Digressive Celts

Matches › 2025/26

Motherwell 1–1 Rangers

Saturday 2 August 2025, 17:30 · Fir Park · Round 1 · Half-time 0–1 · Referee Steven McLean · Attendance 10,616

Motherwell Longelo 87'

Rangers Tavernier 14'

Post-match

Result and Expected Points

MotherwellRangers
Goals11
xG2.150.83
Expected Points2.270.53

Motherwell 69%Draw 20%Rangers 11%

Most likely score 2–0, 13%. Final score 1–1, 10%.

Rangers goalsMotherwell goals0123456+0123456+4%3%1%4%5%1%9%8%3%4%4%2%1%1%10%10%13%12%Final score

Own goals have no xG.

xG race

01230153045607590HTO'Donnell on for Gordon, 71'Said on for Stamatelopoulos, 79'Balmer on for Just and Sparrow on for Slattery, 90+1'Dessers on for Danilo and Cameron on for Diomande, 63'Bajrami on for Raskin and Barron on for Rothwell, 73'Cortés on for Gassama, 83'Longelo 87'Tavernier 14'Motherwell 2.15Rangers 0.8301230153045607590HTO'Donnell on for Gordon, 71'Said on for Stamatelopoulos, 79'Balmer on for Just and Sparrow on for Slattery, 90+1'Dessers on for Danilo and Cameron on for Diomande, 63'Bajrami on for Raskin and Barron on for Rothwell, 73'Cortés on for Gassama, 83'Longelo 87'Tavernier 14'2.150.83MotherwellRangers

Each side's xG added up shot by shot through the match. Stoppage time is shaded as far as the last shot or event recorded in it. Triangles along the foot mark each side's substitutions.

Match stats

MotherwellRangers

2.15xG0.83
1.11xG on target0.55
17Shots15
5Shots on target5
4Big chances1
27Touches in the opposition box33
38%Possession62%
344Passes585
82%Pass accuracy88%
30%Field tilt70%
35Final-third entries43
12Box entries18
19.1Passes per defensive action9.4
1Corners12
15Tackles26
11Interceptions15
16Clearances18
4Saves5
11Fouls13
4Offsides0

Field tilt is each side's share of the open-play passes completed in the final third; entries are completed open-play passes and carries into the final third and the box; passes per defensive action (PPDA) counts the opponent's passes in its own 60% of the pitch for each tackle, interception, challenge, or foul there.

Chance locations

Motherwell

Just 51', 0.50 xGStamatelopoulos 23', 0.33 xGStamatelopoulos 70', 0.32 xGMcGinn 54', 0.11 xGJust 64', 0.11 xGStamatelopoulos 67', 0.10 xGSparrow 90+4', 0.10 xGMaswanhise 57', 0.07 xGStamatelopoulos 49', 0.06 xGStamatelopoulos 53', 0.06 xGLongelo 87', 0.06 xGLongelo 23', 0.05 xGMcGinn 55', 0.05 xGJust 79', 0.04 xGSlattery 82', 0.04 xGKoutroumbis 87', 0.02 xGLongelo 87', 0.11 xG, goal53%1.15 xGSix-yard box: 3 shots, 1.15 xG, 0 goals23%0.50 xGCentral box: 5 shots, 0.50 xG, 1 goal15%0.32 xGWide in the box: 5 shots, 0.32 xG, 0 goals8%0.18 xGEdge of the box: 4 shots, 0.18 xG, 0 goals0%0.00 xGFurther out: 0 shots, 0.00 xG, 0 goals

Rangers

Raskin 6', 0.06 xGDanilo 18', 0.06 xGCameron 69', 0.06 xGBarron 78', 0.06 xGTavernier 6', 0.05 xGGassama 9', 0.05 xGDanilo 13', 0.05 xGRothwell 33', 0.05 xGGassama 47', 0.04 xGRaskin 68', 0.04 xGAarons 62', 0.03 xGBajrami 89', 0.03 xGRaskin 27', 0.02 xGDanilo 35', 0.02 xGTavernier 14', 0.22 xG, goal27%0.22 xGSix-yard box: 1 shot, 0.22 xG, 1 goal13%0.11 xGCentral box: 2 shots, 0.11 xG, 0 goals35%0.29 xGWide in the box: 8 shots, 0.29 xG, 0 goals24%0.20 xGEdge of the box: 4 shots, 0.20 xG, 0 goals0%0.00 xGFurther out: 0 shots, 0.00 xG, 0 goals

Each area's share of the side's xG from open play and set pieces, with the xG in it. The two wide areas of the box count together, as on the club pages. Shots shows each of those shots instead, sized by its xG, with goals filled in.

