Rangers vs. Middlesbrough: Pre-Season Friendly Preview
Rangers and Middlesbrough are set to lock horns this Saturday in a crucial pre-season friendly as both clubs continue preparations ahead of their 2025-26 campaigns. For Rangers, this will be a chance to maintain their early momentum, while Middlesbrough look to turn around a worrying run of form under new management.
Rangers Building Early Season Momentum
Rangers come into this clash with a head start in competitive action. The Gers opened their Champions League qualifying campaign with an impressive 2-0 home win over Panathinaikos, following a spirited 2-2 comeback draw against Club Brugge in an earlier friendly. Under new manager Russell Martin, who succeeded Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson, the Scottish side appear to be adapting quickly to a fresh style of play.
Martin, who remains unbeaten in his opening two matches, will be keen to see further progress from his squad before their domestic season kicks off against Motherwell on August 2. However, with the second leg against Panathinaikos looming just four days after this fixture, the Rangers boss is expected to rotate heavily, offering opportunities to fringe players and summer arrivals like Djeidi Gassama, Jefte, and Lyall Cameron to impress.
Middlesbrough Still Searching for Rhythm
For Middlesbrough, this match marks the midpoint of their five-game pre-season schedule, but the signs so far haven’t been promising. After a disappointing 10th-place finish in last season’s Championship, former Luton Town manager Rob Edwards was brought in to replace Michael Carrick. However, Edwards is still searching for his first win in charge, following a draw and a loss in his opening friendlies, including a 2-0 defeat to Bradford City.
The North Yorkshire outfit have won just one of their last eight matches stretching back into last season, and they’ll be desperate to shift the momentum before their league opener against Swansea City. Injuries to Riley McGree and Alex Bangura, both of whom limped off against Bradford, could see Delano Burgzorg and Neto Borges get the nod in what could be a reshuffled lineup.
What to Expect
With Rangers likely to prioritize fitness and player rotation, and Middlesbrough hungry to end their winless run, this friendly promises a competitive edge despite its non-competitive billing. For Russell Martin, it’s another chance to solidify his tactics and assess squad depth. For Rob Edwards, it’s an urgent opportunity to inject confidence into his group ahead of the new season.
Prediction
While results aren’t the primary goal in pre-season, both clubs will want a positive showing. Rangers’ depth and early-season sharpness could give them an edge, but a rotated lineup might level the playing field. Expect a tight encounter, with goals likely at both ends.
