconvinced by his appointment after a disastrous Premier League campaign with Southampton.
Sceptics willing to give him a chance in the role have not taken long to join the baying hordes looking for the Rangers board to cut their losses already and it appears Martin has precious few backers remaining among the club's supporters.
Philippe Clement, his predecessor as permanent Rangers boss, was given longer than others after the fanbase had turned against him as the board desperately tried to avoid yet another cycle of sacking and hiring a manager with all of the cost and upheaval that comes with that, but ultimately results and fan pressure took their toll.
Martin is convinced he retains the backing of chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell, but if defeat in Sunday's Old Firm game ends with Rangers nine points behind Celtic after four games the pressure will mount on the board even further.
It has been a period of significant upheaval at Ibrox, with new owners as well as the almost simultaneous appointments of Martin, Thelwell and technical director Dan Purdy.
Back at the end of last season I asked the question of how there could be a coherent transfer strategy with most of, if not all, the significant decision-makers in terms of recruitment arriving with little time to plan.
Now Rangers find themselves a few days away from the end of the transfer window with a squad that looks nowhere near ready to challenge for trophies or emulate some of the recent European achievements.
Key players want to leave, key positions have been filled by players who look like downgrades on those already there.
Sunday looms large on the horizon, with scope for things to get even worse unless Martin and his players can somehow produce a performance and result to assuage the damage that has been incurred.
Image source, SNSThe Rangers Supporters Association has called for the "immediate" sacking of Russell Martin just 10 games into his tenure.
It comes after 10-man Rangers lost 6-0 away to Club Brugge on Wednesday night to complete a 9-1 aggregate defeat in the Champions League play-off.
Former Ibrox defender Martin, 39, has won only three games so far and Rangers remain without victory in the Scottish Premiership after opening with three draws.
The Rangers Supporters Association, which represents independent Rangers fan groups worldwide, said in a statement on X:, external "It is our considered view that the current head coach should be relieved of his duties with immediate effect.
"The Rangers Supporters Association will always stand behind the team, but we also have a duty to speak up."
Image source, SNSFormer Rangers striker Ally McCoist on TNT Sports
That was unacceptable. I wasn't confident Rangers could get a result. Rangers supporters deserve a lot better than the level of commitment, organisation and willingness to defend they saw.
On Rangers' recruitment: Physically, because they're small, they look like wee boys. They're clearly not wee boys, and they won't thank me for saying that, they'll hate me saying it, but they look like wee boys.
There's no men, you need men. And your men don't need to be 6ft 5in, 6ft 6in. They just need to have heart, head and a bit of organisation and desire. That's what men do and they're short of that in this department.
Are they as talented as the team they had last year? I don't think so. They've gone back the way.
Former Rangers striker Billy Dodds on BBC Sportsound
It was embarrassing in every aspect. I was losing the will to find words at the end. The philosophy of the high line is killing Rangers just now. They don't look comfortable in it and it's not working.
I don't think the signings have made the team better. I can't see one that's an upgrade from what they had.
Former Rangers defender Alan Hutton on TNT Sports
Cross balls and set-plays were a nightmare for Rangers. There are so many question marks after that performance. You feel for Jack Butland because the score could have been worse [without him].
Mark Atkinson, sports editor of The Scotsman, on BBC's Scottish football podcast
The new owners, there's culpability there too because of the level of player that's been brought in by Russell Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell, with 49ers Enterprises turning to players they've seen before such as Joe Rothwell.
Right now those players look ill-equipped to play for Rangers on a technical and mental level. It just feels like they are completely out of their depth.
They're signing players who are coming to Rangers to learn how to play football in terms of Mikey Moore and Jayden Meghoma. You don't come to learn to play football at Rangers, you come to succeed.
Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer
Image source, SNSInside the Glasgow goldfish bowl it can look like Russell Martin is doomed. Every Rangers fan is screaming blue murder. They're calling for him to be sacked, in terms that offer no ambiguity.
There is a venom and a toxicity. How can he hope to survive this and this and this?
The reality is that even though there are no discernible improvements in Rangers under Martin - not even scraps - he will get more opportunity to rebuild the team.
Chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe don't strike you as having itchy trigger fingers. Not yet at any rate.
They cannot be deaf to the howls of protest - if they attend the Old Firm game on Sunday they'll be told all about it - but there's little evidence to suggest they will be influenced by supporters who are ready to spontaneously combust.
So you have a board who will wait, a support who see no point in waiting, and a manager who is attempting to sound like he's got this under control when all evidence screams otherwise. A heady brew.
This is Martin's team and Martin's mess. Not only is it not working, it's getting worse. No amount of fast-talking can disguise that, no attempt at a three-card trick is going to fool a single fan at this point.
Nasser Djiga was among the culpable for the first Brugge goal - a Martin signing. Max Aarons got himself sent off inside eight minutes - another Martin signing.
Every one of his new recruits were dismantled. At the break, he took off three of them - 5-0 to Brugge at that stage - and replaced them with three players he inherited.
Read more: 'Martin's mess exposed - but when will it end?'
Champions League highlights: Club Brugge 6-0 Rangers (Agg 9-1)
We asked for your views after Rangers suffered a 6-0 defeat at Club Brugge - equalling the club's heaviest European loss - to crash out of the Champions League 9-1 on aggregate.
Here are some of your comments:
Dobby: Totally embarrassed to be a Rangers supporter. After supporting this club for almost 40 years, I have never seen such a hapless team. Very poor recruitment followed by appalling strategy, total shambles of a team. With each season passes we are getting worse - the strategy of the club, the recruitment and the poor managerial choices.
Alan: Russell Martin seems to have lost the dressing room. A team is exactly that - individuals who will fight for the club and each other. Bringing in players is one thing but ensuring they gel is another. Martin is not up to the job I fear.
David: Enough is enough. Time is up for Martin. Others such as Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell have to shoulder responsibility. The Brugge result and performance was inevitable. Thankfully Brugge took their foot off the gas for the majority of the second half. Spineless, gutless, leaderless. I no longer recognise my club and as a supporter for 55 years, I never thought I'd feel this way.
James: Martin's decision to leave all the experienced players on the bench shows he has not got a clue. He has to go!
Peter: Surely the new owners have to realise they got it wrong with appointing Russel Martin. His tactics and team selection will not change and there are too many young players in this team who will take this defeat sorely and might even wreck their progression. The man is ripping the heart out of Rangers and someone needs to throw in the towel. Just look at the stats for goodness sake.
Robert: Time Martin was sacked and some of his signings are questionable. None of them have European experience. They look and play like schoolboys. How long are the new owners going to accept these displays? They are an embarrassing.
Steve: Please get Barry Ferguson back as manager. We need a Rangers man back at the reins, someone who feels the pain we all feel.
