Celtic fans brutally mock Rangers fans after shameful performance against Club Brugge. Tears in my eyes
In a night that will haunt Rangers supporters for years, Ibrox Stadium became a scene of despair as fans began streaming out just 20 minutes into a Champions League play-off against Club Brugge.
The Belgian side delivered a merciless 3-0 lead in the opening spell, leaving the Scottish faithful stunned and their team’s £40million Champions League dreams in tatters. It was a first half that exposed Rangers’ frailties under new manager Russell Martin, whose side crumbled under the weight of early errors and clinical finishing.
The nightmare began in the third minute when defender Nasser Djiga misjudged a long ball, allowing Romeo Vermant to race through and chip a stranded Jack Butland with a delicate lob. Ibrox, usually a cauldron of noise, fell into a stunned silence, broken only by murmurs of disbelief. Four minutes later, the wound deepened.
Christos Tzolis’ whipped corner found Jorne Spileers unmarked in the penalty area, his first-time volley sailing past Butland. By the 19th minute, Brandon Mechele’s rasping strike from the edge of the box made it 3-0, a goal that prompted an exodus of disillusioned fans.
Amazon Prime commentator Jon Champion noted the departure, with co-commentator Neil McCann sympathizing, saying he couldn’t blame supporters for leaving after such a disastrous start.
Rangers’ defensive woes, a lingering concern this season, were laid bare. The team had already faced over 100 shots in six games, and Club Brugge exploited this vulnerability with ruthless precision.
Fans, already frustrated by a stuttering start to the Scottish Premiership campaign, saw their worst fears realized. The booing at half-time was deafening, a stark contrast to the optimism Martin had expressed about the team’s European form. Social media buzzed with criticism, with Celtic legend Chris Sutton trolling Rangers fans on X, writing, “I thought Rangers fans don’t do walking away… 20 minutes in and many have given up already…”
The second half offered a glimmer of hope when debutant Jayden Meghoma’s cross found Danilo, who pulled one back in the 50th minute. Yet, despite a slight uptick in urgency, Rangers couldn’t capitalize.
A late effort by Djeidi Gassama was ruled out after a VAR review, confirming goalkeeper Simon Mignolet’s control of the ball. The 3-1 final score left Rangers with a mountain to climb in the return leg in Belgium.
Martin, speaking to Amazon Prime, admitted the first half was “as hard as it will ever be” for his players but praised their response, though it did little to quell the growing unrest among supporters.
With the second leg looming, Rangers face a near-impossible task to overturn the two-goal deficit against a Club Brugge side buoyed by their first-leg dominance.
For fans who walked out early, the pain of this Champions League nightmare will linger, a stark reminder of a team yet to find its footing under Martin’s leadership. The Ibrox faithful, known for their loyalty, may need to dig deep to keep faith in their European aspirations.