Preview:Motherwell vs Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

Motherwell and Rangers will get their 2025-26 Scottish Premiership campaigns underway when they meet at Fir Park on Saturday evening.

The hosts are heading into this match on the back of three wins and one draw in the Scottish League Cup group stage, while the visitors have recently defeated Panathinaikos to progress to the third qualifying round for the Champions League.

Match preview

Despite improving upon their ninth-placed finish in 2023-24 by placing eighth last term, Motherwell experienced a disrupted and turbulent season, especially in the final stages.

Stuart Kettlewell opted to leave his managerial role in January due to abuse received from fans, while his eventual replacement Michael Wimmer left the club at the end of the term to return to Germany.

Jens Berthel Askou was appointed in June to lead the Steelmen into the new campaign, and the Danish boss has had an encouraging start in his new role.

Motherwell recorded one defeat, two draws and a victory in their pre-season, followed by three wins and a draw - going on to win on penalties - as they secured top spot in Group G of the Scottish League Cup.

The Steelmen have followed that up by managing a 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin in a friendly clash, meaning they are now unbeaten in their last eight games heading into Saturday's encounter.

Askou will be hoping his side can maintain and extend that run with a result against Rangers on Saturday, looking to get the campaign off to a strong start as Motherwell aim to return to the top half of the table for the first time since finishing fifth in 2021-22.

The Gers also experienced a turbulent 2024-25 campaign, with Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson taking turns in charge as they ultimately finished a considerable 17 points behind champions and rivals Celtic.

Rangers opted to make another change in the managerial department in the summer as Russell Martin replaced Ferguson at the helm, and the former Southampton boss is yet to taste defeat at his new club.

The Gers have drawn 2-2 in their two friendly matches against Club Brugge and Middlesbrough, while they managed to ensure their progression to the third qualifying round of the Champions League with a 3-1 aggregate win against Panathinaikos - a 2-0 first leg win and 1-1 second leg draw.

Martin will be hoping his side continues adapting to his new system while maintaining their run of positive results, especially as the Gers look to get off to a strong start in a league season where they will be eager to close the gap on their Old Firm rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership standings.

Motherwell form (all competitions):

Rangers form (all competitions):

Team News

Tawanda Maswanhise was one of Motherwell's standout performers during the Scottish League Cup group stage, scoring four goals in three starts, and the forward could start alongside Apostolos Stamatelopoulos in attack.

New signings Lukas Fadinger and Elijah Just are also expected to start in the four-man forward line, with Callum Slattery and Elliot Watt anticipated at the base of midfield.

As for the Gers, Djeidi Gassama has impressed since joining the club from Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month - including netting two of their three goals in the aggregate win over Panathinaikos - and the winger should start on Saturday.

Eighteen-year-old Findlay Curtis has also impressed throughout pre-season and their Champions League second qualifying round matches, meaning the youngster could line up alongside Gassama and Danilo in attack.

Elsewhere, Joe Rothwell is anticipated to start in the centre of a midfield three, with Nicolas Raskin and Mohammed Diomande also likely to start in the middle of the park.

Motherwell possible starting lineup:

Ward; Koutroumbis, McGinn, Gordon, Longelo; Slattery, Watt; Just, Fadinger, Maswanhise; Stamatelopoulos

Rangers possible starting lineup:

Butland; Tavernier, Djiga, Souttar, Aarons; Diomande, Rothwell, Raskin; Curtis, Danilo, Gassama

We say: Motherwell 1-2 Rangers

Both teams are still getting to grips with their new systems under new managers, and while Motherwell impressed during the Scottish League Cup, Rangers were tested against a higher level of opposition during the Champions League qualifiers, and following a victory, the Gers should be confident of also securing a win here.

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