Chance types

MotherwellRangers

1.21 11 shots, 1 goalOpen play0.41 10 shots, 0 goals
0.27 3 shots, 0 goalsCounter-attacks0.00 0 shots, 0 goals
0.68 3 shots, 0 goalsSet pieces0.42 5 shots, 1 goal

xG by type of chance, with each side's shots and goals beside it.

Game state

Level
21 min (22%) · Motherwell 0.10, Rangers 0.46 xG
Rangers ahead
73 min (78%) · Motherwell 2.04, Rangers 0.38 xG

Line-ups

1322416451220188219WardKoutroumbisGordonMcGinnLongeloFadingerWattMaswanhiseSlatteryJustStamatelopoulosGoalYellow card71'90+1'90+1'79'Motherwell 4-2-3-1Jens Berthel Askou12245310643209923ButlandTavernierDjigaSouttarAaronsDiomandeRothwellRaskinDowellDaniloGassamaGoalYellow cardYellow cardYellow card63'73'73'63'83'Rangers 4-3-3Russell Martin

Motherwell substitutes

  • 71' O'Donnell for Gordon
  • 79' Said for Stamatelopoulos
  • 90+1' Balmer for Just
  • 90+1' Sparrow for Slattery

Rangers substitutes

  • 63' Cameron for Diomande · yellow card 64'
  • 63' Dessers for Danilo
  • 73' Barron for Rothwell
  • 73' Bajrami for Raskin
  • 83' Cortés for Gassama

Players

Motherwell

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
WardGK900.000.0000.0321
KoutroumbisRB900.020.0100.0873
GordonCB710.000.0100.0454
McGinnCB900.160.0100.0625
LongeloLB9010.230.1800.3186
FadingerDM900.000.000−0.0126
Watt DM900.000.0320.101011
MaswanhiseRW900.070.0000.0101
SlatteryAM900.040.4930.1063
JustLW9010.650.6230.2233
StamatelopoulosST790.870.0420.0303
O'DonnellDF190.000.0010.0121
SaidFW110.000.0020.0111
BalmerDF00.000.000––0
SparrowMF00.100.0000.0710

Rangers

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
ButlandGK900.000.0000.0230
Tavernier RB9010.270.0510.11127
DjigaCB900.000.0100.04313
SouttarCB900.000.0110.0848
Aarons LB900.030.0100.0239
DiomandeCM630.000.0000.0031
RothwellCM7310.050.2530.0325
RaskinCM730.120.0510.1485
Dowell RW900.000.1230.2085
DaniloST630.130.031−0.0200
GassamaLW830.090.2110.2153
Cameron MF270.060.010−0.0112
DessersFW270.000.0100.0300
BarronMF170.060.0100.0703
BajramiMF170.030.0100.0410
CortésFW70.000.0000.0112

Starters, then substitutes in the order they came on. KP is chances created and Def defensive actions (tackles, blocks, clearances, and interceptions). xT is the expected threat added by the player's completed open-play passes and carries, and Prog counts progressive passes and carries.

