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

Aiming to polish off Viktoria Plzen in the third round of Champions League qualifying, Rangers will take a healthy three-goal lead into Tuesday's second leg.

Defying meek domestic form, the Glasgow giants have impressed in Europe so far, leaving them one step away from a place in the playoffs.

Match preview

It was a Rangers debut to remember for Oliver Antman last week, having signed for the club one day before starting their emphatic 3-0 win over Plzen.

An impressive performance was capped by setting up one of Djeidi Gassama's goals at Ibrox, where Cyriel Dessers also found the net with a first-half penalty.

Although Russell Martin's lineup was leaked before kickoff, causing an inquiry in the media, Rangers could celebrate another European success, following last month's 3-1 aggregate victory over Panathinaikos.

Ultimately trying to reach the Champions League's new league phase for the first time, the Light Blues have started this season's attempt in some style, and they now aim to set up a playoff with either Red Bull Salzburg or Club Brugge.

However, while Martin's men seem to be making their new manager's methods work in Europe, they have suffered consecutive setbacks in the Scottish Premiership.

After dropping points on the opening day for a third straight season - drawing 1-1 at Motherwell - they could only salvage a draw at home to Dundee on Saturday, as captain James Tavernier converted a last-gasp spot kick.

While Rangers returned to domestic action two weeks ago, Viktoria Plzen have been up and running in the Czech top flight a little longer.

Last term's runners-up started off with a 5-1 thrashing of Pardubice and a 1-1 draw against Jablonec, before being held at home by Slovacko on Saturday.

Those results have come in between their continental commitments, which began with a second-round qualifier against Servette: having lost 1-0 on home turf, they defied a tough start to win that tie in Geneva.

Viktoria have previously made the Champions League proper on five occasions; but, given the outcome at Ibrox, they are surely facing a drop into one of UEFA's lower-tier tournaments this season.

The six-time Czech champions followed a Conference League quarter-final appearance in 2024 with a journey to the Europa League's last 16, and they may soon be back in the latter, barring a miraculous second-leg comeback.

Viktoria Plzen Champions League form: L W L

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

Rangers Champions League form: W D W

Rangers form (all competitions): W D D W D

Team News

Rangers defender Max Aarons has overcome a minor injury and can compete with Jefte for selection at left-back, but Thelo Aasgaard and Hamza Igamane have both been ruled out by Russell Martin.

The latter has not appeared since playing against Panathinaikos last month, having missed training due to a visa issue; now set to turn 18, fellow forward Mikey Moore could receive international clearance on his loan move from Tottenham Hotspur.

Nasser Djiga faces an SPL suspension for seeing red against Dundee, but the Burkinabe centre-back is set to helm the Gers' defence again in midweek, alongside John Souttar.

Meanwhile, Plzen can recall key midfielder Adrian Zeljkovic for Tuesday's return leg, after the Slovenia international served a ban for being sent off against Servette.

Star man Pavel Sulc recently joined Lyon, so 17-year-old Jiri Panos could again provide the supply line for front pair Rafiu Durosinmi and Matej Vydra; Ghanaian starlet Prince Adu is another option.

Viktoria Plzen possible starting lineup: Wiegle; Dweh, Markovic, Jemelka; Memic, Zeljkovic, Cerv, Spacil; Panos; Durosinmi, Vydra

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