Preview: Rangers vs Viktoria Plzen - prediction, team news, lineups

Beginning another battle for progress in the Champions League, Rangers and Viktoria Plzen will meet for the first leg of their third qualifying round tie on Tuesday.

After both came through round two last month, the teams convene at Ibrox, which has been a fortress for the Gers in Europe.

Match preview

Ultimately aiming to make the Champions League's expanded league phase for the first time, Rangers started this season's journey with a 3-1 aggregate victory over Panathinaikos.

A 2-0 first leg win over 10-man opponents gave the Glasgow giants breathing room ahead of their trip to Greece, which ended with a 1-1 second-leg draw.

Despite some concerns, Russell Martin's men seemed to be adapting to their new manager's system, but they soon suffered a setback in Saturday's Scottish Premiership opener.

Rangers dropped points on the first day for a third straight season, after Motherwell replied to James Tavernier's early strike with a late leveller at Fir Park.

As the Gers last failed to win their opening league game for three consecutive campaigns way back in the mid-1980s, Martin had grounds to unleash a scathing public attack on his players, and he will demand much more in midweek.

While Rangers returned to domestic action at the weekend, Viktoria Plzen have been up and running in the Czech top flight for a few weeks.

Last term's runners-up followed a 5-1 thrashing of Pardubice with a 1-1 draw versus Jablonec, either side of their continental commitments.

Viktoria showed spirit to overcome a first-leg deficit in their Champions League second-round qualifier against Servette: having lost 1-0 on home turf, they defied a tough start to win in Geneva.

Despite slipping further behind on four minutes, Miroslav Koubek’s men then turned the tie on its head by fighting back for a 3-1 aggregate victory, as Rafiu Durosinmi's late penalty sealed success.

The six-time Czech champions have made the Champions League proper on five occasions, more recently reaching the Conference League quarter-finals in 2024 and the Europa League's last 16 this year.

So, they may fancy their chances of dumping out Rangers and setting up a high-stakes playoff with either Nice or Benfica.

Rangers Champions League form: W D

Rangers form (all competitions): W D D

Viktoria Plzen Champions League form: L W

Viktoria Plzen form (all competitions): W L D W

Team News

Following Saturday's league draw, Russell Martin suggested there will be changes to his Rangers starting XI - Cyriel Dessers and Lyall Cameron could therefore be promoted from the bench.

Starting on the opposite flank to long-serving captain James Tavernier, summer signing Max Aarons may continue to fill in at left-back due to a lack of options in that area.

Tottenham Hotspur loanee Mikey Moore is still awaiting international clearance, while Thelo Aasgaard and Hamza Igamane are struggling with injuries.

Meanwhile, Viktoria Plzen will be without key midfielder Adrian Zeljkovic for their trip to Ibrox, as the 22-year-old Slovenia international must serve a suspension for his red card against Servette.

The visitors - whose weekend game versus Mlada Boleslav was postponed so they could prepare - have also agreed a deal with Lyon to sell star man Pavel Sulc.

So, in the playmaker's absence, a possible front pair of Rafiu Durosinmi and veteran striker Matej Vydra will need a supply of through-balls from elsewhere.

Rangers possible starting lineup: Butland; Tavernier, Djiga, Souttar, Aarons; Cameron, Rothwell, Raskin; Gassama, Dessers, Dowell

Viktoria Plzen possible starting lineup: Wiegle; Dweh, Markovic, Jemelka; Havel, Ladra, Cerv, Spacil; Visinsky; Durosinmi, Vydra

We say: Rangers 1-1 Viktoria Plzen

Rangers have shown they are still short of living up to their new manager's lofty ambitions, so they may have to settle for a home draw against tough opponents.

Boasting plenty of recent European experience, Viktoria Plzen will prove a tough nut to crack, and they should take a positive result back home.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.