Pass networks

Motherwell

Koutroumbis and Fadinger: 5 passesKoutroumbis and Just: 5 passesMcGinn and Just: 5 passesLongelo and Just: 5 passesFadinger and Just: 5 passesKoutroumbis and Gordon: 6 passesGordon and Watt: 6 passesWatt and Just: 6 passesWard and Watt: 7 passesMcGinn and Watt: 7 passesFadinger and Slattery: 7 passesWatt and Maswanhise: 7 passesSlattery and Just: 7 passesKoutroumbis and Watt: 8 passesMcGinn and Longelo: 10 passesFadinger and Watt: 10 passesKoutroumbis and Slattery: 11 passesGordon and Fadinger: 11 passesLongelo and Slattery: 11 passesWatt and Slattery: 11 passesWard and Gordon: 13 passesLongelo and Watt: 14 passesWard and McGinn: 25 passesWard: 32 completed passesKoutroumbis: 27 completed passesGordon: 24 completed passesMcGinn: 29 completed passesLongelo: 23 completed passesFadinger: 23 completed passesWatt: 40 completed passesMaswanhise: 8 completed passesSlattery: 30 completed passesJust: 18 completed passesStamatelopoulos: 4 completed passes1322416451220188219WardKoutroumbisGordonMcGinnLongeloFadingerWattMaswanhiseSlatteryJustStamatelopoulosStarters until 71' · lines join pairs with 5+ passes

Rangers

Butland and Tavernier: 5 passesDjiga and Diomande: 5 passesDjiga and Dowell: 6 passesAarons and Diomande: 6 passesRaskin and Rothwell: 6 passesButland and Djiga: 7 passesDjiga and Raskin: 7 passesDjiga and Rothwell: 7 passesSouttar and Rothwell: 7 passesDjiga and Aarons: 8 passesSouttar and Raskin: 9 passesAarons and Raskin: 9 passesRaskin and Gassama: 9 passesDiomande and Dowell: 9 passesTavernier and Raskin: 10 passesTavernier and Diomande: 11 passesAarons and Rothwell: 12 passesAarons and Gassama: 12 passesTavernier and Rothwell: 13 passesButland and Souttar: 16 passesTavernier and Dowell: 18 passesTavernier and Souttar: 21 passesTavernier and Djiga: 25 passesDjiga and Souttar: 33 passesSouttar and Aarons: 42 passesButland: 20 completed passesTavernier: 56 completed passesDjiga: 54 completed passesSouttar: 68 completed passesAarons: 48 completed passesRaskin: 27 completed passesRothwell: 34 completed passesDiomande: 22 completed passesDowell: 23 completed passesDanilo: 11 completed passesGassama: 16 completed passes12245343610209923ButlandTavernierDjigaSouttarAaronsRaskinRothwellDiomandeDowellDaniloGassamaStarters until 63' · lines join pairs with 5+ passes

Each starter at the average position of their passes and receptions until the side's first substitution or red card, sized by completed passes. Lines join pairs who passed to each other often, thicker for more passes.

Passing combinations

Motherwell

FromToPasses
McGinnWard15
WardMcGinn13
WattSlattery10
LongeloWatt8
FadingerGordon8

Rangers

FromToPasses
SouttarAarons32
DjigaTavernier26
DjigaSouttar21
AaronsSouttar19
SouttarDjiga19

The five pairs with the most completed passes from one to the other over the whole match.

Defensive actions

Motherwell

274551344224643272161111111108LessMore

Rangers

87718461092567244335132111115LessMore

Where each side made its tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks, recoveries, challenges, and fouls, attacking up the page.

Threat

Motherwell

0.010.010.010.010.010.010.020.010.020.030.010.010.030.070.030.050.010.040.020.010.160.02−0.010.270.20LessMore

Rangers

0.010.010.010.010.020.030.010.020.040.030.040.010.020.030.040.030.040.070.060.050.080.02−0.050.100.020.110.14LessMore

Expected threat added by completed open-play passes and carries, by where the move started, attacking up the page. Expected threat is the chance that possession in an area leads to a goal; a move adds the difference between where it ends and where it starts.

Ratings

0.51.01.52.02.5League average 1.38AttackMotherwell1.27 → 1.29Rangers1.99 → 1.94Defence (lower is better)Motherwell1.39 → 1.36Rangers0.97 → 1.00

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday (ring) and after it (dot); a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs after the matchday, spread up and down only so they don't overlap. The change takes in the whole matchday.

League probabilities

ChanceBeforeWith this resultChange
Motherwell
Top six47%50%+3
11th5%5%0
Bottom1%1%0
Rangers
Title11%9%−2
Celtic
Title88%90%+2

From the forecast before the match (2 August 2025): each chance then, and across the simulations in which the match ended this way. The change is in percentage points.

