Rangers welcome Motherwell to Ibrox on Sunday evening, 26 April 2026, in the Scottish Premiership’s Championship Round, with second place and the late-season momentum that comes with it still on the line. Danny Röhl’s side are chasing the strongest possible finish after a campaign that’s already delivered 69 points and a huge goal difference, while Jens Askou’s Motherwell arrive sitting fourth and trying to protect a decent season from drifting into the sort of limp run-in that leaves a bad taste.
For Rangers, this is about finishing with authority and keeping the pressure on those above them. For Motherwell, it’s a chance to stop the slide, nick a result at one of the toughest grounds in the division and remind everyone that they’re not just here to make up the numbers. That won’t be easy. Their recent away trips have been messy enough.
The last meeting between these two ended 1-1 at Fir Park in February, and that draws a line under what has been a stubborn fixture for Rangers in recent years. Motherwell have usually found a way to land a punch. Still, Rangers have been moving through April with far more purpose, and Ibrox has been a proper source of comfort all season.
Rangers Form & Analysis
Rangers come into this off the back of a wild 6-3 win away to Falkirk on 12 April, the kind of game that tells you exactly where they’re at. They didn’t just win; they tore through Falkirk with pace and precision, scoring six after a strong first-half start from Ben Broggio and then keeping the pressure on until the final whistle. Before that, they beat Dundee United 4-2 at home, smashed Aberdeen 4-1 at Ibrox, and edged St Mirren 1-0 away. That’s four wins on the bounce in all competitions and it came after a spell that included a goalless Scottish Cup draw with Celtic and a 2-2 league draw with the same opponents. They’ve only lost once in 12. That’s a serious run.
The shape of their season at home is exactly why they’re taken seriously here. Rangers have 11 wins, five draws and just one defeat at Ibrox in the league, with 36 goals scored and only 16 conceded. Those are title-chasing numbers even if the trophy itself has slipped away. At home they don’t just win, they control. The attack has firepower everywhere, and the back line has usually done enough to keep the pressure manageable. Even in the one defeat on their own turf, the overall pattern has been one of dominance rather than survival.
What stands out most about Röhl’s side is how openly they’re willing to play. The Falkirk match was a perfect example: 20 shots, nine on target, six big chances, and an xG of 3.94. That’s not a team scraping by. It’s a team creating chances in waves. The flip side is that they’re not always watertight, and they’ve gone three straight without a clean sheet. Against better or more clinical opponents, that can matter. At Ibrox, though, Rangers usually ask the bigger questions first. Motherwell will need to answer them for 90 minutes, and that’s a tall order.
Motherwell Form & Analysis
Motherwell’s recent run has been far less convincing. Their latest outing ended in a 3-1 defeat away to Heart of Midlothian on 11 April, and while they did manage to score through Emmanuel Longelo and later threaten again, the result never really looked in doubt once Hearts found their rhythm. Before that came a 3-2 home defeat to Falkirk, a flat 0-0 draw with Hibernian, and a 3-1 loss away to Celtic. They also lost 2-1 at Dundee and, stretching back a little further, beat Dundee United 2-0 at home. One win in six. Five games without a victory. That’s the story.
The away record explains a lot. Motherwell have won only four of their 16 league matches on the road, drawing seven and losing five, with 23 scored and 20 conceded. That’s not disastrous, but it’s the record of a side that can be competitive without ever feeling truly secure. They’ll have spells in games. They’ll get chances. The problem is the same one that’s followed them through much of the spring — they haven’t been reliable enough at either end to control results away from home. You can see why they’re sixth in the away table and why this trip to Ibrox feels awkward.
Mind you, they’re not hopeless going forward. Motherwell have scored in enough games to make life uncomfortable for opponents, and their 2.01 xG at Hearts was a reminder that they can create if the contest opens up. But that’s the issue. Open games usually suit Rangers more. Motherwell’s defence has also been leaky in the wrong moments, and their away matches tend to drift into a pattern where they’re chasing rather than dictating. If they’re to take anything here, they’ll need a far cleaner defensive display than they managed at Tynecastle. Right now, that doesn’t feel likely.
Head-to-Head
This fixture has had goals, tension and a fair bit of resistance from Motherwell. The most recent meeting finished 1-1 in Motherwell in February, while Rangers beat them 1-0 at Ibrox on Boxing Day. Before that, the sides shared another 1-1 draw in August, and Motherwell even won 2-1 at Ibrox in March 2025. There’s a pattern here. Rangers don’t often have an easy afternoon against this opponent.
The broader picture is the one that matters for this game. Motherwell have scored in seven of the last eight meetings, and that’s a real warning sign for anyone tempted to assume Rangers will shut the door. They haven’t. Not consistently. That’s a decent reason to expect both teams to get on the board again.
We Predict: Both Teams To Score
Both Teams To Score at 4/6 is the play here, and it feels fair rather than fancy. Rangers have been scoring for fun, but they’ve also gone three games without a clean sheet, while Motherwell have scored in enough recent meetings with them to make this a genuine threat rather than a hopeful punt. Rangers’ home record is excellent, yet their defensive numbers aren’t flawless. Motherwell, for all their recent wobble, still carry enough attacking presence to find one if Rangers push the game open.
The 2-1 Rangers correct score fits the shape of it neatly. Rangers should have the stronger attacking rhythm, more territory and more chances, but Motherwell are good enough to nick one if the game becomes stretched after the first goal. That’s the danger for Rangers, and it’s also why BTTS lands as the stronger market than a home win alone. If you wanted a secondary angle, over 2.5 goals has a live case too, but BTTS feels the cleaner call for Sunday evening at Ibrox.