Club Brugge have gained the upper hand in their Champions League third round qualifier against Red Bull Salzburg.
The winner of the tie will likely play Rangers in the UCL play-off towards the end of the month.
It was revealed on Monday that Russel Martin's side would face either of the teams in the final qualifying match of the tournament before the league phase commences should they get past Viktoria Plzen.
The Ibrox side made short work of the Czech outfit last night, with a 3-0 win secured heading into next week's return leg.
Two goals by Djeidi Gassama and a Cyriel Dessers penalty had the hosts on easy street, and a significant advantage heading into the second leg in Plzen, where it would take a catastrophic collapse not to progress through to the UCL play-off.
Rangers are guaranteed league phase football in Europe this season, as if the Scottish Premiership side fail to advance then they would drop into the Europa League.
While nothing is settled yet, with the game only at the halfway point over the two legs, the Belgian team have a one-goal advantage.
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They scored on 74 minutes through frontman Romeo Vermant to seal the 1-0 away win in Switzerland.
It was the only goal of the game, with little between the teams.
Rangers know that reaching the play-off will see them host the first leg at home on August 19/20 against Brugge or RB Salzburg, with the return match taking place on August 26/27.
