Motherwell vs Rangers Prediction 02.08.2025 | Premiership

Having secured eighth-place finishes in each of the last three regular-season Premiership campaigns, Motherwell will set their sights higher this term, with ambitions of sneaking into the top six and staking a claim for European football.

Although it may be too early to draw conclusions about their overall aspirations, Motherwell have every reason to be pleased with how they kicked off the new season, breezing through the Scottish League Cup group stage with four wins from four and barely breaking a sweat.

With signings like Emmanuel Longelo from Birmingham and right winger Ibrahim Said from Viborg, Motherwell look well-prepared for the season opener, having invested €150k and €135k in the duo.

Although first-choice goalkeeper Aston Oxborough is currently unavailable with a thigh injury, the 24-year-old Calum Ward is prepared to guard the goal when they face Rangers.

Rangers’ grip on Scottish football has notably weakened, as they have managed to win just one league title in the past 14 campaigns, with the remaining 13 going to their fiercest rivals Celtic, who, with last season’s success, matched the Gers’ record haul of 55 championships.

Russell Martin’s side kicked off their 2025-26 campaign on a positive note as Djeidi Gassama’s crucial goal in Athens ensured Rangers edged past Panathinaikos 3-1 on aggregate in the Champions League qualifiers, with only two more obstacles standing between them and the league phase.

After being held to a 1-1 draw in Greece midweek, the Gers have now gone five straight away games without a win—drawing four of them—and will be desperate to put those travel woes behind them as they aim to open their Premiership season on a high.

The Ibrox Stadium welcomed several fresh faces this summer, including Oscar Cortes, Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandez, Djeidi Gassama, and Bournemouth pair Joe Rothwell and Max Aaronson, the latter on a temporary deal.

The Premiership opener will come too early for Dujon Sterling, who’s still recovering from Achilles surgery, and possibly for Rabbi Matondo as well, despite his recent return from a knee injury.