Pre-match

As things stood before kick-off.

Forecast

MotherwellRangers
Expected goals1.061.81
Win21%55%
Expected Points0.881.88
Clean sheet16%35%

Motherwell 21%Draw 24%Rangers 55%

Most likely score 1–1, 11%. Both sides score 55%.

Rangers goalsMotherwell goals0123456+0123456+6%6%3%5%6%3%1%3%6%5%3%1%1%2%2%1%10%9%11%10%

From the forecast as it stood on 2 August 2025: each side's attack and defence ratings in a Dixon–Coles score model, as on the Forecasts page.

League probabilities by result

ChanceNowMotherwell winDrawRangers win
Motherwell
Top six47%58%50%42%
11th5%2%5%6%
Bottom1%1%1%2%
Rangers
Title11%8%9%14%
Celtic
Title88%92%90%86%

Each chance before the match and across the simulations ending in each result. Other teams are listed where a chance moves by at least 3 percentage points.

Form

Motherwell

  1. D1–118 MayRoss County (A)xG 2.00–1.09
  2. W3–014 MayKilmarnock (H)xG 2.57–0.53
  3. L0–310 MayHearts (A)xG 0.42–0.52
  4. W2–13 MayDundee FC (A)xG 3.15–0.78
  5. W3–226 AprSt. Johnstone (H)xG 2.03–1.84
  6. D0–012 AprHearts (H)xG 0.27–1.12

Rangers

  1. D2–217 MayHibernian (A)xG 2.62–1.29
  2. W3–114 MayDundee United (H)xG 1.69–0.78
  3. W4–011 MayAberdeen (H)xG 2.60–0.57
  4. D1–14 MayCeltic (H)xG 1.46–1.10
  5. D2–226 AprSt. Mirren (A)xG 1.27–1.90
  6. D2–213 AprAberdeen (A)xG 1.18–2.44

The last six league matches, newest first, with xG for and against.

Ratings

0.51.01.52.02.5League average 1.38AttackMotherwell1.27, 5thRangers1.99, 2ndDefence (lower is better)Motherwell1.39, 6thRangers0.97, 2nd

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday, with their rank among the league's clubs; a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs, spread up and down only so they don't overlap.

Strengths and weaknesses

MotherwellRangers
CreatedConcededCreatedConceded
Open play−24%+10%+61%−25%
Counter-attacks−14%−28%+131%−46%
Set pieces+7%+13%+1%−24%
Penalties−62%−6%−62%−25%
Headers+32%+9%+2%−32%
Left side−42%+23%+34%−15%
Centre−5%−2%+38%−28%
Right side−8%+8%+94%−38%

xG created and conceded per game against the league average this season: +24% is 24% more than an average side. Left and right are each side's own, so chances conceded on its left come from opponents attacking down their right. Green favours the side and amber doesn't. Until a side has played six matches its figures are blended with last season's, or with the league average where there is no last season to use.

Matchups

Motherwell attacking

Motherwell createdRangers concededLeft side−42%−38%Centre−5%−28%Right side−8%−15%Open play−24%−25%Counter-attacks−14%−46%Set pieces+7%−24%Headers+32%−32%

Rangers attacking

Rangers createdMotherwell concededLeft side+34%+8%Centre+38%−2%Right side+94%+23%Open play+61%+10%Counter-attacks+131%−28%Set pieces+1%+13%Headers+2%+9%

Each side's xG created per game down each side of the pitch, through the centre, and from each type of chance, against what its opponent concedes there, both relative to the league average.

Head to head

DateHomeAwayxG
1 March 2025Rangers1–2MotherwellxG 1.35–0.78
29 December 2024Motherwell2–2RangersxG 0.52–2.23
10 August 2024Rangers2–1MotherwellxG 3.30–0.71
2 March 2024Rangers1–2MotherwellxG 3.40–0.83
24 December 2023Motherwell0–2RangersxG 0.34–1.37
24 September 2023Rangers1–0MotherwellxG 1.00–0.72

16 league meetings since 2020/21: Motherwell won 2, Rangers won 10, and 4 were drawn. Goals 18–39 and xG 0.65–2.41 per game.