Rangers Host Ludogorets: Coefficient Battle Intensifies for Champions League Hopes

Rangers welcome Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad to Ibrox tonight, January 22, 2026, for their penultimate UEFA Europa League group stage fixture. While the Scottish giants have already been eliminated from knockout contention in the competition, this match holds crucial strategic and financial importance for the club’s long-term European ambitions, directly impacting their potential qualification for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League group stage and an estimated £40 million windfall.

Coefficient Battle Intensifies for Rangers

The immediate stakes for Rangers in European competition may have diminished with their Europa League elimination, but the broader picture reveals a high-pressure scenario. The Ibrox side currently leads UEFA’s five-year club coefficient table among domestic champions, a position that would grant direct entry to the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League group stage for the eventual Scottish Premiership winners. This coveted spot promises a substantial financial boost, estimated at £40 million, alongside a significant enhancement of Rangers’ European standing.

However, this advantageous position is under serious threat. Greek champions Olympiacos have narrowed the gap considerably following their recent UEFA Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen, bringing them within a single point of Rangers’ coefficient total. A further win for Olympiacos away to Ajax would almost certainly see them leapfrog the Light Blues in the rankings. Should Olympiacos then go on to clinch the Greek Super League title, where they currently trail PAOK by two points with a game in hand, they would claim the automatic UEFA Champions League place, irrespective of the outcome in Scotland.

Despite this looming challenge, scenarios still exist that could keep Rangers in pole position. An Olympiacos defeat in Amsterdam would effectively end their pursuit of the Ibrox club. A draw, however, would necessitate Rangers securing at least four points from their remaining Europa League fixtures to maintain their lead. Beyond Olympiacos, Danish side Copenhagen and Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk also pose mathematical threats should they advance deep into European competitions.

For Rangers, the irony is that their own European campaign has provided little momentum. Sitting 33rd in the table with just one point, they are out of the running for knockout stages. While Celtic and Ludogorets occupy the final playoff spots on seven points, theoretically within reach, Dinamo Zagreb and FCSB’s upcoming fixture ensures Rangers cannot bridge the gap, as any result from that match (a win for either side or a draw) would definitively end Rangers’ hopes of progressing in the Europa League itself.

Manager Rohl’s Focus on Immediate Performance

Speaking ahead of tonight’s encounter, manager Danny Rohl emphasized his team’s focus on securing a victory against Ludogorets, despite the broader strategic implications. ‘Straight in, good, I like it,’ Rohl remarked when asked about the Bulgarian opponents. ‘It’s a competition where we have not won so far. This is our challenge – we want to win the first game in this competition. A win is a win, it doesn’t matter which competition.’

Rohl acknowledged Ludogorets’ tactical approach: ‘They have a clear structure, sometimes pressing high, sometimes sitting in a deeper block. It’s about us. It’s a good challenge to show where we are at the moment.’ The German coach confirmed that Rangers would not be rotating their squad heavily, despite a packed domestic fixture schedule. ‘We will not rest so many players for tomorrow. We go with a strong group. This point is very important for us.’

The temptation to shift full focus to the Scottish Premiership, where Rangers trail Hearts by six points, is understandable given their Europa League elimination. However, Rohl insists on treating every fixture seriously. ‘It’s game by game. We start tomorrow to get more points on the table,’ he stated. He also highlighted the demanding schedule, with ‘four weeks with eight games again,’ stressing the need to be in a ‘good position after these four weeks.’ Rohl reiterated the paramount importance of domestic success: ‘We have to be successful in the league, otherwise this is not a topic for us,’ referencing UEFA Champions League qualification. ‘If we get a lot of points in these games, we will have a good summer.’

Squad Updates and Transfer Window Activity

Rangers are managing a dynamic squad with ongoing movements during the transfer window. Lyall Cameron has already joined Scottish Premiership rivals Aberdeen on loan, while Kieran Dowell’s loan move to Hull City has been confirmed. Finlay Curtis is also potentially set to follow on loan to Neil McCann’s Kilmarnock. Rohl addressed the need to balance new arrivals with providing game time for existing players. ‘We have new players in, but also some players that need game time,’ he explained, praising Cameron’s professionalism and impact.

The manager expects further transfer activity before the window closes. ‘In the next seven to ten days, there will be some movements in and out. It’s crunch time in the transfer window,’ he noted, adding that patience is sometimes required. Rohl also highlighted the current European squad size, which has ‘only 15 available players at the moment. It’s a very small squad, and three days later we have a league game and you have to use all the players on that list.’

On the injury front, there was cautious optimism. John Souttar is sidelined for this week, but Rohl expressed hope for his return by Monday, saying, ‘the result today is positive. We thought it was long-term, but now it’s hopefully just until Monday.’ Dujon Sterling is nearing a return, while Connor Barron is ‘on the way but it takes time.’ Derek Cornelius is ‘training hard to come back,’ but Bailey Rice remains a long-term absentee. Teenagers Ashton Scally and Kyle Glasgow are with the U16 squad in Qatar and will not feature. New signings Tochi Chukwueni and Andreas Skov Olsen are not registered for this European fixture, and Rabbi Matondo is also unregistered for Europe. Ludogorets will be without attacking midfielder Aguibou Camara and central defender Georgi Terziev.

Despite already securing three new faces – Tochi Chukwueni, Tuur Rommens, and the loan acquisition of Andreas Skov Olsen – Rohl and Rangers remain active in the market. ‘I knock every day on the door of recruitment and ask something new,’ Rohl quipped. He acknowledged the team’s good work so far and the importance of timing for potential ‘domino effects’ at other clubs. While not ruling out a ‘marquee signing,’ he cautioned that it involves ‘a lot of ‘if’ and ‘maybe’.’ Reports linking Rangers to Tromso’s 20-year-old Norwegian midfielder Jens Hjertø-Dahl were not commented on by Rohl.

The team is currently riding a wave of six consecutive victories across all competitions, a run Rohl is determined to continue. ‘We enjoyed having six wins in a row – this is fantastic. But we have to value every win. Not long ago, a win was not normal for us,’ he reflected. ‘This is why we go tomorrow with a strong 11. We want to continue this run. It’s not the time to look left or right. We focus on our own job.’ Rohl believes the recent form has validated his faith in the squad, noting that ‘my team showed me in the last weeks that they can, except from the Hearts match, beat everyone at the moment. That gives me calmness.’ He highlighted the immediate impact of the new players, Skov Olsen and Chukwueni, who are already impressing in training and potentially in contention for Sunday’s league match, with Rommens expected to debut in the Scottish Cup in February.

Match Details and Broadcast Information

Tonight’s match between Rangers and Ludogorets Razgrad kicks off at 8:00 PM GMT at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow. The fixture will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with coverage commencing at 7:45 PM GMT. Subscribers can also live stream the match via Discovery+. BBC Radio Scotland will provide live audio commentary through SportsSound.

The match officials for the evening will be led by Lithuanian referee Manfredas Lukjancukas, a 34-year-old official who has issued 17 yellow cards, one penalty, and no red cards across his five European matches this season. He will be supported by Dutch official Dennis Johan Higler as the VAR, with Robert Schroder of Germany serving as his assistant.

Despite their early exit from the UEFA Europa League, Rangers find themselves in a unique position where tonight’s match against Ludogorets, seemingly a dead rubber in terms of immediate competition progression, carries disproportionate weight for their financial health and European prestige next season. The strategic imperative to secure coefficient points, driven by the looming threat of Olympiacos, transforms this group stage encounter into a critical battle for the club’s future UEFA Champions League aspirations, demanding a delicate balance between European duty and domestic title pursuit from manager Danny Rohl.